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 Come see what we're all about. If you have visited the Minnesota Zoo, you most likely have seen them in action...our Adult Interpretive Volunteers in blue. They are out and about on exhibit trails sharing information and answering questions to ensure that our guests enjoy their visit. Adult interpretive volunteers must be 18 years of age and able to make a one-year commitment to the Zoo to volunteer two to four times a month.
Prior to being accepted into the training classes, prospective volunteers spend a 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. day "shadowing" a volunteer who has already completed our basic training program. Shadow volunteers experience the realm of opportunities typical for a day at the Zoo. For example, you might spend an hour on the Tropics Trail randoming, an hour in the Dolphin Stadium seating guests for a dolphin show, an hour assisting with one of the many special events, an hour at the information booth, and an hour at the Tiger Lair Exhibit…all in one day. Shadow days are scheduled at your convenience, seven days a week.
Candidates must complete an application form with references (pdf file)
Each spring our Farm exhibit kicks into summer gear, and more than 40 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 need to be a minimum of 15 years of age through adulthood, and able to average a one-day-a-week commitment to the Zoo from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Training takes place in April and May.
The 2008 Wells Fargo Family Farm volunteer program is full.
Please look here after January 1, 2009 for a summer 2009 Family Farm application.
Volunteer Candidates Must be...
- Able to attend an Information/Interview Session and Volunteer Training in the Spring of each year
- Willing to volunteer an average of one day a week from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
- Enjoy working with people and around animals
- Enjoy working outdoors in the summer
 Russia’s Grizzly Coast, a major new exhibit planned to feature grizzly bears, sea otters, wild boar, and Amur leopards is set to open in June of 2008. Summer Seasonal Volunteers will be recruited and trained to provide information and experiences for young and old alike creating memories for a lifetime. You might “dig in” and help children discover bones in our great Mammoth Dig Site for an hour. Moving on from that site, you may discuss current conservation issues surrounding one of the world’s most endangered species, the Amur leopard. And then you may spend the rest of your day at the Zoo assisting the keeper staff with otter and bear presentations. You can visit the construction progress of Russia’s Grizzly Coast by going to the homepage of this website and clicking on Russia’s Grizzly Coast.
Summer Seasonal Volunteer Candidates Must be...
- Able to attend an Information/Interview Session and Volunteer Training in the Spring of each year
- Willing to volunteer an average of one day a week from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
- Enjoy working with people and around animals
- Enjoy working outdoors in the summer
Summer Seasonal Volunteer program is full.
Please look here after January 1, 2009 for a 2009 Summer Seasonal Volunteers application.
Calling all you shoppers out there...go wild and volunteer one day a week for a four-hour shift at the Zoo's Timber Lodge Traders and Water Works Market. Gift Shop Volunteers help to keep shelves neat and fully stocked, mark merchandise, and assist guests with their shopping experience.
Candidates must complete an application form with references (pdf file)
If you would prefer to volunteer away from the busy guest interaction areas, perhaps our General Support Volunteer Program is for you. Opportunities include data entry, filing, phone work and mailing projects as well as collating and compilation projects. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and available to volunteer on average one day a week, Monday through Friday for four hours.
Candidates must complete an application form with references (pdf file)
To receive more information about any of the above programs or to schedule an Adult Interpretive Shadow Day, please call 952.431.9588 or toll free at 1.800.366.7811. You can also contact us by email at: volunteer@mnzoo.org.
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