Lions and tigers and, well we couldn’t find any bears. But the Sierra Safari Zoo in Reno has just about every other animal you’d find in any zoo.

“We have anywhere from hyenas to zebras to lions, tigers, leopards,” explains Cheryl Jones who manages the zoo and is a proud partner of the Sierra Nevada Job Corps Center.

Speaking of the partnership and students who do internships at the zoo, Cheryl says, “I do really, really appreciate them coming and helping.”

Students at Sierra Nevada, like Angel Douglas, who are studying culinary arts work at the zoo, supporting them in their mission and learning some valuable culinary skills.

“The girls,” explains Cheryl, “are pretty darn fast, and they take direction extremely well…They’re learning an awful lot of stuff here.”

Cheryl says her background in culinary arts helps her prepare the young Job Corps students for success.

“I actually worked in kitchens for many years, so I know what the chef is going to expect of the girls.”

There’s no monkeying around at the zoo. Job Corps students learn valuable culinary and employability skills that will help her find a good job one day.

Cheryl says Job Corps is a great program that leads young people in the right direction.

“I wish I would have been at Job Corps. I didn’t know about Job Corps. I would have enjoyed it.”