The Minnesota Zoo has three programs for teenagers.

• ZooTeen Volunteers 13-18 year olds
• Wells Fargo Family Farm Volunteers 17 and up
• Summer Seasonal Volunteers 17 and up

Teens must meet the specific age requirement for each program by May 1st of the year in which they are applying.

Application information will be found at the end of this page after the program descriptions.

Summer Camp ZooTeen Opportunities
This program is full for Summer 2013. Applications are no longer being accepted.

Thinking about summer vacation already? Wondering what you can do that's different and exciting. How about becoming a ZooTeen at the Minnesota Zoo? ZooTeens assist with our Summer Camp Program as camp aides helping the Zoo's Naturalist Staff. Duties include snack preparation, participation in tours and learning activities, assisting with craft projects, and interacting with children in the camps to encourage their involvement in the session. 

ZooTeen candidates must be...

• ZooTeens must be 13 years of age by May 1 of each year
• Able to attend an information and interview session and attend ZooTeen training on the scheduled dates. No make-up sessions are available. (See the interview and training schedule in the application information.)
• Willing to volunteer two or three week-long summer camp sessions during the summer.  Camps are either mornings or afternoons. You and your family get the opportunity to choose the weeks and the morning or afternoon session.  You can do all day camps as well.

While the ZooTeen Program operates primarily the summer months of the year, ZooTeens who have completed the training are invited throughout the year to help with children's craft projects and costume characters for special events, birthday parties and holiday activities.

Wells Fargo Family Farm Volunteers

Each spring our Farm exhibit kicks into summer gear and more than 100 volunteers are needed to help interpret and handle animals (those farm babies that is) in the goat yard, chicken coop, bunny hutch, swine barn, and cattle barn. Farm volunteers are outside or in a barn throughout the day, answering questions for our guests and helping to ensure they have an enjoyable visit. Farm volunteers choose a volunteer day and are at the Farm 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, the same day each week throughout the summer. Training includes homework: reading the Family Farm training manual and taking animal quizzes, in addition to two half day training sessions in May.

Farm volunteer candidates must be...

• A minimum of 17years of age by May 1 of each year
• Able to attend an interview session and attend Farm volunteer training on the scheduled dates. (See the interview and training schedule in the application information.) No make up sessions are available
• Enjoy working outdoors in the summer.
• Willing to volunteer one full day a week from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend and assist at Spring Babies Event and Harvest Fall Festival Event.
• Able to miss no more than two days of volunteering during the summer. Please check your summer calendars carefully before committing.

Summer Exhibit Interpreter Teenage Volunteer Opportunities

DINOSAURS are returning to the Minnesota Zoo in the summer of 2013 as well as our popular AFRICA Exhibit.  Training will be provided so that you will be able to share information and experiences for young and old alike creating memories for a lifetime.  You will also be trained to interpret along the Minnesota Trail, home to our new Black Bears.

Summer Exhibit Interpreters choose a volunteer day and are at the Zoo each week on the same day for a five-hour shift, morning or afternoon.  Training includes homework reading the Summer Seasonal training manual in addition to two half-day training sessions held on Saturdays in May.

Summer Seasonal Volunteer Candidates Must Be...

• A minimum of 17 years of age by May 1 of each year
• Able to attend an interview session and attend Summer Seasonal volunteer training on the scheduled dates. (See the interview and training schedule in the application information.) No make up sessions are available.
• Enjoy working outdoors in the summer for half of your five-hour shift.
• Willing to volunteer one day a week from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
• Able to miss no more than two days of volunteering during the summer. Please check your summer calendars carefully before committing.

Application Information

If you are interested in becoming a teen volunteer at the Minnesota Zoo, download the Volunteer Application Form

• You must be able to attend one of the scheduled interview sessions and be able to attend all the training listed.
• When we receive your complete application, you will be sent via email, a link to sign up for an interview session. There will be no admission to interview sessions without pre-registration due to space limitations.

Please remember that this is a selection process and not all applicants are accepted into the program. There are a limited amount of openings for each program.

To receive more information about any of the above programs, please call 952.431.9588 or toll-free at 1.800.366.7811.

You can also contact us by e-mail at: volunteer@mnzoo.org