Applicants must be at least 18 years old and provide proof of age. Volunteers are required to work a minimum of eight hours a day, one day a week for a minimum of 3 months. Volunteers must maintain a professional attitude and appearance as they are representing the zoo and aquarium. The dress code consists of comfortable, appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes, no sandals. Keep in mind, that you will get dirty.
There are four main areas in which to volunteer: zoo, wildlife encounters, aquarium, and sea lions.
The zoo volunteer program is made up of nine departments that encompass hoofstock, birds, primates, ponds & and carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, safari park, the Americas, and Wildlife Encounters. Large carnivores and the baby animal nursery are excluded from the volunteer program due to obvious liability. Reptiles, small mammals, and the aquarium are mostly indoors, the remaining areas are outdoors. Volunteers working in outside areas must be capable of working in all weather conditions including temperatures above 100°F. One volunteer is assigned to each keeper per day.
The Wildlife Encounters volunteer and internship program will immerse you in everyday happenings with over 30 different species that make up the Wildlife Encounters show and the lory parrot feedings. Animal training is at the core of this volunteer program. Volunteers will participate in exhibit cleaning, diet preparation, animal presentations, observe training sessions, and advance to hosting shows. This is a great opportunity to learn and apply exotic animal training skills in a public presentation setting.
The aquarium volunteer program covers over eighty exhibits in four buildings. The Predators, River Monsters, Diversity of Life in Water, and the Wild & Wonderful buildings introduce volunteers to a huge array of responsibilities from basic maintenance, nutritional needs, water chemistry, and life support systems. The aquarium also offers a volunteer diver program for those individuals who are open water certified and will have to complete a checkout dive to qualify.
Volunteers and interns in the sea lion department will assist with fish preparation, facility maintenance, shows, and interactive programs. In addition, interns and volunteers will have the opportunity to watch training sessions and participate in training discussions. Volunteers must commit to one day a week while our internship requires a 3 day a week commitment. We are looking for people interested in marine mammal care and training!
Volunteers are never put in situations or required to perform any job with which they are not comfortable. Due to potential health risks, pregnant volunteers must notify staff and will be reassigned as necessary.
Volunteering at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park is hard work but very rewarding. Be prepared to stay busy and get dirty. In return, you will learn valuable husbandry experience with exotic wildlife. Successful applicants will learn and perform most of the duties required of an assistant zookeeper or aquarist, under the strict supervision of experienced staff.
Your application will be reviewed by the Volunteer Services Coordinator for each area. IF your qualifications match our needs and availability, you will be contacted through your provided email for an interview. Volunteer openings are limited and competitive. In order to increase your odds of getting an interview, please accompany this application with a resumé. Cell phone usage is permitted only during breaks and is monitored by staff. Volunteers are required to be reliable and punctual in order to maintain good status. Failure to maintain good status can result in termination. Please do NOT call.
Volunteer Opportunities