To help your zoo and to become an Erie Zoological Society volunteer you must…

Enjoy animals and plants and support the mission of the Erie Zoological Society.
Pay $20.00 fee for clearance and background check if 18 years or older
Attend one volunteer orientation.
Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, and medical form.
Complete a volunteer interview.
Attend required trainings for the volunteer assignment.
Complete minimum required hours for volunteer assignment.
Agree to contact the Volunteer Coordinator at least ten days in advance or 24 hours in the case of an emergency if you cannot attend scheduled assignment.

Erie Zoo Volunteer Benefits

Chance to provide a direct and highly valued contribution to the Erie Zoological Society.
Discounts at the concessions and gift shop.
Free zoo and garden volunteer polo t-shirt
Free family zoo membership after 100 hours of volunteer service in one calendar year.
Free monthly volunteer newsletter.
Invitation to annual volunteer recognition event.
Development of public speaking skills, leadership skills, and knowledge of biology, environmental science, conservation and zoos.
On-going educational opportunities through volunteer gatherings, additional training and guest speakers.

Erie Zoo and Botanical Garden Volunteer Opportunities
Most volunteer opportunities are available during the weekday, on the weekends and during some evenings.

Docents

Docent volunteers are enthusiastic and motivated adults who wish to learn about and share their enthusiasm for and knowledge of animals, plants and the Zoo with visitors and class and program participants. Teacher Act-48 credit is available through this program for a fee of $60.00.

Docent volunteer requirements include…

Must be at least 18 years old.
Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, medical information form.
Complete an interview and attend a six week long training for a total of 18 hours.
Complete a minimum of 40 volunteer hours per calendar year.

Docent volunteers will…

Coordinate special events including guiding children and adults in their observations of animals, biofacts and plants of the Erie Zoo.
Interpret exhibits for guests to the Zoo.
Act as site Docent for craft, education and activity booths including touch tables.
Assist with classes, ZooVentures, scout programs, family programs, overnight stays, and birthday parties.
Assist with horticulture / gardening.
Assist with animal care starting with preparing animal diets.

Docent Required Training will begin in February 2008.

Ed Zoo Crew

Ed Zoo Crew is a volunteer program for teens from the ages of 14 to 18 that love animals, zoos and children. Ed Zoo Crew volunteers enhance and support the fine Erie Zoo summer Zoo Venture children programs, Children's Zoo, Children's Adventure Center and special events.

Ed Zoo Crew volunteer requirements include…

Must be between the ages of 14 and 18.
Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, medical information form, and two teacher recommendations.
Complete an interview and two required training days for a total of 12 hours.
Complete a minimum of 15 volunteer hours per calendar year.

Ed Zoo Crew volunteers will…

Assist with at least one week long Zoo Venture children’s program.
Assist with special events.
Supervise animal contact areas and the playground in the Children’s zoo.
Assist with classes, scout programs, family programs, overnight stays, and birthday parties.
Assist with craft, education and activity booths.

Ed Zoo Crew Required Training will begin in March 2008

Children’s Zoo Volunteer Program Assistants NEW!

The children’s zoo is a recently completed and aggressive new program in hands-on learning for Zoo guests. Visitors can now groom goats and kangaroos and feed lorikeets in the animal contact area; they can practice different zoo jobs in the Adventure Center; and have great fun in the playground. The volunteer Program Assistant will supervise activity in the Children’s Zoo and demonstrate to guests how they can become active participants in the day-to-day operation of the zoo.

Children’s Zoo Volunteer Program Assistant requirements include…

Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, and medical information forms.
Complete an interview and a one half day volunteer training.
Interact with Zoo guests of all ages and be willing to answer questions and direct people.
Complete a minimum of 40 volunteer hours in one calendar year.

Children’s Zoo Volunteer Program Assistants will…

Greet visitors; answer general zoo questions; direct visitors through the zoo.
Demonstrate how visitors can safely groom and feed animals.
Supervise activity at the playground to help ensure a safe and pleasurable visitor experience.
Demonstrate zoo job stations in the Adventure Center and supervise activity to help ensure a safe and pleasurable visitor experience.

Ice Guards

The Erie Zoological Society’s JMC Ice Arena offers public skating sessions starting the Tuesday after Labor Day through Mid-March and provides skating lessons throughout the skating season. On any given night there can be over 200 skaters in the Ice Arena. Volunteers are needed Friday and Saturday nights to help provide a safe and pleasurable experience for the skating guests.

