Youth Volunteer Opportunities

Team Habitat/Zooscapers (March - November)

Designed for children ages 14 and above, but must be accompained by an adult who has completed volunteer training at all times.

A Team Habitat volunteer assists with projects for all the departments at the Zoo as part of a team.  Projects range from light physical duty such as planting bulbs and painting doors, to more physically challenging projects such as moving deadfall, cleaning/reorganizing zoo areas after big special events, pruning and clearing brush.

Team Habitat meets the 2nd Saturday of the month, March-November from 9am-noon, and requires at least 15 hours (5 work days) a year minimum to be considered for the next year’s program.   One training session is required.

A ZooScaper volunteer is a more individualized program that assists with projects for the Horticultural Department. Projects range from light physical duty such as planting, weeding, mulching, and watering, to more physically challenging projects such as moving deadfall and clearing brush. The ZooScapers program requires 30 hours of volunteer work each year in order to participate in the next year’s program. Various time commitments are available, generally Monday-Friday, and requires one training session, plus additional training depending on the task. Opportunities are available March-October.

A materials fee for youth volunteers including adult chaperone of $45 is required for the first year to participate in the Team Habitat/ZooScaper Program, and a $15 fee for every new shirt after the first year of volunteer service. 


Special Event Volunteers

Designed for children ages 14 and above, but must be accompanied by an adult who has completed volunteer training at all times.

Special Event volunteers are a group of people who are available to help specifically with Special Events on a consistent basis, such as our Second Saturday Kids Fun Fest, Fourth Saturday Zoo Tales, Pancakes for Penguins, Sunset Safaris and much more.

Activities include helping with crafts, crowd control, special events characters, setup/teardown and others.  Special Events volunteers will receive emails annually with opportunities to volunteer at the Zoo.

This program requires a minimum of 30 hours per year to be considered for next year's program.  An adult volunteer must accompany each youth volunteer while at the Zoo. Adults must complete volunteer training and pass a background check.  A materials fee for youth volunteers including adult volunteer chaperone of $45 is required for the first year to participate in Special Events Volunteer Program, and a $15 fee for every new shirt after the first year of volunteer service.


A materials fee is not required in order to be added to our special events mailing list.