Our devoted team of volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to further the zoo’s mission. We strive to inspire everyday change for a better future for all species.
Click here to login to the Volunteer Information Center.
Volunteer Benefits
- Be part of an enthusiastic community of volunteers and animal lovers
- 20% discount on Nature Shop purchases
- 10% discount on purchases throughout the zoo
- 50% discount on a zoo membership of any level
- Access to free guest passes for every 6 months of active service
- An invitation to our annual volunteer appreciation banquet
- Access to volunteer educational materials and workshops
Education Volunteer Program
We will resume onboarding new education volunteers in early 2025. In the meantime, you are welcome to submit your application now to be added to our contact list, and we’ll reach out as soon as the next training class begins!
Volunteers are a crucial part of helping Elmwood Park Zoo fulfill its mission to educate and inspire active participation in wildlife and environmental conservation. Our volunteers engage with our guests and share knowledge helping to create a connection with the amazing animals that call EPZ home. Volunteers also provide critical support to the zoo by assisting with events and helping deliver a meaningful and memorable experience for our guests. No matter how small or simple the support may seem, EPZ could not do it without our wonderful volunteers.
Whether you are a teen volunteering to gain experience for a future career, or an adult looking to make a difference, EPZ considers volunteering a serious commitment. All EPZ volunteers are asked to contribute a minimum of 8 hours each month (with the exception of January and February) for a total of 80 hours per year.
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 14 years or older
- Have a positive attitude and strictly adhere to policies, procedures, and customer service standards
- Be comfortable engaging with guests about animals
- Be flexible and willing to shift where the zoo needs them the most
- Be able to work outside and stand for the duration of a shift
- Be able to follow a schedule and work independently
- Complete an online application, including references
- Review/complete orientation
- Commit to volunteering a minimum of 80 hours annually
- Love animals!
Diet Prep Volunteer
Did you know our red footed tortoise likes hibiscus flowers? Or did you know our giraffe eats 8 pounds of grain and about 1 pound of beet pulp daily, as well as 2 bales of alpha and 2 cases of romaine each? Our Diet Prep Volunteers certainly do! Our dedicated team of Diet Prep Docents play a crucial role in helping us maintain high standards of animal welfare by prepping individualized diets for each of our animals every day. Everything from sorting frozen rats and mice for our birds of prey to cutting the sweet potato just the way the porcupines like it. These volunteers are passionate, hard workers, and are required to stand for long periods of time, and work with strange textures and strong smells. If that sounds fun to you, then you are in the right place! Because of the training involved in learning all the animals’ diets, diet prep volunteers need to be able to provide a regular commitment of at least 2 – 4 hour shifts a month.
NOTE:
- There is no animal handling or direct animal contact involved with any of our volunteer opportunities, with the exception of our barnyard.
- We do not accept new volunteers from December – February. Any applications submitted during that time will be held until March
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Have a positive attitude and strictly adhere to policies, procedures, and customer service standards
- Be comfortable working with various types of food prep
- Be able to work outside and stand for the duration of a shift
- Be able to follow a schedule and work independently
- Complete an online application, including references
- Review/complete orientation/training
- Commit to volunteering a minimum of 120 hours annually (2 shifts per month)
- Love animals!
Corporate / Group Volunteering
Community Volunteering
As a non-profit the Elmwood Park Zoo depends on the generosity and support of volunteers to help deliver our mission, but we understand that not everyone can commit to a regular volunteer shift or may not be comfortable educating guests. The Community Volunteer Team (CVT) is designed for people who may have occasional availability or special skills to help with short term or single day projects.
- Not all opportunities are a good fit for all potential volunteers, so please read the program descriptions carefully before submitting an application.
- We are unable to arrange job shadows or volunteer opportunities with our veterinary staff.
- Additionally, our volunteer opportunities are primarily long-term. We invest a great deal of resources into our volunteer program and do not offer one-time or short-term opportunity apart from corporate volunteer days.
Questions? Contact volunteer@elmwoodparkzoo.org or 800.652.4143 x 204