Ice guard requirements include…

Must be at least 21 years of age and have skating experience.
Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, and medical information forms.
Complete an interview and participate in a volunteer orientation.
Must be available one to two times per week on a regular basis. Arrive 15 minutes before the skate session.

Ice guards will…

Check for skate passes.
Monitor skating activity and enforce policies and rules of conduct.
Ensure skating activity is conducted safely and respectfully.
Assist with ice skating lessons.

Special Events

The Erie Zoo hosts over 20 special events through the year that are designed to engage and educate the community, celebrate the zoo animals and plants, and foster support for the Erie Zoological Society. Volunteers are needed at the special events to ensure that the visitor experience is positive and the event occurs safely and successfully.

Special event volunteer requirements include…

Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, and medical information forms.
Complete an interview and participate in a scheduled event orientation usually held on the day of the event.
Desire to interact with and serve the public.

Special event volunteers will…

Greet guests, pass out gifts, and direct guests to the location of the activities.
Setup and cleanup of event displays.
Assist with craft, education and activity booths.
Direct traffic and where guests should park.
Answer general zoo questions and direct people through the zoo.
Wear a mascot outfit.
Guide mascots around the zoo grounds.
Assist the concession stands and gift shop.

Zoo Gardening

Garden volunteers are crucial to the success of the Erie Zoological Society’s botanical gardens.
In a single year the Erie Zoological Society will plant over 1,000 flowers, design dozens of flower containers, care for hundreds of shrubs and trees, and spread truckloads of mulch.
More volunteers are needed for spring and fall cleanup, summer long garden maintenance, and special projects including plant identification, writing garden plant lists, updating computer records, plant labeling, plant pressing, and library organization.
The garden volunteers have flexible schedules and sign-up for volunteering on a weekly basis.

Gardening Volunteer Requirements Include:

Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, medical information form and interview.
Be at least 14 years of age.
Notify Tami Fowler, Volunteer Coordinator, at least ten days in advance or 24 hours in the case of an emergency if you cannot attend scheduled assignment.
Participate in on the job training conducted by Horticulturalist, Jeff Carey.
Pay a $20.00 fee for clearance and background check if 18 years or older.
Have a tetanus shot within the last ten years.
Complete 40 hours per calendar year in volunteer service.
Interact with Zoo guests and be willing to answer questions and direct people.
Support the Erie Zoological Society mission.

Gardening Volunteers will :

Plant, water and weed gardens.
Answer visitors questions about the Zoo and the gardens.

Animal Diet Preparation

The Erie Zoo is home to 500 animals representing over 100 different species. There is a lot of work in preparing all of the fruit, vegetables and meat for all of the animals at the Erie Zoo. Volunteers and staff prepare diets by following exact recipes formulated for each species. Each animal receives a specified type, amount and size of food.

Animal Diet Volunteer Requirements Include:

Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, medical information form and interview.
Be available from 8:00am to 1:30pm once a week to volunteer.
Be at least 18 years of age.
Notify Tami Fowler, Volunteer Coordinator, at least ten days in advance or 24 hours in the case of an emergency if you cannot attend scheduled assignment.
Participate in three on-the-job training sessions.
Work independently with little supervision.
Be able to stand for long periods of time while volunteering.
Pay a $20.00 fee for clearance and background check.
Have a tetanus shot within the last ten years.
Complete 40 hours per calendar year in volunteer service.
Support the Erie Zoological Society mission.

Animal Diet Volunteers will:

Follow written recipes exactly and cut fruits and vegetables to specified lengths and sizes.
Place cut fruit and vegetables in containers and label appropriately.
Weigh and separate raw meat product.

Administration
Organization, record management, mailings, answering phones, and office administration is a necessary part of the Erie Zoo’s success. Volunteers that are looking for an opportunity to contribute, but do not necessarily want to interact with the public, can provide much needed administrative assistance.

Administrative volunteer requirements include…

Complete a volunteer application, volunteer agreement, and medical information forms.
Complete an interview and participate in a volunteer orientation.
Be detail oriented and organized.
Complete a minimum of 40 volunteer hours in one calendar year.
Experience with Microsoft Office, typing, copy machines, fax machines, and postage machines is preferred.

Administrative volunteers will…

Assist with large mailings.
Photocopy, type and file.
Organize office files and educational materials.
Assist with Erie Zoological Society library.
Complete data-entry.
Answer phones.

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