Great video mate!! Such a tough field to crack into, but when you do.... it's so bloody worth it!! Great job, sharing your journey with others!! I reckon I might take a bit of inspiration from this video! 😉
Until the 'childhood' part was very similar to mine! Loved all animals and had lots of interest in them since always, and decided to be a "Capybara biologist" at age 8~. I grew up and kept the love for nature and animals, but other aspects of life influenced more and I became a Software Engineer (a animal loving software engineer) Thanks for creating great content like this! For future zoologists and people just interested in this like me :D
Hahaha awww I love the specificity of Capybara biologist that’s so cute! Thank you 😌😌 I’m so glad you’ve kept your interest in nature, little kids just love it and it’s always my hope they keep it for a lifetime whatever they end up doing 🌿 thank you for the lovely comment 💕
Hearing more about your work and career was really cool, and as someone who is currently pursuing a zoology undergrad degree I really appreciate all of your advice! You have been able to work with so many cool species, I really hope to have experiences like those! Thanks for making this video Summer, I will be coming back to it I’m sure! - Harrison and Evan
Hi thank you so much for this video. I got a lot of information from this. I had just one question....would you suggest that I do a PhD after my masters in zoology or will it not be needed? Thankyou again
Hi Summer, thanks so much for this informative video, I really liked hearing how you got to where you are now!! I'm studying ecology and conservation at the age of 30 after 8 years of doing a job I didn't feel passionate about. My dream is to move to NZ and get a job in conservation (from Australia), but knowing how competitive this field is, I feel like I'm at a slight disadvantage compared to others who studied locally and had the opportunity to make connections. It's all a bit overwhelming, but I'm going to try my best anyway 😊 Anyway, I'm so glad I found your channel, can't wait to binge watch all your videos after my exams!!
Aww thanks so much for the lovely comment! I’m really glad you found it useful 💖 so awesome that you’re pursuing something you’re passionate about now - it is such fulfilling work and worth it for the struggle. Only a very slight disadvantage - there are lots of people working in conservation in NZ that aren’t kiwis, and there’s a lot of similar bird and reptile species that you could get experience with in Aus that would help you find work here I think! I hope we get to have you someday and again if you’re passionate enough about working in this field it will come eventually 😌 I hope you enjoy the other videos and good luck for your exams 🧡🌿
@@outdoorswithsum Aww this is the sweetest reply. Gave me a boost of energy to keep studying for my last exam this semester. And I couldn't help it, I had already finished watching all your videos oops :P They are so much fun. Can't wait to see more :)
Im in America and im currently going into my second year of college. I’m a biology student at the moment but I don’t have the means to go into a masters degree and I want financial stability so I can travel but I can’t imagine a life with no animal work. Is it going to be possible to be a wildlife rehabber if I change my major?
hi! i'm actually attempting to go down the same path, and from the opportunities near me i would say that it's possible! some of the listings i've seen have multiple majors listed in their descriptions including biology (: i would say to make sure you have a better chance though just in case, to try and get as many volunteer positions as possible so you can get that hands on animal experience, or research experience as well!
I was really lucky to be able to volunteer with some university groups as a young teenager (12-13ish) surveying endangered lizards, then I did stuff when I was a little bit older with revegetation. Doing stuff young with professional adults was one of the best choices i’ve ever made as it has opened up innumerable doors in bush reveg, captive breeding and herpetology, my three main current interests.
Yes!! Can’t say enough good things about volunteering really, practical skills and meeting really good connections. And in my experience meeting professionals that are taking volunteers they’re usually very generous with sharing knowledge and opportunities. That’s so awesome that you got to do it so young. Do you do any captive breeding at home with lizards?
@@outdoorswithsum yeah, at 13 I got my first Blotched Blue Tongue, then captive bred threatened Glossy Grass Skinks with a friend is his backyard to release near the local creek where they had gone locally extinct. At the time we didn’t know about reptile licenses or taking reptiles from the wild. But we always released half of the young from where they were originally collected and both populations are still around today. I was also aways monitoring local bird and reptile populations with little hand drawn survey sheets when I was riding my bike and mucking around at the creek and along the foreshore. Despite growing up in a pretty inner suburban area I had great experiences with finding and occasionally catching tiger snakes (to my mums horror, that got me in trouble pretty quick) frogs, geckoes, skinks all sorts of stuff. On weekends my enviromentalist mentor friend would drive me down to the market gardens, remnants and weedy abandoned fields on the edge of town too look for rarer stuff, thats how we found the glossy grass skinks by accident one day.
