Handling poisonous lion fish, swimming with electric eels and fondling snakes may sound like dangerous responsibilities for a summer job, but to the fearless summer interns at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) its all in a day?s work. met with the Marketing Coordinator, Roger Sherratt, at 10 a.m. interested to see what the summer students at BAMZ would be doing ? selling souvenirs or cleaning tanks and cages ? but it soon became obvious not only were many of these students working hands on with animals, many were also living their dreams.

One of the first stops of the day was the Local Tails department where students like Nicole Aubrey and Miguel Mejias maintain, clean, feed and collect new insects and small animals for the exhibit.

While Miss Aubrey, 17, chose the summer job because of the relaxed environment, Mr. Mejias, 19, has worked at BAMZ for three years because of his love for animals and to get needed experience for his future.

?My goal is to become a veterinarian and working here enhances my knowledge,? he said.

The next stop of the day was over to the Zoo where Janice DeBragga, 15, was found fondling a bull python-constrictor snake ? which is over four feet long.

Miss DeBragga was extremely comfortable with her slithering friend and recalled her first experience with a snake as an exciting one: ?I was so excited, fear didn?t even kick in at all.?

She continued: ?I love snakes. I love reptiles. It?s so cool because it?s not anything many people do.?

Miss DeBragga has worked at the aquarium for over three years and the aspiring marine biologist said: ?I love animals and it?s going to help me become what I want to be when I grow up.?

C.J. Richardson also plans to pursue a career in the field and could not think of a better place to work in order to get experience. ?The best way to learn about something is to work with it. You can?t expect to be an accountant and not get into the field,? he said.

While the job is a great experience for C.J., he understands it is not all fun and games, and said: ?Its hard. There?s a lot of things you have to remember, there?s a lot of responsibilities that you have.?

Mr. Richardson works in the main exhibition hall of the aquarium and is responsible for maintaining the exhibits, cleaning and repairing, in addition he has helped with special projects, such as the Turtle Project ? a tagging initiative that protects the turtles, giving them their own identity.

When asked about his scariest moment at the aquarium, he recalled carrying out a ?fresh water dip? ? a process used to eliminate parasites ? on a poisonous lion fish when the fish made an unexpected jump towards him.

?We have gloves we can wear, rubber boots and gloves, so if it would have hit my hand nothing would have happened. It?s just kind of scary knowing it could happen,? he said.

While at BAMZ, talked to three girls who worked directly with children, rather than animals: Emily Ross and Taylor Gorham who are assistants at the Aqua Camp and Tiannae Simons who is an Education Summer Assistant.

According to 16-year-old Miss Ross: ?The kids always have something to do. They are never sitting down bored. We have field trips for our group, we have three every week. You have to be dedicated. You can?t just sit down and relax and let (the kids) do whatever.?

Miss Ross, an aspiring teacher said: ?I have always been interested in teaching so this is my dream job. I am thankful to have it.?

Taylor Gorham, 16, said she enjoyed working outside as opposed to in an office building: ?First of all, I love to be sitting out in the sun everyday. I would hate to be stuck in an office all day.?

In addition to the experience, Miss Gorham, an aspiring marine biologist, admitted the job has provided her with important connections in the field as well as knowledge about the complexities of Bermuda?s environment.

According to Miss Gorham, one of the most interesting things she has learnt while at BAMZ, was that the pollution on East Broadway is worse than in New York City.

Another aspiring teacher, Miss Simons, 21, described the BAMZ as a small family environment, saying: ?Most places you go to work you get a job but they don?t really include you in everything, but here they make you feel like you belong.?

Miss Simons said the job has made her more outgoing and added: ?I get to be around a place that I?ve loved since I was younger. I get to learn about my Island.?

She continued: ?I am learning how to cope and handle children better.?

The last ? but certainly not the least important ? summer intern, Kyla Smith, was talked to just after she had come out from a dive in the North Rock tank.

Miss Smith, who does the diving talks with visitors, has been working at BAMZ for three summers and is also responsible for cleaning the windows and rocks, siphoning sand, general husbandry, and everything from feeding to checking on the well being of the fish. According to Miss Smith, who plans to become a marine biologist, ?there is never really a dull day?.

Whlie she has swam with sharks, large fish and even a blind eel, she said she enjoys the so-called-scary animals the most. ?Personally, for me that?s what I like to see, is those big animals everyone is afraid of,? she said.

Overall the experience has proven useful to Miss Smith who has realised she wants to specialise in marine animal psychology and study the behaviours of animals, since working at BAMZ.