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Summer Animal Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

City of Rockville

Naturalist

Rockville, MD

$18 - $24/hr

Plan and lead at least two week-long nature-based summer day camps. Provide daily care for the Nature Center's live native animal collection, including amphibians, reptiles and other animal ...

City of Rockville, MD

Naturalist

Rockville, MD · On-site

$18 - $24/hr

Plan and lead at least two week-long nature-based summer day camps. * Provide daily care for the Nature Center's live native animal collection, including amphibians, reptiles and other animal ...

All JobsSummer Animal JobsSummer Animal Jobs in Reston, VA

Summer Animal information

See Reston, VA salary details

$8

$16

$23

How much do summer animal jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for summer animal in Reston, VA is $16.53, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.99 and $18.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a summer animal?

A Summer Animal job typically involves working with animals in a seasonal setting, such as at a zoo, farm, wildlife center, or pet care facility. Responsibilities may include feeding, cleaning, monitoring animal behavior, assisting visitors, and supporting animal care professionals. These roles are ideal for students or individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience with animals during the summer months.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the summer animal position?

To thrive as a Summer Animal Caretaker, you need basic animal handling skills, knowledge of animal welfare, and preferably experience with pet care or volunteering at shelters. Familiarity with animal feeding schedules, cleaning protocols, and tracking systems such as care logs or shelter management software is valuable. Reliability, patience, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you excel in caring for animals and working with team members. These skills are essential for maintaining the animals' health, ensuring a safe environment, and supporting efficient shelter or facility operations during the busy summer season.

What does a summer animal do?

A typical day for a Summer Animal Caretaker involves feeding and providing fresh water, cleaning enclosures or living spaces, monitoring animal health, and engaging in socialization or enrichment activities. You may assist with basic grooming, administer medications under supervision, and help with intake or adoption events as needed. Collaboration with other staff and volunteers is common, especially in larger shelters or facilities, and you might interact with the public when answering questions or giving tours. The pace can be fast during the summer due to increased animal intake, but the work is rewarding and offers valuable experience for those interested in animal welfare careers.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Animal jobs in Reston, VA are:
What are popular job titles related to Summer Animal jobs in Reston, VA? For Summer Animal jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Summer Animal jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Summer Animal jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Summer Animal jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Summer Animal job openings:
Summer Animal jobs near you
Infographic showing various Summer Animal job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Part Time, and 50% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $34,374 per year, or $16.5 per hour.

STEM Specialist - Washington D.C.

Headfirst Summer Camps

Washington, DC • On-site

Temporary

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

The Position
The STEM Specialist leads specialized classes to create a space for hands-on science projects and interactive demonstrations for our youngest campers. We provide the training, curriculum & daily camp schedules along with all equipment for a successful camp day but need you to bring camp to life with your enthusiasm, dedication and un-matched energy.
Camper ages: 3-6 years old
Activities include: mason jar habitats, slime, crafty and themed hats, camouflaged animal searches, wearable dinosaur tails, creature footprints, rain clouds in a jar
Weekly themes include: Animals, superheroes, insects, outer space
Role Information
Schedule:
In-season (mid June through mid-August): 7:30 am - 3:45 pm Monday - Friday
Pre-season (early June): select weekends for training and site preparation
Compensation: $18.50 / hour
What You'll Do
  • Bring Camp to Life
    • Implement pre-written STEM curriculum for up to 9 groups of 12 to 16 campers in 30 minute rotations
    • Prep for upcoming activities, including cutting out shapes, pre-assembly, making samples, and testing experiments to ensure enjoyable and age-appropriate camper experiences
    • Model pristine classroom management and camper engagement skills, coaching group counselors to learn techniques and support during your classes
    • Monitor and routinely inventory materials in the STEM storage area, and complete bin checks weekly for upcoming theme activities, communicating missing items with the Program Leader
    • Implement Headfirst's safety protocols on supervision, bathrooms, emergency medications, and camper behavior management
    • Execute morning and afternoon carpool as a key player, welcoming each family to camp by name with fantastic dance moves and coordinated carpool procedures
  • Nurture Physical, Social & Emotional Safety
    • Work directly with campers to support them in their emotional, physical, and social development through hands-on exploration and developmentally appropriate activities
  • Be an Active Member of the Camp Team
    • Arrive on time, communicate schedule changes promptly, be a loyal and consistent team member who shows up for the campers and your team
    • Work directly alongside your teammates to create the best experience possible for all campers
    • Be flexible and open to supporting other activities on site including lunch, snack, Special Event, and carpool
    • Committed to adhering to the Cell-Phone Free policy, powering down and putting away cell phones in a locked pouch for the duration of your shift.
  • Represent Headfirst for Families & Facility Partners
    • Represent the Headfirst brand daily to families at carpool and to school facility partners throughout the summer by being enthusiastic, helpful, hands-on, and in uniform
    • Actively participate in our efforts to take care of our camp facility and community, keeping your programming area spotless and organized
  • Handle the Curveballs
    • Practice resiliency and arrive with a "How Can I Help?" mentality that puts camper experience and team success at the forefront through problem solving and trying new things

About You
Must be at least 19 years old with at least (1) years at an undergraduate institution or equivalent professional experience.
  • Experience:
    • Majors in education and child development viewed favorably.
  • Must be able to:
    • Work around small children including, sitting, standing, running, and climbing stairs for the full day.
    • Work in hot and outdoor environments while actively supervising campers and participating in dynamic activities for extended periods of time.
    • Lift and carry up to 30 pounds occasionally.

Headfirst Summer Camps is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and inclusivity across our Headfirst community, and we strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups and those who might need reasonable accommodation to apply.

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