Join our amazing team of volunteers as you help us further our mission and impact the guests that come through the door. People from all walks of life are welcomed. Our volunteer department has an opportunity for you!

General Volunteer Program Overview

General requirements to volunteer:

• Completed application: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1792642407 
• Signed Liability Release Form
• Completed Background Check
• Copy of Driver’s License on file
• Must commit to one year of volunteering, minimum of 4 hours per month (unless otherwise specified)
• Signed acknowledgement of receipt of Volunteer Guidelines and Contract
• Training fee – $45.00 *scholarships available
• Completion of online training and attendance at training sessions

Step-by-step overview:

1. Complete an application. The application form can be found on our website under “Programs” → “Volunteer” → “Adults,” or at this link: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1792642407 
2. Attend a Volunteer Information Session. Volunteer Information Sessions act as an orientation and are mandatory for all individuals wishing to volunteer. Info sessions are typically held every other month. To see upcoming info session dates, click this link: https://www.cameronparkzoo.com/programs/volunteer/adults/. The sooner you attend an information session, the sooner you can start the onboarding process!
3. Complete an interview with the Volunteer Coordinator, and submit to a background check by the City of Waco. During the Volunteer Information Session, you will be given instructions on how to schedule your interview with the Volunteer Coordinator. Once you have been accepted into the volunteer program, we will send your email address to the City of Waco, and they will contact you with further details and instructions.
4. Attend 4 training sessions. The onboarding training process consists of 4 sessions; sessions 1 & 2 are more structured, and are facilitated by the Volunteer Coordinator, while sessions 3 & 4 can be done independently, and at any time (as long as the zoo is open). These training sessions are designed to familiarize you with Cameron Park Zoo, and prepare you to speak directly with guests about our animals and our mission. 
5. Complete initial 20 hours of volunteering in order to branch out into other volunteer opportunities. All volunteers are required to complete 20 initial hours in certain assignments before “graduating” into other departments. The 4 training sessions count towards these initial hours. Assignments open during a volunteer’s first 20 hours include Interpretive Guide, Roamer, Commissary Aide, Park Cleanups, and Special Events. To see more information about these assignments, please refer to the “Volunteer Opportunities and Position Descriptions” document. 

Volunteer Benefits:

• Family Membership if you contribute 100 volunteer hours/year
• Individual Membership if you contribute 50 volunteer hours/year
• Free training and supervision from qualified staff members
• Continuing Education opportunities
• Special events notices and invitations to exhibit openings, etc.
• Current updates on zoo business and happenings
• An invitation to the annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
• Awards for hours of service
• Letters of recommendation upon request

Volunteer Program FAQ’s:

What opportunities are available for volunteers?

Cameron Park Zoo offers a wide range of assignments for volunteers, including but not limited to:

• Animal Care Aide
  • Join one of our animal care departments helping to care for Mammals, Aquatics, Birds & Small Mammals, Reptiles, or Animal Ambassadors
• Special Events Aide
  • The zoo’s special events department puts on fundraisers during the year to help generate revenue for the zoo. Help with one of our many events by engaging guests and running stations for those events
• Education Programs/Encounters Aide
  • The education department hosts many onsite and offsite programs. Help this team set up, tear down, and teach programs during the year
  • Join the education team to help engage the public with Giraffe Feedings and Tortoises Encounters. Volunteering would consist of teaching the public how to feed or touch the zoo animals and line management
• Diver
  • Here at the zoo, we have a large Salt Water aquarium that volunteer divers help us maintain and clean weekly
  • Must be SCUBA certified prior to applying
• Nature Connections Educator
  • Engage with guests in front of zoo exhibits using interpretive skills and utilizing hands on BioFacts
• Commissary Aide
  • Help prepare diets for a wide variety of animals that call Cameron Park Zoo home
• Shuttle Driver
  • Enhance the guest experience by shuttling individuals throughout the zoo, and sharing zoo information

*Certain opportunities require additional training provided by zoo staff.*

How old do you have to be to volunteer at the zoo?

To participate in our general volunteer program, you must be at least 12 years of age. Minors (individuals under 18) must always be accompanied by a legal parent/guardian. We call this a “Guided Pair.” The guardian and the minor must complete all required trainings together. Guided Pairs are only eligible for the following assignments: Interpretive Guide, Special Events (only those without alcohol), and Park Clean-ups. As per our safety guidelines, volunteers who will be working with animals, food, and/or dive equipment must be at least 18 years of age.

What other programs are available besides the general volunteer program?

Cameron Park Zoo also offers a teen volunteer program called “Zoo Crew,” which is open to teenagers 14-17 years old. Zoo Crew volunteers are required to commit approximately 56 hours of volunteer service throughout June & July. Applications for this program are open from the beginning of January to the middle of April. For more information about this program, please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator, Michelle Lori, at MichelleL@CameronParkZoo.com or (254) 750-7049.

Cameron Park Zoo offers group volunteer opportunities as well. School, church, and/or corporate groups are welcomed to engage in one-off volunteer service that typically involves beautification and/or maintenance around the zoo. Only the group “leader” will need to complete an application for groups interested in volunteering. The application can be found here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1315353281 

Can you volunteer in more than one department? 

Yes, you absolutely can! When it comes to volunteering in an animal care role, we recommend starting with one department and determining your plan of action from there. Different departments require different workloads, so ultimately it is up to you what you can and want to handle. 

What is the time commitment for volunteering?

Most of our volunteer opportunities are very flexible when it comes to the time commitment. Animal Care Aide and Commissary Aide roles tend to require a little bit more of a time commitment, and a bit more structure than other roles like Interpretation or Roaming, which can be done anytime the zoo is open. We always do our best to work with our volunteers to make schedules work. We do ask that you are able to commit at least 4 hours a month to volunteering. 

What if I only want to join the volunteer program to dive? 

Volunteers who only wish to dive have the option to forgo training sessions 2, 3, & 4. They are still required to attend the Volunteer Information Session and Training Session 1 in order to get familiar with the zoo to the extent that is necessary for their purposes. Forgoing these training sessions means the volunteer will not be permitted to engage in any other volunteer opportunities except diving; if a volunteer later decides they do want to volunteer in other capacities, they will need to complete training sessions 2, 3, 4, and the initial 20 hours required for other volunteers. 

Are there opportunities to volunteer in the Vet Hospital?

At the current moment, we do not offer volunteer opportunities within our vet hospital due to their large workload. We cannot definitively say whether this policy will change in the future, but you’re welcome to check back in every now and again to inquire. 

Can volunteering at the zoo turn into a career?

Experience at an AZA-accredited facility is certainly a perk of volunteering at Cameron Park Zoo; however, we cannot promise that volunteering will turn into employment for any individual. Employment will be based on available openings as well as each candidate’s experience and qualifications. 

Additional questions? Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at MichelleL@CameronParkZoo.com or (254) 750-7049.