Volunteer

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Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at Reid Park Zoo. Volunteers provide visitors with a unique and personal experience. There are several volunteer opportunities available.

Docents

Docents are volunteer educators. They work on Zoo grounds, educating our guests about wildlife and conservation issues. Docents must be 18 years of age or older and must attend an 8-week training course, offered once or twice per year. Docents do not work with zoo keepers or behind the scenes.

  • They may take artifacts—including bones, feathers, and pictures—to an exhibit and use those props to engage Zoo guests in conversation.
  • They may patrol the Zoo answering guests’ questions, or may work in the Information Center in the front plaza.
  • They may assist with special events in the Zoo.
  • Specially trained docents may handle small demonstration animals for educational presentations.
  • They may conduct a slide show or story time in our education building.

Call 520-837-8200 or download the Docent Application

Teen Volunteers

Teen volunteers are volunteer educators. They work on Zoo grounds, educating our guests about wildlife and conservation issues. Teen volunteers may be 13-18 years old and must attend an intensive training course, offered once per year in June. Teen volunteers must be willing to commit to volunteering for at least one year (June- May). Teen volunteers do not work with zoo keepers or behind the scenes.

  • They may take artifacts—including bones, feathers, and pictures—to an exhibit and use those props to engage Zoo guests in conversation.
  • They may facilitate a craft or activity table for kids in the Zoo.
  • They may conduct a slide show or story time in our education building.
  • They may patrol the Zoo answering guests’ questions, or work in the Information Center in the front plaza.
  • They may assist with special events in the Zoo.
  • Applications are accepted January-April. Click here to download the 2012 Teen Volunteer Application

Call 520-837-8086or email jennifer.stoddard@tucsonaz.gov for more information.

College Internships

We have selected our Spring 2012 and Summer 2012 interns.  If you are interested in Fall 2012, please submit your application. Interviews for Fall 2012 will be held in May 2012.

College Interns work behind-the-scenes with a Zoo Keeper for one semester and can earn up to 3 credit units from their college. Juniors and seniors from an accredited college or university will be given priority over other applicants.  The spring and fall internships consist of two workdays a week from 7:30am-12:30pm.  Summer internships are from 6:30am -11:30am and require three workdays a week due to the shorter semester.  Interns work on set days which may include weekend days. Interns do NOT work with primates or elephants.

  • They may clean animal exhibits, feed and enrich animals.
  • They may record behavioral observations of animals.
  • They may assist Zoo Keepers in other routine tasks.

Download the College Intern Application

For more information, please contact Sue Tygielski at 520-631-6053.

Reid Park Zoological Society Volunteers

Help the Society support the Zoo. Do you have great organizational and office skills? Are you interested in helping from the comfort of an office environment? The Reid Park Zoological Society can utilize volunteers to help with mailings, filing, data entry, phone calls, and event preparation. Call 520-881-4753.