VOLUNTEER
Volunteers are the heart of our mission to save animals
Teen Ambassador Program
Join the 2026 Teen Ambassador Volunteer Program!
Are you a high school student passionate about wildlife, conservation, and making an impact? Apply now for the Teen Ambassador Volunteer Program and become a part of a vibrant community of conservation leaders!
Through this program, teens will:
- Make friends, participate in weekly meetings with other teens to explore conservation careers, and build valuable public speaking, leadership, and teamwork experience.
- Engage young minds in Zoomazium, the zoo’s indoor nature play space, volunteering with early childhood audiences.
- Be an ambassador for the zoo’s new habitat spaces and inspire our guests with stories about our animals and what guests can do to support animals in the wild.
- Learn about how we care for and enrich the lives of animals that live at Woodland Park Zoo and share our story with guests.
- Collect scientific observational data for the zoo to help us understand our animal’s daily habits and how guests perceive them.
- Observe Keeper and Guest Engagement Talks to further understand how WPZ makes education universal for everyone.
Space is limited in this program; we will be bringing 15 Teen Ambassadors Volunteers onboard this year. We encourage all interested teens to apply whether or not this program would be their first volunteer or career-related role.
The Teen Ambassador Volunteer Program is designed for teens who:
- Love animals and want to share their passion for wildlife.
- Want to connect with other teens who care about conservation.
- Are eager to learn more about conservation and potential careers.
- Are both enthusiastic about this program and excited to have an opportunity to grow their skills in leadership, teamwork, and public speaking, no prior experience required!
Applications
How to Apply
Applications Open Friday, February 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Application Eligibility
Teens entering grades 10th – 12th in the Fall of 2026
Complete the application form by Friday, March 27th at 5:00 p.m. PST (see below).
Selected applicants will be invited to interview in mid April.
Final decisions will be sent out at the beginning of May.
Program Requirements
Must be able to attend Orientation Day: Friday, June 26th 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Woodland Park Zoo.
Must be able to attend at least seven cohort meetings/celebration (see dates below).
Must complete a total of 20 hours of volunteer shifts between June 29th – September 6th.
Program Dates
Orientation Day: Friday, June 26th 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Woodland Park Zoo.
Volunteer Shifts: Flexible self-scheduling of volunteer shifts
June – July:
Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
August – September:
Monday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cohort Meetings and End of Program Celebration:
- Wednesday, July 1st 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 8th 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 15th 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 22nd 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 29th 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 5th 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 12th 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 19th 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 26th 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 2nd 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Accessibility & Accommodations
Canopy Neurodiversity Foundation
Canopy Neurodiversity Foundation (CNF) is an organization supporting neurodivergent-identifying youth in the workplace, specifically youth with ADHD and/or autism. Through a partnership with the Woodland Park Zoo, they can provide support through the Teen Ambassador Volunteer Program (TAVP) application and interview process for candidates who identify with autism and/or ADHD. CNF will also provide continued coaching support during the volunteer program if the teen applicant is accepted into TAVP.
For more information and to contact CNF for help with your application, please open this one-sheet.
At the Woodland Park Zoo, we are committed to creating an environment that fully includes and supports all individuals, recognizing the diverse needs of our community. We strive to seamlessly integrate accessibility and reasonable accommodations into every aspect of our services, programs, and employment opportunities, ensuring that everyone can participate fully and equally.
One way we want to assist all teens in participating in this program is to offer all active Teen Ambassador Volunteers a stipend of $300 for the summer. This stipend is intended to reduce barriers to the program such as transportation costs, lunches, closed-toes shoes, etc.
For any other assistance, information, or support you may need to engage fully in the Teen Ambassador Volunteer Program—from the application process to interviews and beyond—please do not hesitate to contact WPZ Staff at teenambassadors@zoo.org. We are here to ensure that your experience is as inclusive and accessible as possible.
What’s it like to be a Teen Ambassador?
Hear from our 2025 Cohort:
- “I loved connecting with my peers! The environment was so welcoming, and I loved getting these amazing opportunities to learn!”
- “It was a great experience that helped me engage with guests and expand my knowledge on conservation at the zoo”
- “My public speaking and social skills have definitely improved in this program!”
- “It was such a fantastic experience, I learned so much and it really helped me learn more about conservation, the Zoo itself and job opportunities or potential career paths in the zoo. This program was the best part of my summer break.”
Through this program, teens will have the opportunities to bring a youth voice to inspire conservation actions, connect with guests about wildlife and conservation, and foster community with fellow teens. The Teen Ambassador Volunteer Program is geared towards high school students that want to create empathy connections between our guests, animals, the environment, and communities.
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).