Brilliant video and not at all jealous of the breadth of your species experience! Will have to show one of my students who is thinking of following a zoology career For anyone reading, my route to current career: After about 2 months of sitting at home, waddled out to sea Ate fush, squid, and salps. Yummy Got very kotakataka Waddled back on land Rinsed and repeated
I actually am currently working in a zoo as a keeper part-time! For me it’s about the feeling of the zoo and how dedicated they are to helping wild animals. The one I work for actively contributes to conservation in a variety of ways, and the team I work on mostly works with NZ native species - so our breeding programmes directly benefit nature in NZ. We also have excellent welfare standards. At the end of the day, I hope zoos can be phased out for more sanctuaries, but at the moment they’re keeping a lot of species alive ☹️
I am 15 from no and would lovvveee to become a zoologist travelling all over the world and learning all about animals. Learning how they adapt and act in the wild but I keep wondering how that pay is like? Do you know anything about that?
Hellooo! It’s a good question, and depends on which area you get involved with. Rangers don’t get paid much but if you want to work outdoors I think it’s worth it, they’re very fun jobs! Consulting is probably the highest paid jobs, because the organisations that hire consultants to are often rich haha. In consulting you do things like assessing areas for what species live there. You could also be a science advisor to a govt organisation, like the Dept of Conservation that we have here in NZ. They get paid well bc they have very specialised knowledge!
So Im in high school still and im a bit indecisive between doing zoology and paleontology, are these skills transferable between both fields. Im guessing some of them are but I want to make sure to be safe.
I know this was made 2 years ago but I really love this video so much! Thank you for making it! I am aspiring to be a zoologist and am honestly really lost on how to begin, but this video helped so much! I also really love your personality you seem so excited, genuine and passionate through how you talk about your work and I really would love to be like you in the future! 🫶🏻
Omg I feel the same way about wanting to be a scientist or wanting to be the person filming the scientist!! What school did you complete your masters at?
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! What did you find was the best way to find volunteering opportunities? I did a couple of years of science comms as an undergraduate degree but although I enjoyed the content and thought it was super important I wasn't sure I wanted a job in the field. I took a year off to reassess and now I'm just about to finish my first semester of environmental science! I'm also really excited because I'm just about to head to far north Queensland for a month as a volunteer research assistant for a PhD candidate studying northern quolls!! It'll be my first taste of actual field work so I'm super stoked
Oooh good question! I think do some internet searching for wildlife places in your area - parks, ecosanctuaries, wildlife rehab places and get in touch with them to see if they take volunteers. When I first moved up to Wellington I found a big list of all the community groups and organisations that took volunteers which was super helpful, and just got in touch with them! Then from that heard about more volunteering opportunities from the people there 🙂 awesome that you did sci comm too! Really good skills for any up and coming scientist (which it sounds like you will be soon!!) I think to be able to share their work in effective ways. I’m so excited for you ❤️❤️❤️ field work is the goal all day every day hahaha 🌿Thanks for watching!
Great video mate!! Such a tough field to crack into, but when you do.... it's so bloody worth it!! Great job, sharing your journey with others!! I reckon I might take a bit of inspiration from this video! 😉
Thanks buddy! Hopefully just the beginning of the journey - it's definitely been a challenge. I hope its helpful 😌😌
This is super helpful because I'm homeschooled which means that type of information is harder to come by for me. Super super helpful. Many thanks.
Hey... Do you still read comments? What do you think about a focus on ecology instead of zoology?
Until the 'childhood' part was very similar to mine! Loved all animals and had lots of interest in them since always, and decided to be a "Capybara biologist" at age 8~. I grew up and kept the love for nature and animals, but other aspects of life influenced more and I became a Software Engineer (a animal loving software engineer)
Thanks for creating great content like this! For future zoologists and people just interested in this like me :D
Hahaha awww I love the specificity of Capybara biologist that’s so cute! Thank you 😌😌 I’m so glad you’ve kept your interest in nature, little kids just love it and it’s always my hope they keep it for a lifetime whatever they end up doing 🌿 thank you for the lovely comment 💕
Literally the same, i love animals so much, but ended up being an informatic engeener
I am watching this, because i kinda feel like by not working with animals i am giving up on my dream
Hearing more about your work and career was really cool, and as someone who is currently pursuing a zoology undergrad degree I really appreciate all of your advice! You have been able to work with so many cool species, I really hope to have experiences like those! Thanks for making this video Summer, I will be coming back to it I’m sure!
