VOLUNTEER

Volunteers are the heart of our mission to save animals

Volunteer PROGRAM

About the Program

For individuals ages 16 years and older

Three smiling adults, two women and one man, stand close together outdoors. They are wearing brown shirts with “Woodland Park Zoo Volunteer” logos and name badges, with trees and greenery in the background.

Volunteers are ambassadors for Woodland Park Zoo and an important part of our zoo team. We seek individuals who are excited about engaging with the zoo’s mission to save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.

The primary focus of our volunteers is engaging with zoo guests by offering assistance and information, facilitating extraordinary zoo experiences and helping at a variety of special events. Once in the program, volunteers also have the opportunity to apply and interview for positions in other aspects of the zoo’s operations including horticulture, education and leadership roles within the Volunteer Program.

Our program offers all volunteers opportunities to continuously learn more about conservation and animals, and to make an impact every day through this active role in the zoo community. While we all support our animals through connecting with guests and supporting many aspects of the zoo, we do not have programs that are hands on with our animals.

Current WPZ Volunteer VIC Access

Volunteer Program Requirements

The Woodland Park Zoo Volunteer Program requires interested individuals to:

Be at least 16 years old
Demonstrate commitment to the highest standards of customer service
Have enthusiasm for people, animals and conservation
Commit to the Volunteer Program for a minimum of one year
Meet the minimum service requirement of 70 hours per year
Successfully complete zoo ambassador training and mentorship
Have a reliable way to access the internet, as most communications are via email and volunteer scheduling is done online

Learn More and Apply for Our Volunteer Program

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Woodland Park Zoo! While we usually open volunteer recruitment in January, we will not be accepting applications at this time. Please check back here for updates on when applications will be available in the future.

If you’d like to be notified when recruitment resumes, sign up here for email updates:

Sign me up

CONTACT INFORMATION

Corporate Service Projects

Corporate volunteer groups are accepted on a limited basis, please email corpengagement@zoo.org to request information.

Contact Us

Volunteer Program

If you cannot find the answers to your questions about volunteering or need additional help please contact program staff at volunteer@zoo.org or 206.548.2450 (email preferred).