Ways to Volunteer

Volunteer Open House

On March 26th from 3-4 pm-Cancelled, come learn about volunteering at the Potawatomi Zoo. Meet at the field trip entrance gate which is located to the left of the admission building. We will have current volunteers available to answer questions and share their experience of volunteering at the zoo. 

ZooCrew volunteers interact with Zoo visitors through exhibit and artifact interpretation and monitor the giraffe deck. Volunteers will also help at special events held at the Zoo.

Please apply by March 1 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
  • Current COVID-19 vaccine
  • Must commit to quarterly animal handling education sessions

Zoo Teens are teen volunteers that assist with ZooCamps and interact with guests on Zoo grounds during the summer months. Space is limited in this program. Apply by May 1, 2022 for the 2022 season. Qualifications:
  • Must be 13-17 years old
  • Able to volunteer at least 50 hours/summer

APPLY NOW

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.

APPLY NOW

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

APPLY NOW

Have 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 Prep Volunteer position might be a great fit for you!

Diet Prep volunteers help prepare the meals for the Zoo’s animals. Individuals must be able to measure, chop, cut and read detailed instructions and must not be turned off by certain smells or diet contents.

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) and current COVID-19 vaccination status 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

Individuals must be 18 or older to volunteer for this opportunity. The Zoo is currently looking for applicants who can commit to a weekly 4 hour shift between 8 am and 4 pm throughout the year.

APPLY NOW

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) and current COVID-19 vaccination status 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

This program begins in the spring. Check back for details.

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. 

Questions? Call the Conservation Education Department at (574) 235-9070 or e-mail at education@potawatomizoo.org

Ways to Volunteer

ZooCrew volunteers interact with Zoo visitors through exhibit and artifact interpretation and monitor the giraffe deck. Volunteers will also help at special events held at the Zoo.

Please apply by March 1 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
  • Current COVID-19 vaccine
  • Must commit to quarterly animal handling education sessions

Zoo Teens are teen volunteers that assist with ZooCamps and interact with guests on Zoo grounds during the summer months. Space is limited in this program. Apply by May 1, 2022 for the 2022 season. Qualifications:
  • Must be 13-17 years old
  • Able to volunteer at least 50 hours/summer

APPLY NOW

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.

APPLY NOW

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

APPLY NOW

Have 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 Prep Volunteer position might be a great fit for you!

Diet Prep volunteers help prepare the meals for the Zoo’s animals. Individuals must be able to measure, chop, cut and read detailed instructions and must not be turned off by certain smells or diet contents.

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) and current COVID-19 vaccination status 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

Individuals must be 18 or older to volunteer for this opportunity. The Zoo is currently looking for applicants who can commit to a weekly 4 hour shift between 8 am and 4 pm throughout the year.

APPLY NOW

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) and current COVID-19 vaccination status 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

This program begins in the spring. Check back for details.

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. 

Questions? Call the Conservation Education Department at (574) 235-9070 or e-mail at education@potawatomizoo.org

Get Started

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.

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.