- Harrison and Evan
Hi thank you so much for this video. I got a lot of information from this. I had just one question....would you suggest that I do a PhD after my masters in zoology or will it not be needed?
Thankyou again
Loved that vid, very insightful. Love your cheery attitude too ^^
I'm gonna start my first year of college soon and I hope it will work out. Peace out
Hi Summer, thanks so much for this informative video, I really liked hearing how you got to where you are now!! I'm studying ecology and conservation at the age of 30 after 8 years of doing a job I didn't feel passionate about. My dream is to move to NZ and get a job in conservation (from Australia), but knowing how competitive this field is, I feel like I'm at a slight disadvantage compared to others who studied locally and had the opportunity to make connections. It's all a bit overwhelming, but I'm going to try my best anyway 😊 Anyway, I'm so glad I found your channel, can't wait to binge watch all your videos after my exams!!
Aww thanks so much for the lovely comment! I’m really glad you found it useful 💖 so awesome that you’re pursuing something you’re passionate about now - it is such fulfilling work and worth it for the struggle. Only a very slight disadvantage - there are lots of people working in conservation in NZ that aren’t kiwis, and there’s a lot of similar bird and reptile species that you could get experience with in Aus that would help you find work here I think! I hope we get to have you someday and again if you’re passionate enough about working in this field it will come eventually 😌 I hope you enjoy the other videos and good luck for your exams 🧡🌿
@@outdoorswithsum Aww this is the sweetest reply. Gave me a boost of energy to keep studying for my last exam this semester. And I couldn't help it, I had already finished watching all your videos oops :P They are so much fun. Can't wait to see more :)
Im in America and im currently going into my second year of college. I’m a biology student at the moment but I don’t have the means to go into a masters degree and I want financial stability so I can travel but I can’t imagine a life with no animal work. Is it going to be possible to be a wildlife rehabber if I change my major?
hi! i'm actually attempting to go down the same path, and from the opportunities near me i would say that it's possible! some of the listings i've seen have multiple majors listed in their descriptions including biology (: i would say to make sure you have a better chance though just in case, to try and get as many volunteer positions as possible so you can get that hands on animal experience, or research experience as well!
can you please help me with a question that can i become a marine biologist and zoologist at same time while doing my degree
or i have to do it differently by 5 years please help me by answering this please.
I want to be a zoologist :3 do you get to travel?? I want to go to yellowstone to watch the wolves :D
i didnt know you could do natural history wildlife filmmaking!!! you destabilised my plans haha
wait you can volunteer at 11-12!? please whats it called!?!?!?!??!?!?
It was a local animal shelter, you’d have to contacts shelters near you and see what their age requirements are
If you happen to live in auckland, BirdCare Aotearoa is a bird hospital that accepts younger volunteers, under certain circumstances:)
I was really lucky to be able to volunteer with some university groups as a young teenager (12-13ish) surveying endangered lizards, then I did stuff when I was a little bit older with revegetation. Doing stuff young with professional adults was one of the best choices i’ve ever made as it has opened up innumerable doors in bush reveg, captive breeding and herpetology, my three main current interests.
Yes!! Can’t say enough good things about volunteering really, practical skills and meeting really good connections. And in my experience meeting professionals that are taking volunteers they’re usually very generous with sharing knowledge and opportunities. That’s so awesome that you got to do it so young. Do you do any captive breeding at home with lizards?
@@outdoorswithsum yeah, at 13 I got my first Blotched Blue Tongue, then captive bred threatened Glossy Grass Skinks with a friend is his backyard to release near the local creek where they had gone locally extinct. At the time we didn’t know about reptile licenses or taking reptiles from the wild. But we always released half of the young from where they were originally collected and both populations are still around today. I was also aways monitoring local bird and reptile populations with little hand drawn survey sheets when I was riding my bike and mucking around at the creek and along the foreshore. Despite growing up in a pretty inner suburban area I had great experiences with finding and occasionally catching tiger snakes (to my mums horror, that got me in trouble pretty quick) frogs, geckoes, skinks all sorts of stuff. On weekends my enviromentalist mentor friend would drive me down to the market gardens, remnants and weedy abandoned fields on the edge of town too look for rarer stuff, thats how we found the glossy grass skinks by accident one day.
