Ways to Volunteer
Help protect local amphibians and wetlands by listening to frog calls! FrogWatch is a family-friendly citizen science project that only takes 5 minutes of recording to complete each time. During FrogWatch training at Potawatomi Zoo, you’ll learn about frog calls and the tools necessary for tracking each species. Then take the skills you learn at the Zoo with you to record frog calls independently!
FrogWatch USA is the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s citizen science program and provides individuals, groups, and families opportunities to learn about wetlands in their communities by reporting on the calls of local frogs and toads. Citizen science refers to research collaborations between scientists and volunteers that expand opportunities for scientific data collection while also providing access to this information to community members. By recording frog calls, you and your family can help researchers understand the scope of amphibian population decline and help find ways to prevent it.
Being a FrogWatch citizen scientist is fun for the whole family, but we prefer that only adults or older children attend the training. Each training is up to 2 hours long and includes a PowerPoint presentation, review, and exam. The exam can be taken multiple times if needed. Each participant needs to attend one training on either February 23 or March 16, 2019.
To register, please complete this form: www.potawatomizoo.org/edzoocation/frogwatch.
Questions? Call the Conservation Education Department at (574) 235-9070 or e-mail at zooeducation@potawatomizoo.org
Junior Educators are teen volunteers that assist with ZooCamps and interact with guest on Zoo grounds during the summer months. Space is limited in this program. Apply by March 29th 2020 for the 2020 season.
Qualifications:
- Must be 13-17 years old
- Able to volunteer at least 50 hours/summer
Event Volunteers help during special events at the Zoo, including Party for the Planet, Members’ Picnic, and Zoo Boo.
Please apply by March 1st to be considered for the next training class.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Need to volunteer at a minimum of two special events per year
ZooCrew volunteers interact with Zoo visitors through exhibit and artifact interpretation and monitor the Australia Exhibit. Volunteers will also help at special events held at the Zoo.
Please apply by March 1st to be considered for the next training class.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Need to volunteer at least 20 hours/year
Docent volunteers interact with Zoo visitors through exhibit and artifact interpretation, lead guided tours, and assist in education classes. Volunteers will also help at special events held at the Zoo. In addition Docent volunteers are trained to handle some of our animal ambassadors and can assist zoo educators at both onsite and offsite education programs.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Need to volunteer at least 35 hours/year
- Yearly negative TB test
- Must commit to quarterly animal handling education sessions
We are currently not accepting new Diet Kitchen applications
Have you ever wondered just how much an American Alligator eats in a day? Or on what types of fruit and veggies Spider monkeys love to munch? Have a love for cooking and the animal kingdom? Then the Diet Kitchen Volunteer might be a great fit for you!
Diet kitchen volunteers help prepare the meals for the Zoo’s animals. Individuals must be able to measure, chop, cut, read detailed instructions and must not be turned off by certain smells or diet contents.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have availability Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday approximately 8 am to noon
Interested applicants should contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (574)235-9801 and Volunteercoordinator@potawatomizoo.org
We are currently not accepting Animal Care volunteer applications
Ever dreamed of working at a zoo? With our Animal Care Volunteer position, you can! Volunteers will help zookeepers in their daily tasks of caring for our animal residents. Cleaning exhibits, feeding animals, and providing enrichment are just a few of the task you will be doing.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be able to read detailed instructions and must not be turned off by certain smells or diet contents.
- Vaccinations should be up to date. Proof of negative TB test (within the past 12 months) is required prior to start date for all volunteers
- Available to volunteer a minimum of 4 hours at least one day a week, must be the same day each week
- Follow all Potawatomi Zoo Protocols
- Zookeeper work can be physically demanding. Volunteers must be able to work in small spaces, awkward positions that require bending and stretching, and able to safely life 50 pounds.
- Tolerance of dust, hay, animal fur/hair/dander and weather conditions
- Background check
To apply, volunteer candidates must submit the following to volunteercoordinator@potawatomizoo.org:
- Volunteer application
- Background check
- Proof of negative TB test (within the past 12 months)
Potawatomi Zoo welcomes the support of companies and organizations and tries to coordinate volunteer days with interested groups whenever possible.
We will select specific jobs based on your group (e.g. number and age of participants), but selected tasks generally include preparing for events or beautifying the Zoo through weeding gardens or raking leaves.
Submit a Company/Organization Volunteer Application to the Zoo and a representative will contact you with more information including available dates and times for setting up a volunteer day and the job(s) to be performed.
Ways to Volunteer
FrogWatch USA is the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s citizen science program and provides individuals, groups, and families opportunities to learn about wetlands in their communities by reporting on the calls of local frogs and toads. Citizen science refers to research collaborations between scientists and volunteers that expand opportunities for scientific data collection while also providing access to this information to community members. By recording frog calls, you and your family can help researchers understand the scope of amphibian population decline and help find ways to prevent it.
Being a FrogWatch citizen scientist is fun for the whole family, but we prefer that only adults or older children attend the training. Each training is up to 2 hours long and includes a PowerPoint presentation, review, and exam. The exam can be taken multiple times if needed. Each participant needs to attend one training on either February 23 or March 16, 2019.
