The Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Learning Center is currently accepting applications for interns to lodge at the facility.

Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Learning Center

Located at 2663 Old Cox Rd. in Asheboro, NC (Google map), the Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Education Center is a multi-function facility owned and operated by the North Carolina Zoo Society. The Center functions primarily as a residence for students, interns, and other temporary staff and volunteers while they are working at the North Carolina Zoo.  The Center also contains a full-service kitchen, living room, and several meeting rooms that may be rented for personal use. Free WiFi is available throughout the Center for residents and for meeting room occupants.

Student Housing

Please Note: Student and intern housing will not be available in the Schindler Center on the dates listed below. Anyone residing at the center before or after these dates MUST make other lodging arrangements for the dates and times noted.

  • May 13 beginning at 5 p.m through May 14 at 5 p.m.
  • June 16 beginning at 5 p.m. through June 19 at 5 p.m.;
  • July 14 beginning at 5 p.m .through July 19 at 5 p.m.
  • August 5 beginning at 5 p.m. through August 6 at 5 p.m.

Who May Reside at the Center

  • Interns, students, researchers, and volunteers may rent lodging at the Center while working at the Zoo. The Center's five bedrooms can house 14 people. Two bedrooms are private; the remaining three rooms sleep two to four people. Each bedroom has a mini-fridge and a microwave.
  • Please review current pricing for lodging at the Schindler Center by clicking here: 2023 Cabin Pricing
  • Residents have access to a laundry room and lounge.
  • Prospective renters should apply to stay at the Center at least 14 days before their planned visit.  A $30 non-refundable late reservation fee is charged to renters who apply less than two weeks before they plan to visit.

Accessing the Schindler Learning Center

If you would like more information about staying at the Schindler Center or hosting an event there, please complete the appropriate online form. A North Carolina Zoo Society representative will contact you within five business days of receiving your request.

If you are a student, researcher or other eligible applicant who wants to stay at the Center, please submit your inquiry at least two weeks before the date that you hope to begin your stay.  Follow this link to begin the process of securing lodging at the Schindler Learning Center. Interns and other lodgers who begin the reservation process fewer than 14 days before they hope to secure a room, will be charged a non-refundable $30 late-reservation fee.

 

Meeting Rooms

  • Businesses, Zoo Society members, and community members may rent a large meeting room (maximum capacity 50 people) and two break-out rooms in a fully-finished basement.
  • Meeting room rentals provide access to a full-service kitchen, a great room, a large meeting room, and a large screened-in porch. The Zoo Society provides free Wi-Fi for meeting room rentals but does not provide audio-visual equipment to renters. If you plan to present a PowerPoint presentation, you will need to bring a projector to use for the presentation.
  • The Center is equipped with eight 60" round tables, eight 6' rectangular tables, and 50 chairs. Renters are responsible for the set-up and break-down of all tables and chairs before and after each event.
  • Basement breakout room rentals are available only as an add-on when renting the meeting room. Groups may not reserve basement rooms unless they reserve the upstairs meeting room for the same period.
  • The Center's Current Pricing Schedule  (which was updated in 2021) can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.  We have not made a decision yet about the fee schedule for 2023.  If we decide that we should raise our fees, we will not increase them by more than 7 percent.
    2023 Cabin Pricing

Please begin the reservation process by clicking here.

Schindler Center Photos

Click on any photo below to start a slideshow.