Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are an essential piece of the puzzle at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Volunteers assist with daily zoo activities, educational programs, special events, outreach programs and much more. We have a variety of opportunities for different levels of interest. To learn more about volunteering at the zoo, click on one of the following areas:

Zoo Volunteer

Zoo Ambassador

Zoo Docent

Adult volunteers must be at least 18 years old and enjoy working with people. Volunteers may participate in Animal Enrichment workshops with no application process or special training. Other volunteer positions require an application process and specific training.

Zoo Volunteer – Assist in the Wild Things Gift Shop, provide aid in the office, sell goat food to children, interpret in the kangaroo yard, and assist with special events at the zoo. Volunteers must complete an orientation class before their first assignment. People who wish to volunteer for a limited term may enjoy working as a Zoo Volunteer. See job descriptions below to learn more about a specific volunteer position.

Zoo Volunteer Opportunities:

Gift Shop Assistant – Duties include ringing sales at the cash register, assisting with the pricing of merchandise, and helping customers with sales. Volunteers generally work one 4-hour shift per week during the zoo season from the end of April through mid-October.

Office/Clerical Aide – Office/clerical volunteers are on call to provide assistance with a variety of administrative tasks. Duties vary, but may include record-keeping, stuffing envelopes, filing, answering the phone, and more. Volunteers are needed all year at various times.

Goat Food Sales – Many volunteers enjoy selling bottles and cones of goat food to children in the Indiana Family Farm area of the zoo. Morning and afternoon shifts are available. Volunteers are needed every day from the end of April through mid-October.

Kangaroo Yard – Volunteers are needed to help keepers supervise visitor and animal interactions in the Australian Adventure’s kangaroo yard. Volunteers also offer educational interpretations and present biofacts and activities to zoo guests.

Special Events – Many volunteers are needed to assist with special events starting in May through October. Volunteers help with interactive activities, set-up and tear-down, and other special event needs.

Special Skills Volunteer – Special skills volunteers are on call to share their unique talents with the zoo. Some skills valuable to the zoo include carpentry, photography, sewing, and art. Special skills are needed all year.

Zoo Ambassador – Outgoing and enthusiastic Zoo Ambassadors are needed to conduct tours, talk to visitors, show animal artifacts, assist zookeepers with animal observation, staff information tables at community events, and present information to civic groups. Becoming a Zoo Ambassador requires a commitment of at least 36 hours per year. This position requires completion of orientation, plus additional classes for Zoo Ambassadors.

Zoo Ambassador Opportunities:

Zoo Tour Guide – Zoo Ambassadors lead groups of visitors on zoo tours while providing background information on each area. Tours usually last 2 to 3 hours. Tour schedules vary from week to week from May through October.

Behind the Scenes Zoo Tour Guide – Zoo Ambassadors lead groups of zoo visitors through areas normally closed to the public. Tours usually last 2 to 3 hours. Behind the Scenes Tours are most frequently scheduled from November through April.

Animal Interpreter – Zoo Ambassadors enrich our visitors’ experiences by giving them opportunities to see and learn about animals through informal conversation and the use of objects such as animal skeletons, pelts, footprint castings, feathers, and similar materials. Ambassadors can work 3-hour shifts from late April through October.

Zookeeper Aide – Zookeeper Aides assist the zoo staff in a variety of ways, from preparing animal food to observing animal behavior. Limited assignments are available throughout the year when requested by zoo staff.

Civic Talks – Zoo Ambassadors present the zoo’s message to the public by staffing tables at festivals and events off-site, and by speaking to civic groups about the zoo’s mission. These activities occur throughout the year.

Zoo Docent - Volunteers who desire to help others learn more about animals and conservation may wish to become Zoo Docents. Docents are qualified to participate in the widest variety of assignments. Becoming a Docent requires a long-term commitment of at least 72 hours per year. A series of training classes is conducted each spring and fall for new Docents.

Zoo Docent Opportunities:

On-site Program Instructor – Present educational programs to classes visiting the zoo. Programs are coordinated with school academic requirements, change with the seasons, and are offered throughout the year.

Care-A-Van – Present informal animal demonstrations and/or video presentations at local hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement centers. Programs are scheduled throughout the year.

Animal Demonstrator – Present informal animal demonstrations in the zoo. Three hour shifts are scheduled from the end of April through mid-October.

Wild Night Assistant – Assist the staff instructor with evening and morning educational programs for youth groups. Wild Nights are scheduled from the end of April through mid-October.

Zoomobile Instructor – Present educational programs to elementary school students in Allen County. Zoomobiles are scheduled from November through March.

Apply Now!  Complete a volunteer application online today. For more information, call the Volunteer Office at (260) 427-6828 or send an e-mail to .