Event Volunteers help during special events at the Zoo, including Party for the Planet, Members’ Picnic, and Zoo Boo.

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 during the summer months. Space is limited in this program.

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, lead guided tours, and assist in education classes. Volunteers will also help at special events held at the Zoo.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Need to volunteer at least 20 hours/year

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.

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

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)