The Z TEAM! Volunteer and Leadership Program for Teens

Program Description:

Develop leadership and teamwork skills while having fun at the zoo! Volunteer positions as zoo camp aides, zoo keeper aides, and zoo crew members allow teens to explore the many aspects of working in a zoo while developing important lifelong professional skills. TEAM! Stands for Teens, Education, Animal Care, and Marketing and our updated program offers more activities and curriculum throughout the program to focus on these identified components.

Position Descriptions:

(Please note: 1st and 2nd year participants are assigned a position while returning 3rd, 4th, and 5th year participants are awarded their 1st or 2nd position preferences.)

Zoo Camp Aide
This position requires your participation Monday through Friday, daily from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for two consecutive weeks.
As a camp aide you will:

• spend your day assisting camp instructors with educational activities, crafts, refreshments and general clean up
• gain leadership skills as you help guide the day camp kids through many parts of the zoo, including behind-the-scenes areas
• make new friends working with a team of peers to complete tasks and responsibilities
• learn about animals and environments

Zoo Keeper Aide
This position requires your participation Monday through Friday, daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for two consecutive weeks.
As a zoo keeper aide you will:

• help prepare exhibit areas for daily visitors
• assist zoo keepers with daily tasks including cleaning animal holding areas, distributing food, and assisting keepers with animal care tasks as needed
• work together with other teen zoo keeper aides on special activities
• learn about animals and environments

Zoo Crew Member
This position requires your participation Monday through Friday, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for two consecutive weeks.
As a zoo crew member you will:

• spend your day interacting with visitors of all ages as you lead activities such as educational games and showing animal biofacts
• participate in the role of zoo mascot
• handle friendly zoo animals for visitors such as rabbits and chicks
• learn photography skills
• make new friends as you work with your zoo crew team mates
• gain leadership skills as you assist with zoo special events
• learn about animals and environments

To be a Z TEAM! volunteer, you must:

• be 13 to 17 years old by June 1, 2008
• have the desire and ability to work with people of all ages
• have an interest in animals and the environment
• be courteous and helpful to zoo visitors
• be able to understand and follow instructions
• commit to being in attendance on the days you are assigned, completing training sessions, and following the program’s code of conduct

How will Z TEAM! volunteers be chosen?

This program is competitive. Applicants are selected based on their timely completion of application materials, program experience, and availability.

How to apply:

Submit the following completed forms:

• Application (with answers to essay questions on a separate sheet of paper)
• Recommendation form

Click here to download these forms in Adobe PDF format.

Deadline: Turn in materials by Tuesday, March 4, 2008. Applications will not be accepted after this date.

Mail to:
Volunteer Coordinator
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
3411 Sherman Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46808

Fax to:
260-427-6820
to the attention of:
Volunteer Coordinator

Hand deliver to:
The Zoo Volunteer Office
3411 Sherman Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Program Fee:

$58 for new participants
$46 for returning participants

Fee due at time of training. Please do not send fee with your application.

(A limited number of scholarships are available for those demonstrating financial need. Contact the volunteer coordinator at 260-427-6828 for information.)

What happens next?

After May 1, 2008 we will mail you a letter to tell you if you’ve been selected for the program. If selected, we’ll tell you which session and position you are assigned. 1st and 2nd year participants are assigned a position while returning 3rd, 4th, and 5th year participants are awarded their 1st or 2nd preference. In the letter, you’ll also find out about training sessions and events.

The Z TEAM! Volunteer and Leadership
Program for Teens is sponsored by

Three Rivers Federal
Credit Union

“This really showed me that there are many different jobs in a zoo.” - Zoo Keeper Aide, 2007
 

“The zoo gives me the experience I need for future careers and college applications.” - Zoo Keeper Aide, 2007
 

”I was able to...get a taste of how a zoo worked.” - Zoo Crew Member, 2007
 

“This was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot from the counselors...I found out tons of information about the zoo...and I also learned how to care for kids.” - Zoo Camp Aide, 2007
 

“I had a blast and it was a great way to make new friends.” - Zoo Camp Aide, 2007
 

Acrobat Reader 6.0 or later is required to view the PDF documents on this page.  Click the icon to download it free.