Animal Behavior Research Experience!
Summer Internship For Middle and High School Students
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Join us for an unforgettable week-long immersion in the world of Animal Behavior at Pine Trails Ranch in West Davis! This internship will spark students’ curiosity about animal behavior and help them explore career options and prepare for college programs in related fields. Activities will include designing experiments, training animals using science-backed methods, creating environmental enrichment to reduce stress in captive animals, and recording observations of captive and wild animals. These activities will demonstrate concepts taught in short lectures and videos, which will focus on the science of animal behavior and the numerous ways it can be applied to benefit humans and other animals. Students will gain foundational knowledge of animal behavior and a deeper understanding of how science works and how they can apply it to whatever they’re passionate about. Students will receive a program-issued Junior Animal Behavior Scientist Certificate of Completion, signed by UC Davis Professor, Dr. Rebecca Calisi-Rodriguez.
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About the Teachers
The Animal Behavior Research Experience will be led by the Green Care Lab, under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Calisi-Rodriguez, a neurobiologist and Professor of Animal Behavior at UC Davis, and Claire Short, a professional animal trainer, UC Davis graduate in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, and Manager of the Green Care Lab Education Program. |
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Additionally, UC Davis Science Education undergraduate interns, personally mentored by Dr. Calisi-Rodriguez and Claire Short, will assist with all activities. This provides campers with a unique opportunity to interact with specialists across multiple levels and career stages in animal behavior—including undergraduate college students studying science communication and education, a professional lab trainer and manager of an animal behavior lab, and a Professor of Animal Behavior. This diverse mentorship structure supports a well-rounded, engaging, and hands-on learning experience for all participants.
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Limited Spots Available!
To ensure personalized mentorship and maximize hands-on learning, each week is capped at 12 students. Participants will be grouped by grade level based on the grade they are entering in the fall:
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Objectives
We expect that our students will:
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Topics
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Junior Animal Behavior Scientist Certificate of Completion
Upon completing this immersive research experience, students will be awarded a program-issued Junior Animal Behavior Scientist Certificate of Completion, signed by UC Davis Professor Rebecca Calisi-Rodriguez. This certificate highlights their commitment to scientific exploration and can enhance college applications and resumes.
Upon completing this immersive research experience, students will be awarded a program-issued Junior Animal Behavior Scientist Certificate of Completion, signed by UC Davis Professor Rebecca Calisi-Rodriguez. This certificate highlights their commitment to scientific exploration and can enhance college applications and resumes.
Program Schedule & Location
The Animal Behavior Research Experience takes place Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM*. Students should bring their own lunch and water bottle each day.
All activities will be held on-site at Dr. Rebecca Calisi-Rodriguez’s Green Care Lab, located at Pine Trails Ranch in West Davis (35270 Co Rd 31, Davis, CA 95616).
Each session runs Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, with students grouped by the grade they will be entering in the fall.
*Schedule Adjustment for the Week of June 30 – July 4: Due to the July 4th holiday, the program will not be held on that day. To ensure participants receive the full experience, the internship schedule will be extended during this week, running from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM instead of the usual 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The Animal Behavior Research Experience takes place Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM*. Students should bring their own lunch and water bottle each day.
All activities will be held on-site at Dr. Rebecca Calisi-Rodriguez’s Green Care Lab, located at Pine Trails Ranch in West Davis (35270 Co Rd 31, Davis, CA 95616).
Each session runs Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, with students grouped by the grade they will be entering in the fall.
*Schedule Adjustment for the Week of June 30 – July 4: Due to the July 4th holiday, the program will not be held on that day. To ensure participants receive the full experience, the internship schedule will be extended during this week, running from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM instead of the usual 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
- WEEK 1 | June 16 – 20 | Grades 7–8
- WEEK 2 | June 23 – 27 | Grades 9–10
- WEEK 3 | June 30 – July 3 (9:00 AM – 2:00 (instead of 1 PM, due to no class July 4th) | Grades 11–12 & Recent Graduates
- WEEK 4 | July 7 – 11 | Grades 7–8
- WEEK 5 | August 4 – 8 | Grades 9–10
- WEEK 6 | August 11 – 15 | Grades 11–12 & Recent Graduates
- WEEK 7 | August 18 – 22 | Grades 7-8
Registration: $435 for one week
Where Your Registration Fee Goes:
At the Green Care Lab, we are committed to providing an enriching, hands-on experience while keeping costs as low as possible. The $435/week registration fee is not for profit—it directly supports the bare minimum needed to run the program. Every dollar goes toward:
Non-Refundable Registration Policy:
At the Green Care Lab, our summer camps are designed as an educational opportunity rather than a business venture. We keep registration costs as low as possible to cover only the essential expenses of running the program. Because staffing and resources are coordinated immediately after registration, we are unable to offer refunds.
However, if you are unable to attend, you are welcome to find someone to take your spot. Any substitute participant must meet the age requirements for that week, and all financial exchanges must be handled privately between the original registrant and the replacement. Please notify us in advance if a substitution will be made so we can confirm eligibility.
We appreciate your understanding and support in making this program possible!
At the Green Care Lab, we are committed to providing an enriching, hands-on experience while keeping costs as low as possible. The $435/week registration fee is not for profit—it directly supports the bare minimum needed to run the program. Every dollar goes toward:
- Supporting staff wages – Ensuring a safe and engaging experience for all campers.
- Small class sizes – Allowing for a significantly better learning experience, with more one-on-one time with the professor, research assistants, and animals.
- Animal care – Covering food, veterinary needs, and daily care for the horses, donkeys, pigs, and goats who are trained and actively participate in camp activities.
- Camp materials – Providing hands-on learning supplies for interactive activities.
- Facility costs – Contributing to the lease and maintenance of the space where camp is held.
Non-Refundable Registration Policy:
At the Green Care Lab, our summer camps are designed as an educational opportunity rather than a business venture. We keep registration costs as low as possible to cover only the essential expenses of running the program. Because staffing and resources are coordinated immediately after registration, we are unable to offer refunds.
However, if you are unable to attend, you are welcome to find someone to take your spot. Any substitute participant must meet the age requirements for that week, and all financial exchanges must be handled privately between the original registrant and the replacement. Please notify us in advance if a substitution will be made so we can confirm eligibility.
We appreciate your understanding and support in making this program possible!
How to Register
NOTE: REGISTRATION WILL OPEN ON MARCH 1st!
NOTE: REGISTRATION WILL OPEN ON MARCH 1st!
