Inside the Zoo: Students Explore Careers in Wildlife and Conservation

Recently, a group of students from Sutton & District Training began a six-week work experience programme at London Zoo.

Each session combines learning with hands-on activity, giving students insight into the different roles involved in caring for animals and protecting wildlife.

In an early session focused on Zoo Keeping, students created enrichment packages for squirrel monkeys - a practical activity that helps keep animals mentally and physically stimulated. Experiences like this allow students to engage directly with real tasks involved in animal care.

Across the programme, students will explore topics including animal habitats, conservation challenges, and the variety of roles within a zoo environment.

Student feedback from the first sessions has been encouraging. Several students have already expressed an interest in working with animals or in zoo-related environments, with some describing ambitions in areas such as animal care and zoo keeping. Others highlighted that the sessions helped them better understand how zoos operate and what different roles involve.

Many students reported enjoying the experience, particularly the hands-on elements and the opportunity to engage directly with animals and practical activities.

Programmes like this are especially valuable when they offer practical, experience-based learning - helping students connect more meaningfully with real-world environments and future pathways.

At KICK, we’re proud to support opportunities like this - helping young people access experiences that broaden horizons and connect learning to real-world environments.

We’re looking forward to seeing how the students continue to engage over the coming weeks.