To register, please complete this form: www.potawatomizoo.org/edzoocation/frogwatch.
Questions? Call the Conservation Education Department at (574) 235-9070 or e-mail at zooeducation@potawatomizoo.org
Event Volunteers help during special events at the Zoo, including Party for the Planet, Members’ Picnic, and Zoo Boo.
Please apply by March 1st to be considered for the next training class.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Need to volunteer at a minimum of two special events per year
Junior Educators are teen volunteers that assist with ZooCamps and interact with guest on Zoo grounds throughout the year. Space is limited in this program. We are no longer accepting applicants for the 2019 season. Please apply by March 29th 2020 for the 2020 season.
Qualifications:
- Must be 13-17 years old
- Able to volunteer at least 50 hours/summer
ZooCrew volunteers interact with Zoo visitors through exhibit and artifact interpretation and monitor the Australia Exhibit. Volunteers will also help at special events held at the Zoo.
Please apply by March 1st to be considered for the next training class.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Need to volunteer at least 20 hours/year
Docent volunteers interact with Zoo visitors through exhibit and artifact interpretation, lead guided tours, and assist in education classes. Volunteers will also help at special events held at the Zoo. In addition Docent volunteers are trained to handle some of our animal ambassadors and can assist zoo educators at both onsite and offsite education programs.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Need to volunteer at least 35 hours/year
- Yearly negative TB test
- Must commit to quarterly animal handling education sessions
Have you ever wondered just how much an American Alligator eats in a day? Or on what types of fruit and veggies Spider monkeys love to munch? Have a love for cooking and the animal kingdom? Then the Diet Kitchen Volunteer might be a great fit for you!
Diet kitchen volunteers help prepare the meals for the Zoo’s animals. Individuals must be able to measure, chop, cut, read detailed instructions and must not be turned off by certain smells or diet contents.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have availability Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday approximately 8 am to noon
Interested applicants should contact the Volunteer Manager at (574)235-7621 and volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
We are currently not accepting new Diet Kitchen Volunteers
There are currently no openings for Animal Care volunteers
Ever dreamed of working at a zoo? With our Animal Care Volunteer position, you can! Volunteers will help zookeepers in their daily tasks of caring for our animal residents. Cleaning exhibits, feeding animals, and providing enrichment are just a few of the task you will be doing.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be able to read detailed instructions and must not be turned off by certain smells or diet contents.
- Vaccinations should be up to date. Proof of negative TB test (within the past 12 months) is required prior to start date for all volunteers
- Available to volunteer a minimum of 4 hours at least one day a week, must be the same day each week
- Follow all Potawatomi Zoo Protocols
- Zookeeper work can be physically demanding. Volunteers must be able to work in small spaces, awkward positions that require bending and stretching, and able to safely life 50 pounds.
- Tolerance of dust, hay, animal fur/hair/dander and weather conditions
- Background check
To apply, volunteer candidates must submit the following to: volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
- Volunteer application
- Background check
- Proof of negative TB test (within the past 12 months)
Potawatomi Zoo welcomes the support of companies and organizations and tries to coordinate volunteer days with interested groups whenever possible.
We will select specific jobs based on your group (e.g. number and age of participants), but selected tasks generally include preparing for events or beautifying the Zoo through weeding gardens or raking leaves.
Submit a Company/Organization Volunteer Application to the Zoo and a representative will contact you with more information including available dates and times for setting up a volunteer day and the job(s) to be performed.
Applications should be sent to Potawatomi Zoo’s Volunteer Manager (unless otherwise noted above) at
- Mail: Potawatomi Zoo Volunteer
500 S. Greenlawn Avenue
South Bend, IN 46615 - Phone: (574) 235-9070
- Fax: 574-235-9080
- Email: volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
Every application is reviewed and applicants passing the initial review are invited to an Open House held in February and September.
The Open House allows applicants to learn more about the Zoo and our Volunteer programs by touring the Zoo and meeting with Potawatomi Zoo Volunteers.
Interviews and background checks are also conducted during the screening process. In lieu of the background check, applicants under 18 sign a certificate of trust.
The next Volunteer Open House will be held on February 2nd from 4:30-6:00 pm.
Applications should be sent to Potawatomi Zoo’s Volunteer Manager (unless otherwise noted above) at
- Mail: Potawatomi Zoo Volunteer
500 S. Greenlawn Avenue
South Bend, IN 46615 - Phone: (574) 235-9070
- Fax: 574-235-9080
- Email: volunteer@potawatomizoo.org
Every application is reviewed and applicants passing the initial review are invited to an Open House held in February and September.
The Open House allows applicants to learn more about the Zoo and our Volunteer programs by touring the Zoo and meeting with Potawatomi Zoo Volunteers.
Interviews and background checks are also conducted during the screening process. In lieu of the background check, applicants under 18 sign a certificate of trust.
The next Open House will be held February 16th from 4:30-6:00 pm.