Workshops & Internships

As part of our education and conservation mission, we offer educational workshops and other training opportunities

Person examines a bat's wing

President Leslie Sturges is an experienced speaker and presenter. She has presented at numerous symposia, workshops, and association meetings. Topics have included:

  • Bat Conservation
  • The Natural History of Bats
  • Bats for Gardeners
  • Bats for Animal Control and Public Health
  • Urban Wildlife Ecology
  • Environmental Enrichment for Wildlife Rehabilitators
  • Teaching the Joy of Nature to a Plugged-in World

In addition, she has developed an all-day bat rehabilitation workshop:

Rehabilitator Education:

All-day Bat Workshop

Workshops are not limited to rehabilitators. We welcome animal control officers, biologists, and bat enthusiasts! Topics include Natural History, Species ID, Rehab Basics, Handling with live bats (for vaccinated attendees only), Diagnostic Lab and an update on WNS.

Attendees of Virginia workshops earn 6 rehabilitation continuing education credits. Workshops featuring handling sessions and diagnostics labs make use of Bat Conservation & Rescue’s education bats and specimens and must be within a day’s drive of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

The Basics

We require a hosting organization to provide a venue that will seat at least 50 people. We require a minimum of 20 paid attendees to hold a workshop. We will set a base fee per attendee. If the host wishes to, they may add an additional fee for the hosting organization. Hosts may have up to 5 complementary seats for VIP attendees. Bat Conservation & Rescue will handle registration and fee collection.

Opportunities for Traveling Workshops:

We are willing to travel to present workshops. We require hosting organizations secure a venue and pay travel expenses and a fee for the presenter. We also ask that local experts address natural history of native bat species. Our presenter will address rehabilitation techniques, diagnostics, etc. If handling and/or diagnostic sessions with specimens are desired, the host organization must make arrangements for live animals and/or specimens to be available.

All proceeds support Bat Conservation & Rescue’s education and rehabilitation programs.

Please contact us about workshop opportunities!

Internships

We are thrilled to be able to offer two internship opportunities in Summer 2023.


Virginia BatWatch Intern

Help launch an exciting outreach program to bring batwatching to urban, suburban, and agricultural areas in Augusta & Rockingham Counties. Help develop public appreciation of bats through the wonders of modern acoustic monitoring, especially in the city centers, where we happen to know endangered species already reside! We are seeking an intern to help manage the Virginia BatWatch program through scheduling, volunteer coordination and recruitment, equipment care and deployment, and community outreach. If the intern is interested, data collection and analysis may be included in project management. In addition, the intern will assist the organization president with managing a small nonprofit during our busy orphan season, which might include coordinating volunteer support and animal transport, responding to citizen inquiries, maintaining intake and disposition records, inventorying supplies, creating some social media content, and organizing image libraries.

This generous grant is provided by Atlantic Union Bank as part of its Future Impact Makers program. As an intern under this program you will learn or hone skills that apply to careers in wildlife management, outreach and education, and nonprofit management. Atlantic Union Bank will host periodic lunch & learns to assist interns with career development. Professional development opportunities are an integral part of the program. Apply today! All internships must commence by June 15, but earlier start dates are available.


Important details:

8 weeks, May–June or June–July

30 hours/week

$15/hr

Please submit cover letter and resume, to Lsturges@virginiabats.org. Direct any questions to info@virginiabats.org.


Bat Handling & Rehabilitation Internships

The internship provides in-depth, hands-on experience in native insectivorous bat rehabilitation. Length of Internship is focused on the intensive baby season during which interns will assist with monitoring health and development and provide regular feeding and care while managing ambassador bats and other adult patients. Interns will learn about bat husbandry, nutrition, hand-feeding techniques, capture and restraint methods, wildlife laws, and release criteria.


This internship is a collaboration with the Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) where interns have the opportunity to spend a portion of their time working with the excellent staff at one of the country’s largest wildlife hospitals and a variety of native wildlife.

Important details:

Intern period starts May 15 and ends July 15, 2023

Includes a $500 pr month stipend 

Candidates must show proof of rabies vaccination or a current titer

Candidates must fill out covid risk assessment form

Lodging and transportation are not available at this time


Please submit cover letter, resume, proof of rabies vaccination or current titer, and COVID-19 risk assessment form to Lsturges@virginiabats.org by April 1, 2023. Direct any questions to info@virginiabats.org.


A person points out features of a bat image on a large screen

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