Palm Beach Zoo Volunteer Opportunities
If you are enthusiastic about wildlife and enjoy interacting with people of all ages then you belong in the Palm Beach Zoo – Volunteering that is!
Please click on the links below for additional information regarding positions available within each department and their requirements.
All Palm Beach Zoo volunteers, regardless of departmental placement, must be able to work outside for long periods of time in the Florida heat, lift 50 lbs, follow written and/or verbal instructions, stand for extended periods of time, provide proof of a negative tuberculosis (TB) screening prior to start date, and commit to a minimum of 12 hours of service per month (unless where noted). Special Event volunteers are not required to provide TB screening and must commit to a minimum of one four-hour shift per event day. Be advised that the Palm Beach Zoo does not accept court-ordered community service.
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Guest Services & Education Programs
Guest Services and Educational Programs Volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks vital to overall zoo operations. The following positions are available within each department.
Guest Services
- Customer Service Information Booth
- Tropics Café Host/Hostess
- Concessions Assistant
- Gift Store Assistant
- Administrative/Clerical Support
- Marketing Assistant
Education Programs
- Workshop & Outreach Assistant
- Zoo Camp Assistant
- Wings Over Water (WOW) Bird Show & Contact Yard Assistants
- Exhibit/Bio-Fact Interpretation
- Upon successful completion of bio-fact training class.
- Animal Presenter
- Upon successful completion of required volunteer hours & animal handling training.
Please click here for a Guest Services & Education Programs Volunteer Application
Once your application is received, it will be reviewed and you will receive an invitation to attend the next scheduled Volunteer Orientation. Orientations are held approximately once a month. Depending on when your application is received it may be a couple of weeks before you receive an invitation.
Special Events
Special Event Volunteer opportunities are perfect for individuals as well as groups who are only able to spend one or two days volunteering their time. Special Event volunteers assist with arts & crafts supervision, crowd control, game & prize booths, event set-up & breakdown, and assisting with entertainment & encounters. For a complete listing of upcoming special events, please click here.
Please click here for a Special Events Volunteer Application
Please be sure to write the name of the event you are interested in volunteering for on your application. Please note that all Special Event volunteers must arrive 30 minutes before the event is scheduled to begin and all applications should be submitted at least two (2) weeks before the event. Groups are encouraged to wear their affiliations T-shirts. Groups including minors must be accompanied by a group leader/chaperone while onsite.
Docent Program (Adults 18+)
Docents, or volunteer educators, are important members of our zoo family and bring to their role a deep interest in the natural world and a desire to share that knowledge with others. At the Palm Beach Zoo, Docents receive special educational training which prepares them to act as exhibit interpreters, to deliver talks about specific exhibits, display and explain animal biofacts, and to provide zoo visitors with valuable wildlife, ecology, and conservation information. The zoo’s Docents also assist with conducting on- and off-site educational programs for children and adults on such topics as habitat loss and endangered species.
Dr. Russell A. Mittermeier, President of Conservation International, has said that, "The dedication and efforts of Docents are a major contribution to the education of society. Their volunteer services are exerting a real impact, particularly on this country's young people who show a growing interest in natural history and conservation." This could not be more true at the Palm Beach Zoo! Our dedicated Docents are the strength behind our conservation message and truly do allow us to fulfill our Mission of acting as an outdoor classroom of living creatures fostering awareness, appreciation and respect for the natural world.
The Palm Beach Zoo in partnership with Forest Hill Community High School's Adult Education Program offers the Volunteer Teaching Guide (aka Docent) Training Course during Fall and Spring semesters. This seven week course takes place weekly, on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Palm Beach Zoo. For more information or for a Docent Application, please contact education@palmbeachzoo.org.
Animal Care
Additional Requirements: Must be 18 years of age and older and commit to volunteering a minimum of 16 hours per month.
The Animal Care Volunteer Program is based on a Tier System. For more information regarding the Tier System, please see below.
Advancement to higher Volunteer levels will be based on attendance, work ethic, attitude and successful completion of a written exam(s). After each level is passed, a letter and certificate of advancement will be awarded. Each level will also have its own t-shirt to designate status.
Volunteer I: Must complete 80 hours of work in the commissary (assisting with diet preparation and cleaning), contact yard coverage, and assisting with show coverage. A total of 80 logged volunteer hours, the successful completion of a written exam, and a recommendation from their supervisor are required to move to the next level.
Volunteer II: Level II volunteers are able to begin level II work on pre-chosen animal runs under an animal department supervisor. A minimum of 1 hour per day is required in the commissary and/or with shows and informational talks. This level requires a minimum of 600 completed hours, successful completion of written exam (with a score of 85% or higher) and an animal department supervisor recommendation to qualify for advancement to the Volunteer III level.
Volunteer III: Level III Volunteers are able to perform more advanced work on animal runs under the assigned animal department supervisor. A minimum of 1200 completed hours, successful completion of a written exam (with a score of 85% or higher) and an animal department supervisor recommendation will qualify for advancement to a Volunteer IV level.
Volunteer IV: Level IV volunteers have the opportunity to perform the most advanced volunteer keeper work under the assigned animal department supervisor. To maintain this highest level, a yearly written exam must be passed (with a score of 85% or higher) and written recommendation from a supervisor will be required.