Oh and happy world environment day
I had no idea! And here’s my video about being an environmentalist 😆 happy works environment to you too!
@@outdoorswithsum maybe add the hashtags for some free views.
Brilliant video and not at all jealous of the breadth of your species experience! Will have to show one of my students who is thinking of following a zoology career
For anyone reading, my route to current career:
After about 2 months of sitting at home, waddled out to sea
Ate fush, squid, and salps. Yummy
Got very kotakataka
Waddled back on land
Rinsed and repeated
I have been so lucky 😌 thank you!! I hope they find it helpful. Aahahah I hope you enjoyed 🌞
Great advice, Would love to hear about you film making degree.
-JJ
Thanks mate! Noted 😌😌
Do you ever work in zoos? Or places that you don't necessarily agree with that confine animals ?
I actually am currently working in a zoo as a keeper part-time! For me it’s about the feeling of the zoo and how dedicated they are to helping wild animals. The one I work for actively contributes to conservation in a variety of ways, and the team I work on mostly works with NZ native species - so our breeding programmes directly benefit nature in NZ. We also have excellent welfare standards. At the end of the day, I hope zoos can be phased out for more sanctuaries, but at the moment they’re keeping a lot of species alive ☹️
I am 15 from no and would lovvveee to become a zoologist travelling all over the world and learning all about animals. Learning how they adapt and act in the wild but I keep wondering how that pay is like? Do you know anything about that?
Hellooo! It’s a good question, and depends on which area you get involved with. Rangers don’t get paid much but if you want to work outdoors I think it’s worth it, they’re very fun jobs! Consulting is probably the highest paid jobs, because the organisations that hire consultants to are often rich haha. In consulting you do things like assessing areas for what species live there. You could also be a science advisor to a govt organisation, like the Dept of Conservation that we have here in NZ. They get paid well bc they have very specialised knowledge!
I can’t wait to watch your productions.
🧡🧡🧡
So Im in high school still and im a bit indecisive between doing zoology and paleontology, are these skills transferable between both fields. Im guessing some of them are but I want to make sure to be safe.
I know this was made 2 years ago but I really love this video so much! Thank you for making it! I am aspiring to be a zoologist and am honestly really lost on how to begin, but this video helped so much! I also really love your personality you seem so excited, genuine and passionate through how you talk about your work and I really would love to be like you in the future! 🫶🏻
I am from India and intrested in wildlife, thanks for such a great information about your jurney, keep it up
Omg I feel the same way about wanting to be a scientist or wanting to be the person filming the scientist!! What school did you complete your masters at?
I am from India and intrested in wildlife, thanks for such a great information about your jurney, keep it up🙂
Great video thanks ! Starting to looking for job in conservation myself ... quite afraid about the "need a degree part" ahah
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! What did you find was the best way to find volunteering opportunities?
I did a couple of years of science comms as an undergraduate degree but although I enjoyed the content and thought it was super important I wasn't sure I wanted a job in the field. I took a year off to reassess and now I'm just about to finish my first semester of environmental science! I'm also really excited because I'm just about to head to far north Queensland for a month as a volunteer research assistant for a PhD candidate studying northern quolls!! It'll be my first taste of actual field work so I'm super stoked
Oooh good question! I think do some internet searching for wildlife places in your area - parks, ecosanctuaries, wildlife rehab places and get in touch with them to see if they take volunteers. When I first moved up to Wellington I found a big list of all the community groups and organisations that took volunteers which was super helpful, and just got in touch with them! Then from that heard about more volunteering opportunities from the people there 🙂 awesome that you did sci comm too! Really good skills for any up and coming scientist (which it sounds like you will be soon!!) I think to be able to share their work in effective ways. I’m so excited for you ❤️❤️❤️ field work is the goal all day every day hahaha 🌿Thanks for watching!
I’m in Melbourne and a great place to start is local Field Naturalists societies. Thats how I started with endangered striped legless lizards.
Amazing video! I’m an ecology and conservation biology student from the UK.
Hello welcome!! Thank you 🧡🐸🦋
@@outdoorswithsum would you like to collaborate sometime? I also have a channel 😊
@@solarpunkalana oh cool that'd be fun! flick me an email and we can discuss! outdoorswithsum@gmail.com