Horticulture Positions

>

Nature Boardwalk Horticulture Volunteer

Mid-April through October
Time Commitment: One shift per week for at least six months
Shifts available: Fridays from 8–11 a.m.

Nature Boardwalk Horticulture Volunteers work in teams alongside a staff horticulturist in Nature Boardwalk, the zoo’s restored natural area surrounding South Pond. This is a physically demanding position where shifts will consist of the removal of invasive species and clearing pathways.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must be least 18 years old
• Ability to work well both in a team and independently
• Ability to maintain confidentiality about sensitive zoo information
• Comfort working in a collaborative environment and adhering to zoo policies and procedures
• Comfort with supportive coaching and feedback

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, sit, bend, kneel, and walk on uneven terrain
• Ability to wear closed-toe shoes
• Ability to stay in one location for a scheduled period
• Ability to traverse zoo grounds in all weather conditions; accommodations can be arranged
• Comfort performing physical work in hot and humid weather conditions
• Ability to stand, sit, bend, kneel, and walk on uneven terrain
• Comfort using tools such as shovels, soil knives, and pruners

Onboarding Requirements

• Complete an online application; if you need help filling out an application, email volunteer@lpzoo.org
• Successfully complete an interview with the Volunteer Services department
• Complete and pass a standard criminal background check
• Attend a day-long orientation at the zoo on one of the following dates:
  1. Saturday, March 22
  2. Friday, March 28
  3. Monday, March 31
  4. Sunday, April 6
  5. Monday, April 14
• Attend and complete all required training and online coursework

 Farm-in-the-Zoo Gardening Volunteer

Mid-April through October
Time Commitment: One shift per week for at least six months
Shifts available: Thursdays from 9 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Volunteer gardeners at Lincoln Park Zoo make a positive, immediate, and productive contribution to the Edible Garden each day as they roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in this 5,000-square-foot organic vegetable garden located at Farm-in-the-Zoo. Along the way, they also share their enthusiasm, enjoy easy camaraderie, and graciously inspire zoo guests—helping everyone connect to growing food.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Ability to work well both in a team and independently
• Ability to maintain confidentiality about sensitive zoo information
• Comfort working in a collaborative environment and adhering to zoo policies and procedures
• Comfort with supportive coaching and feedback

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, sit, bend, kneel, and walk on uneven terrain
• Ability to wear closed-toe shoes
• Ability to stay in one location for a scheduled period
• Ability to traverse zoo grounds in all weather conditions; accommodations can be arranged

Onboarding Requirements

• Complete an online application; if you need help filling out an application, email volunteer@lpzoo.org
• Successfully complete an interview with the Volunteer Services department
• Complete and pass a standard criminal background check
• Attend a day-long orientation at the zoo on one of the following dates:
  1. Saturday, March 22
  2. Friday, March 28
  3. Monday, March 31
  4. Sunday, April 6
  5. Monday, April 14
• Attend and complete all required training and online coursework
• Begin volunteering shortly after training (typically one to two weeks)

Horticulture Volunteer Assistant

Mid-April through October
Time Commitment: One shift per week for at least six months
Shifts available: Thursday 8–11 a.m. with Elliot and Wednesday 8–11 a.m. with Mallory

Horticulture Volunteer Assistants should have previous experience working in green spaces. These volunteers may work independently or in small groups under minimal direct supervision in gardens around zoo grounds. This is a physically demanding, detail-oriented position which will include a variety of repetitive fine-tuning garden tasks, pulling weeds, planting, sharpening tools, and deadheading.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Ability to work well both in a team and independently
• Ability to maintain confidentiality about sensitive zoo information
• Comfort working in a collaborative environment and adhering to zoo policies and procedures
• Comfort with supportive coaching and feedback

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, sit, bend, kneel, and walk on uneven terrain
• Ability to wear closed-toe shoes
• Ability to stay in one location for a scheduled period
• Ability to traverse zoo grounds in all weather conditions; accommodations can be arranged
• Ability to use and communicate with on-grounds radio
• Comfort performing physical work in hot and humid weather conditions
• Comfort using tools such as shovels, soil knives, and pruners

Onboarding Requirements

• Complete an online application; if you need help filling out an application, email volunteer@lpzoo.org
• Successfully complete an interview with the Volunteer Services department
• Complete and pass a standard criminal background check
• Attend a day-long orientation at the zoo on one of the following dates:
  1. Saturday, March 22
  2. Friday, March 28
  3. Monday, March 31
  4. Sunday, April 6
  5. Monday, April 14
• Attend and complete all required training and online coursework

Phenology Data Volunteer

April through October
Time Commitment: One shift per week for at least six months
Shifts available: Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 8–11 a.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Phenology is the study of how living organisms respond to patterns of events in the natural world—such as the change of seasons! Phenology volunteers will study plants at the zoo and record data about the flowering periods of selected spring flowering trees, hibiscus plants, and perennials in Nature Boardwalk under the guidance of a Horticulture staff member. This is a highly detail-oriented task that will involve stepping over fences and carefully navigating inside of garden beds.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Ability to work well both in a team and independently
• Ability to maintain confidentiality about sensitive zoo information
• Comfort working in a collaborative environment and adhering to zoo policies and procedures
• Comfort with supportive coaching and feedback
• Comfort using an iPad to record data entry for a selected list of trees and perennials across zoo grounds
• Comfort in adhering to instructions for the use of technology, including iPads, digital apps like iNaturalist, GPS devices, cell phone cameras, etc.
• Comfort photographing each flowering phase on an iPad device
• Ability to utilize reference materials to verify the correct identity of each plant

Thursday volunteers may assist the Horticulture staff and Research Apprentice Program students with data collection, mapping, and plant identification at Nature Boardwalk utilizing an iPad or cell phone via the iNaturalist app.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, sit, bend, kneel, reach and walk on uneven terrain
• Ability to wear closed-toe shoes
• Ability to stay in one location for a scheduled period
• Ability to traverse zoo grounds in all weather conditions; accommodations can be arranged
• Ability to use and communicate with a radio on-grounds
• Comfort performing physical work in hot and humid weather conditions
• Ability to stand, sit, bend, kneel, and walk on uneven terrain
• Ability to use tools such as shovels, soil knives, and pruners

Onboarding Requirements

• Complete an online application; if you need help filling out an application, email volunteer@lpzoo.org
• Successfully complete an interview with the Volunteer Services department
• Complete and pass a standard criminal background check
• Attend a day-long orientation at the zoo on one of the following dates:
  • Saturday, March 22
  • Friday, March 28
  • Monday, March 31
  • Sunday, April 6
  • Monday, April 14
  • Attend and complete all required training and online coursework