Additional Information
Each volunteer must complete the requirements listed above in one discipline to qualify for an advanced tier status. A decision and commitment to a particular discipline will be required prior to the Volunteer II status being achieved. A volunteer may work on more than one discipline during the week but may only perform work on one specific discipline per day.
The available disciplines are:
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Animal department supervisors will designate specific tasks for each level of volunteer status for each discipline. Volunteers may achieve various levels on different disciplines. For instance, a Volunteer II may start on the Avian Run and achieve a level III status and then begin working as a Volunteer II on another discipline.
Each volunteer is required to wear their level-appropriate t-shirt color to designate their status during working hours. The first t-shirt will be provided to you before or on your start date. Additional shirts may be purchased for $6.00 each.
Please click here for an Animal Care Volunteer Application
Animal Care Internships
Requirements: Animal Care Interns must be at least 18+ years old, be able to work outside for long periods in the Florida heat, stand for extended periods of time, lift 50 lbs, and provide proof of a negative tuberculosis (TB) screening prior to start date, in addition to the following:
- All Interns must submit proof of current college enrollment with a minimum of six credit hours in their current/upcoming semester. As space is limited, preference will be given to biological science/psychology students.
- A minimum of 240 hours (per discipline) to be completed within a 15-week period.
Incoming freshmen applicants must submit proof of college enrollment and must be entering school within three months of the Internship start date. - Recent college graduates must begin their Internship within nine months of their graduation date.
- All Interns are required to work one hour in the commissary and/or in a conservation/educational capacity per day. Conservation/educational work can include show assistance and exhibit and animal talks.
- Interns may complete up to two consecutive Internships per semester. Each Internship Program requires the 240 hour minimum for completion. The decision to complete two consecutive Internship Programs must be made prior to the start date of the first program.
- Prior to the Intern’s start date, a schedule will be determined by their supervisor that must be followed until the culmination of the Internship. Any changes made to the Intern’s work schedule must be pre-approved by all parties. Interns will be given two “personal days” and the option to take off all holidays. Vacation Request Forms (VRFs) will need to be completed two weeks in advance for all requested time off. The personal and holiday time will not count toward the 240 hour minimum.
- An evaluation will be completed at the mid-point and the culmination of the Internship by both the Intern and their supervisor.
- Interns may not change disciplines during their Internship.
- Exit interviews and surveys will be completed by the Intern and their Run Supervisor at the culmination of each Internship.
- A certificate will be awarded to all participants upon successful Internship completion.
Internships within the Animal Care Program are available in the following disciplines:
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Intern II: This is the second level of the Internship Program. Individuals interested in becoming an Intern II must have completed an Intern I program in the same discipline, must receive a recommendation to become an Intern II by their supervisor and must apply and qualify. There is a three-month waiting period required between the Intern I end date and the Intern II program start date.
Post Interns: Interns who have completed a Level I Internship Program successfully and would like to remain at the zoo in a volunteer capacity will be placed directly into the Volunteer II level program. Post Interns may begin volunteering in any of the disciplines after the successful completion of their Internship Program and receiving the recommendation for Volunteer II status by their current supervisor.
For a complete listing of current Internships available in the Animal Care Program, please visit the Employment & Internship page by clicking here.
Please click here for an Animal Care Internship Application
Business/Marketing Internships
Position: Business Intern – Level 1
Division: Marketing
Department: Development
Reports To: Marketing Manager
Works Closely With: Marketing/Development Department’s Staff, Interns, and Volunteers
Summary: To assist the marketing department with the daily operations of the office through general clerical duties, report preparation, data entry, and customer service.
Education: High School diploma or equivalent is required. Applicant must either be pursuing a degree in the areas of business, marketing, recreation, or a related field or have a working knowledge in the fields of business, marketing, recreation, or a related field. If an applicant is currently enrolled in a college or university an un-official transcript must be submitted along with the applicant’s letter of intent, resume, & two (2) letters of reference. Certain requirements may be waived under appropriate circumstances. All interns must submit a completed internship application along with the required information to be considered for placement.
Skills: Applicants should be detail oriented, highly organized, responsible, dependable, creative, flexible and above all enthusiastic. The applicant should feel comfortable interacting with people of all ages including zoo volunteers and visitors from differing backgrounds and be able to follow written and/or verbal instructions. Driver’s License Required.
Compensation: This is an experience based internship and therefore is a non-compensated position. At this time, the zoo does not provide housing or transportation for interns.
Requirements: All interns must be able to work nights and weekends as needed, no holidays are required. A commitment of 120 hours of service over a 12 week period of time is required. Computer experience including Microsoft Word & Excel is a must. Candidates must be able to work outdoors in a typical Florida climate and be able to lift at least 50 lbs. Due to potential exposure to non-human primates, all applicants regardless of placement must present proof of a negative TB test administered within the past year.
At the successful completion of the program, the Intern may at that time choose to remain at the zoo in several capacities: as a general volunteer, proceed to Business Internship-Level II, or transfer to the Animal Care Volunteer or Internship Programs as long as all of the necessary requirements are met for each option.
