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Leading with King Scholars

The King Scholar’s leadership journey and growth is guided by a diversity of experiences. Therefore, King Scholars have access to and engage in several prime experiences that are exclusive to Brookfield Zoo Chicago (BZC) and include immersive field research expeditions, intimate career investigations, and specialized content and media productions.

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Teen Leadership Board of Directors

The Teen Leadership Board of Directors consists of 12 King Scholars directly involved in the development of the King Conservation Science Scholars Program as a whole, as well as the creation, planning and execution of day to day opportunities offered to current, past and future King Scholars. Board members help create and modify King Scholar initiatives by providing fearless feedback and testimonials and advocating for the needs and desires of the greater King Scholars community. These members are voted to the Board by the greater King Scholar community based on their ideas and ideas alone. At no point during the voting process do King Scholars know the identity of the potential Board members that have earned their votes until they are tallied. This ensures the diversity of ideas and viewpoints and that those who reside on the Board are held accountable for those proposed and promised. Ultimately, the Teen Leadership Board of Directors offers a unique opportunity for any King Scholar who serves to have an experience that not only drives change, yet also broadens their perspectives.

Outside of being a part of the formal leadership team, all Board members received additional swag, participate in the biannual leadership retreats, design and lead the On-Boarding Days for new King Scholars and a host of other benefits and incentives.

The roles of the Board include:
• President/Board Chair
• Vice President of Events
• Vice President of Media
• Vice President of Money
• Vice President of Programs
• Secretary
• Service Chairperson
• At Large Chairperson – First Year King Scholar
• At Large Chairperson – Leadership Appointed
• Community Chairperson
• History Chairperson
• Mentorship Chairperson

King Conservation Science Scholar Associate

One of the King Conservation Science Scholars newest experiences is the opportunity to join the leadership team of the program as staff. The King Conservation Science Scholars Associate position is a seasonal employment opportunity at Brookfield Zoo Chicago that works with our King Scholars. This position contributes to the success of BZC by engaging teens in the Society’s mission both at the zoo and in the communities, it serves and representing the institution to diverse constituencies. The primary goal for this position is to foster deeper relationships between students throughout and beyond the Chicagoland area and the natural world.

Since this is a formal employment position, potential candidates do not have to already be members of the King Conservation Science Scholars program. Nevertheless, there are other position requirements and specifications that include either being a current and active student in the King Conservation Science Scholars Program at BZC or similar youth engagement community program participant, at least 16 years of age, must report to work on time, ability to work well with others and in a team, communicate effectively with the public, have strong interpersonal and communication skills, an interest in leadership, conservation or community and cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience. These positions are limited. To learn more, visit the BZC Career page for any and all of our current openings.

King Conservation Science Scholars Alumni Associate

Another one of the King Conservation Science Scholars newest experiences is the opportunity to join the leadership team of the program as staff post high school graduation. The King Conservation Science Scholars Alumni Associate position is a seasonal employment opportunity at Brookfield Zoo Chicago that works with our King Scholars Alumni Network. This position contributes to the success of BZC by engaging teens in the Society’s mission both at the zoo and in the communities, it serves and representing the institution to diverse constituencies. The primary goal for this position is to foster deeper relationships between students throughout and beyond the Chicagoland area and the natural world.

Since this is a formal employment position, potential candidates do have to meet additional position requirements and specifications. These include being a graduate of the King Conservation Science Scholars Program, having a High school diploma or (GED) equivalent which is required, committing to an average of 4 hours a week, engaging in a 1-year commitment, with potential, but no guarantee for renewal, having strong interpersonal and communication skills, verbal, written, and listening skills, the ability to sustain relationships, maintain rapport and work effectively with a wide range of diverse students and communities, computer proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel is required along with cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience and strong organizational skills. To learn more, visit the BZC Career page for any and all of our current openings. To learn more about our King Scholars Alumni Network, visit our King Scholars Alumni Network page.

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King Scholars Alumni Program

This program is made possible, in part, with support from the King Family Foundation, BNSF Railway Foundation, FedEx Corporation, the Julius N. Frankel Foundation, the Gerald A. and Karen A. Kolschowsky Foundation Inc., the Edmond and Alice Opler Foundation, Peoples Gas Community Fund, the Schmidgall Family Foundation, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, and Wintrust Financial Corporation.

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Leading with King Scholars

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