Learning Positions

Play Assistant

Application Status: CLOSED
Year-round Position
Time Commitment: Once per week for at least six months
Shifts: Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

As a play assistant, you will help create a sensory-rich learning environment, greet guests, and gain hands-on experience with the zoo’s youngest visitors at Farm-in-the-Zoo. This position is ideal for applicants who have an early education background or are hoping to gain experience guiding play-based learning. Applicants should enjoy facilitating activities for young children.

Responsibilities Include:

• Encouraging creativity and promoting motor skills through music, art, and block building
• Exploring different textures, sights, and sounds with sensory bins
• Facilitating play and maintaining a safe space
• Supporting children as they direct their own experience
• Helping children and parents get oriented to the site and experience

Volunteers Must:

• Attend a day-long zoo orientation
• Complete four hours of position-specific training
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be comfortable working at a child’s level, which may include standing and kneeling for long periods of time; accommodations can be made
• Be energetic
• Be able to lift up to 30 pounds
• Be comfortable in a collaborative environment and adhere to zoo policies, procedures, and guest-service standards
• Be comfortable traversing zoo grounds in all weather conditions
• Complete an online application
• Complete an interview
• Pass a standard criminal background check
• Be fully vaccinated (per CDC guidelines) for COVID-19

Guest Engagement Volunteer

Application Status: CLOSED
Year-round Position
Time Commitment: Once per week for at least four months
Shifts: Daily from 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. or 1–4:30 p.m. (may vary seasonally)

Guest engagement volunteers connect guests to the zoo’s stories of care, conservation, and community by facilitating zoo chats and hands-on learning experiences. After learning an initial suite of programs, these volunteers are encouraged to supplement their knowledge by completing online training for specific zones of the zoo.

Responsibilities Include:

• Leading interpretive conversations about animals, animal care, conservation, and science to inspire people to take action to help wildlife
• Leading or assisting with animal encounters at Farm-in-the-Zoo
• Facilitating activities at specially designed mobile learning stations
• Delivering programs at special events as requested
• Moving and setting up a rolling cart weighing up to 250 pounds

Volunteers Must:

• Attend a day-long zoo orientation
• Complete eight hours of zoo orientation and 16 hours of position-specific training, both of which include in-person and virtual learning sessions
• Commit to volunteering four hours per week for a minimum of six months
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be comfortable in a collaborative environment and adhere to zoo policies, procedures, and guest-service standards
• Be comfortable staying in one location for long periods of time and traversing zoo grounds in all weather conditions
• Complete an online application
• Complete an interview
• Pass a standard criminal background check
• Be fully vaccinated (per CDC guidelines) for COVID-19