ARC Voyagers Expands Summer Youth Work Experience Partnership with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

This summer, ARC Voyagers proudly expanded its Summer Youth Work Experience partnership with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. In 2024, three students completed work experiences at The Barn in the North America Region. Building on that success, the summer of 2025 saw sixteen students participating across three departments: North America, The Congo, and Horticulture.

Funded by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), the Summer Youth Work Experience program helps high school students develop essential employability skills. With guidance from ARC Voyagers’ Employment Support Professionals, students receive on-the-job coaching to build both hard and soft skills. They also gain valuable exposure to real-world work environments and professional networking opportunities.

Based on their assignments, students explored areas such as animal care—including goats, sheep, cows, and birds—customer service, and horticulture practices. Their hard work and contributions can be seen throughout the Zoo.

So far, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has hired two students from the ARC Voyagers’ Summer Youth Work Experience program, and we look forward to seeing that number grow. ARC Voyagers is sincerely grateful for the Zoo’s continued partnership and their commitment to inclusivity and community support