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GET INVOLVED!

We are always looking for individuals who are willing to work hard and learn. Interns and volunteers work hands-on with a variety of Illinois wildlife, expanding their skills and knowledge while helping to save lives.

Paid Internships

Oaken Acres Wildlife Center is offering PAID INTERNSHIPS for the 2025 baby season! Oaken Acres is a wildlife rehabilitation center located approximately 70 miles west of Chicago in Sycamore, IL. The center receives nearly 2000 injured, orphaned and diseased animals each year for care. All species of wildlife are accepted except for bats and skunks, which are illegal in the state of Illinois to rehabilitate. Interns typically work for 12-15 weeks, 32-40 hours a week, from May to September doing hands-on animal care. Participants will gain experience working with a variety of wildlife species found in northern Illinois, including raccoons, fawns, songbirds, squirrels, opossums, various raptors, turtles, and more. Interns are involved in all areas of wildlife rehabilitation including admissions, hand-feedings, animal handling and restraint, cleaning of enclosures, preparing and distributing diets, animal observation, administering medications and vaccines, cage maintenance, and release. Requirements: -Must be 18 years old. -Must have a strong, positive work ethic. -Must be able to work holidays and at least one weekend day each week. -Work 9 to 10-hour days including in inclement weather such as heat and rain. -Ability to lift 40 pounds -Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, alongside fellow interns, staff, and volunteers. -Ability to learn quickly, follow written and verbal instructions, possess a good attention to detail, and be able to multi-task. -Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. -Housing and transportation are not provided. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Sandy Woltman at Sandy@oakenacres.org. Internship applications will be open from December 15th to March 1st. Click on the button below to submit.

Have questions or need more information?
Contact Sandy Woltman at Sandy.oakenacres@gmail.com
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Deadline for internship applications is March 1st. 
Click button below to submit.
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Volunteers

 New volunteers are required to attend orientation. Volunteers are required to commit to one 4-hour shift weekly April through August with options to work through October. You must be 18 years or older.

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Tasks include: feeding babies, cleaning cages, preparing diets, washing dishes, laundry, assisting staff with medical procedures and more!

Building Projects

We have several projects that individuals or groups can do to help Oaken Acres that does not involve hands-on animal care.

A lot of these are woodworking projects like building birdhouses to raise money, building nesting boxes for us to use when relocating animals, or building cage accessories for our patients. 

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Oaken Acres Wildlife Center

12140 Aldrich Rd

Sycamore, IL  60178

(815) 895-9666

Oaken Acres is an Illinois Not-For-Profit corporation and is designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Director Kathy Stelford is licensed by the Federal Fish and Wildlife Services

and the Illinois Department of

Natural Resources. 

Hours by appointment

Contact Us

If you found an injured or orphaned animal, do not use this contact form. 

Call us at (815) 895-9666 or visit the Found An Animal

page for more information.

© 2023 by Oaken Acres Wildlife Center. Powered and secured by Wix

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