Volunteer
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 520-837-8084 or download the Docent Application
Teen Volunteers
We have already selected our teen volunteers for this summer. We will begin accepting applications for 2011 in February. An application will be available to download at that time.
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.
Call 520-837-8086or email jennifer.stoddard@tucsonaz.gov for more information.
Internships
We have already selected our summer and fall 2010 interns. We will begin spring 2011 interviews in October 2010.
College Interns work behind-the-scenes with a Zoo Keeper for one semester. Applicants must be a junior or senior at an accredited college or university and be able to receive college credit for a semester’s work. Interns do NOT work with primates or elephants.
- They may clean animal exhibits, feed and enrich animals.
- They may care for birds in our aviaries and bird breeding area.
- They may assist Zoo Keepers in other routine tasks.
Please apply early for this popular volunteer opportunity to avoid disappointment. Call 520-791-3204 x24 for additional information, or download the Intern Application.
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.
