Volunteers: what do they do in your zoo?

[mstickmanp]

Why are this no payed jobs in L.A.? I mean, off course there is some staff for all these activities I hope. What is the value having these volunteers, saving money by not having to employ more people ? Or something else? Don't really get it.

I'm not sure why there is a lot of volunteers, but I'm sure it helps a lot having that many. LA zoo is very proud in it's volunteer program, which in the 90's it became the most successful volunteer program in the country, especially in its enrichment program. Every three months there is a new group of about 20 to 50 volunteers coming to the zoo, and every year a new group of docents also start.

 

[Nosey Parker]

Hi Gigit.......like you I have considered volunteering at Paignton as I am there so often anyway. I spoke to some of the ladies in blue about it but never followed it up because it seems a bit structured and I like to do my own thing. They don't help out with the animals except for some who cut up the feeds it's more doing activities for the visitors.

I think they do sign some kind of agreement saying that they have to act in the best interests of the zoo. That would include not spreading inside information about the animals! Mind you they often tell me stuff about what's going on but they do get their facts mixed up! Was it someone in blue who told you one of the giraffes came from Germany?! This is a good example.

I can't imagine the zoo can police the "gagging" very well but I suppose it's based on honour. It might seem a bit extreme but there have been cases of stories getting in the press ie peacocks.

 

[Zoovolunteer]

We have well over 150 volunteers in total at Bristol - most doing one day every other week (we have a lot of seniors who volunteer). The majority are based at the Activity Centre where they handle childrens activities etc, but we also do some "animal encounters" type shows and some outreach events where we take some table displays and a few invertebrates to schools . There are more specialised volunteers taking part as volunteer keepers, the main animal shows during the summer months, and some rangers who keep an eye on the public in the lemur walk through and butterfly house. The volunteers are managed by 2 paid staff and have support in the care of the animals we use for the animal encounter sessions. I personally think we have one of the best volunteer schemes in terms of variety and enthusiasm in any UK zoo I have been to.

 

[drzoomi]

In The Biblical zoo in Jerusalem Volunteers are working in almost every field: we have younger volunteers that later on manage to get a job, sometimes part time sometimes more.
we also have adultes volunteers - some of them are elderly that help the zookeepers and make their life easyer. some are people who can't work at the moment and dont want to waste their time doing nothing.
I think that volunteers have an important role in the "zoo life" , as i said they are helping the keepers and sometimes gives the keepers some time to develope enrichment or taking care of things that are not in the daily rutine.

 

[Elly]

You may be surprised at the number of Aussie zoos that make you sign a confidentiality agreeement before allowing you to volunteer. Heaven only knows how they think that they are going to police such agreements.

I don't know about any extreme cases, but for me it's a matter of common sense that zoos don't want volunteers - at a moment they are, or others think they are, respresenting the zoo - expressing entirely personal views to visitors. Imagine that you book a guided tour and the guide keeps on telling how awful the exhibitions are or that the zoo should abandone keeping certain animals or start telling fiction about some animals (like "polar bears are cute and you can also keep them as a pet").

Even if you are a volunteer, an organisation you are volunteering in can expect that you are not harming the organisation in any way. If you don't like the zoo's policy on something, express your feelings behind closed doors or leave.

 

[djaeon]

Currently, the SD Zoo's volunteers primarily work as guides and help at information booths. The volunteer program is getting expanded and revamped now though. We're adding a docent program also.

 

[DeydraOZ]

The Oregon Zoo has a HUGE volunteer program. They hold training sessions 4 times a year that lasts for 5 weeks. I just graduated from the fall session in November.
And they do A LOT! Education programs, zoo talks, photography, prepping food for selective animals, enrichment, horticulture, zoo lights, information, and many many more things. We've been told that without the volunteer staff, the zoo would be really hard to run with just keepers and paid staff.

 

[Leptonyx]

I've been able to get quite a bit insider information via Toronto Zoo's volunteers. They don't have access to the animals or plant collection, but they do tours, touch tables, speak to the public at different exhibits especially the more popular ones, etc.

As a student volunteer at the Toronto Zoo for three years- you're pretty much correct on all counts Meaghan As a student volunteer we also had the opportunity to volunteer at the kid's camps, and the "special events" that happened (ex., halloween haunted house, I had the honour of being shoved into the Easter Bunny Costume one year )

The non-student volunteers do pretty much the same thing- but definetely some extra perks involved. I know some have been assigned to do behavioural observations, just sitting, watching, and recording any interesting behaviour for the keepers (gorillas, orangutans, and elephants). Also, they'll let you shadow a keeper for one day, though I'm not sure how many hours you have to volunteer to get there. One of the volunteers I know got to shadow the gorilla keepers! I was so jealous!

As a sidenote, just because you don't get to work directly with animals is no reason to shove aside a volunteer opportunity. I was lucky when I applied because we didn't have that many student volunteers. My younger sister is applying this year, and had to fill out an application form, PLUS get 2 references! And if anything, it'll get your foot in the door for if you apply for a paid position, half the people will know you already Just some thoughts!

 

[djaeon]

The Oregon Zoo has a HUGE volunteer program. They hold training sessions 4 times a year that lasts for 5 weeks. I just graduated from the fall session in November.
And they do A LOT! Education programs, zoo talks, photography, prepping food for selective animals, enrichment, horticulture, zoo lights, information, and many many more things. We've been told that without the volunteer staff, the zoo would be really hard to run with just keepers and paid staff.

Wow, that is a lot for volunteers to do. That's great though. I don't think our volunteers would be able to do some of those things, like prepping animal food, because of our unions, but I'm not sure about that.

 

[Zambar]

At Marwell, volunteers are of 17 years and over and carry out quite a wide range of duties. They help out at the information desk meaning they are the first people visitors meet when they enter the zoo, run the tombola nearby, run guided tours, drive the road & rail trains, run touch tables in the education centre, vist outside venues and also lead oryx club meetings. I myself am in the oryx club, and in two years I'll be able to become a vounteer when I leave the club at 16.

 

[Gigit]

This has turned into a fascinating thread. Keep it up, everyone

 

[DeydraOZ]

Wow, that is a lot for volunteers to do. That's great though. I don't think our volunteers would be able to do some of those things, like prepping animal food, because of our unions, but I'm not sure about that.

yeah. There's just a few precautions to work in animal areas, new change of clothes to prevent zoonotic diseases, all shots upto date, and there's more then likely no contact with the animal we're feeding. We just prep the food and sometimes help out cleaning the area (when the animals are off exhibit of course)
I forgot to mention there's also a zooteen program where teenagers in high school can volunteer at the family farm. That's a ton of fun. I only did a job shadow there twice for school.. makes me wish I could go back and be a zooteen..