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Volunteers

Interested in exploring a career in animal care, giving back to the community, and having fun? We offer both individual and group opportunities for volunteering at Zoo New England! 

Volunteer Opportunities

 

Volunteers are important members of the Zoo New England team. There are many roles for volunteers, including talking with guests about our mission and animals, helping out at our special events, animal care, preparing food for our animals, and much more.

Unless otherwise noted in the individual Volunteer Opportunities description, we review volunteer applications on an ongoing basis throughout the year. We ask that a volunteer commit to a minimum of a six-month commitment. Volunteers are welcome to continue volunteering after those six months and do not need to reapply to do so.

Individual volunteer applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete an online application, including references
  • Be willing to adhere to our policies, procedures and customer service standards
  • Demonstrate through an interview that they are interested in the volunteer work and in our mission; that they have fundamental skills and abilities necessary to fulfill the role; and that they are able to meet at least our minimum commitments for the role in terms of the weekly shift and minimum months of volunteer service.
  • If accepted a new volunteer will complete required paperwork including acknowledgement that background checks will be conducted. They will then attend a virtual orientation to go over the details of the volunteer program. After that they will receive training in their opportunity area.
  • Have a positive attitude

Questions? Please see our FAQ page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Animal Care

Keeper Aide (Franklin Park Zoo Education)

Location: Franklin Park Zoo

Keeper Aide (Franklin Park Zoo Education) volunteers assist the Education Department behind the scenes to help provide for the health, safety, care and enrichment of our animal ambassadors. 

Our animal ambassadors are not visible to the public on exhibit and are specially trained to participate in live animal presentations with our guests. Volunteers assisting in their care would also be trained to facilitate live animal presentations with guests, educating them on animals they wouldn’t normally see when visiting the zoo!

  • Keeper Aide (Franklin Park Zoo Education) volunteers must be 16+ years old.
  • Keeper Aides (Franklin Park Zoo Education) must complete at least one, three-hour shift per week 9 am – 12 pm.
Apply for Keeper Aide - Franklin Park Zoo

 

Keeper Aide (Stone Zoo Education)

Location: Stone Zoo

Keeper Aide (Stone Zoo Education) volunteers assist the Education Department behind the scenes to help provide for the health, safety, care and enrichment of our animal ambassadors. 

Our animal ambassadors are not visible to the public on exhibit and are specially trained to participate in live animal presentations with our guests. Volunteers assisting in their care would also be trained to facilitate live animal presentations with guests, educating them on animals they wouldn’t normally see when visiting the zoo!

  • Keeper Aide (Stone Zoo Education) volunteers must be 16+ years old.
  • Keeper Aides (Stone Zoo Education) must complete at least one, three-hour shift per week 8:30 am – 11:30 am.
Apply for Keeper Aide - Stone Zoo

Marketing and Events

Photographer

Location: Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo

Photographer volunteers assist Zoo staff in capturing engaging photographs of Zoo animals, grounds, and staff.

  • Photographer volunteers must be 18+ years old
  • Photography portfolio will be requested as part of the application.
  • Formal training in photography preferred
  • Must review and follow General Photography/Videography Rules
  • Time Commitment: This role does not have a weekly commitment. Instead, staff email out requests for specific photography projects and the Photographer Volunteers indicate their interest and availability to complete the requested projects. 
Apply for Photographer - Franklin Park Zoo
Apply for Photographer - Stone Zoo

 

Videographer

Location: Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo

Photographer volunteers assist Zoo staff in capturing engaging videos of Zoo animals, grounds, and staff.

  • Videographer volunteers must be 18+ years old
  • Videography portfolio will be requested as part of the application.
  • Video training or equivalent experience preferred
  • Must review and follow General Photography/Videography Rules
  • Time Commitment: This role does not have a weekly commitment. Instead, staff email out requests for specific video projects and the Videography Volunteers indicate their interest and availability to complete the requested projects.
Apply for Videographer - Franklin Park Zoo
Apply for Videographer - Stone Zoo

 

Zoo Event Volunteers

Location: Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo

Zoo Event Volunteers assist with special events throughout the year. Volunteers help set up events, staff activity stations for guests of all ages, and help with event breakdown.

  • Zoo Event Volunteers must be 18+ years old for Adult events and 16+ years old for family events  
  • Time Commitment: This role does not have a weekly commitment. Instead, staff email out requests for specific events Zoo Event Volunteers sign up to help out at events that match their interest and availability. 
Apply for Event Volunteer - Franklin Park Zoo
Apply for Event Volunteer - Stone Zoo

Operations

Commissary Volunteer

Location: Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo

As a Commissary volunteer, you’ll be an essential part of the team that keeps our animals healthy and thriving. By helping prepare daily diets and assisting with a variety of other commissary tasks, you directly support their care and wellbeing and help ensure our staff can provide each animal with a consistent, nutritious, and appropriate diet.

  • Commissary volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Commissary volunteers must commit to at least one four-hour shift per week. Shifts run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  
Apply for Commissary Volunteer - Franklin Park Zoo
Apply for Commissary Volunteer - Stone Zoo

 

Gardener  

Location: Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo

Gardener volunteers assist our Horticulture Department planting and maintaining the grounds at our zoos. Working with our Horticulturalist they help ensure that our planting beds are sustainable and provide a green space for local species of plants and animals within our communities while helping to build an engaging space for both our guests and the animals in our care. This is a physically active role with tasks that may require standing for extended periods, kneeling, bending, walking over uneven surfaces, digging, use of hand tools, and lifting objects under 30lbs. This role occurs in all weather conditions

  • Gardener volunteers must be 18+ years old.
  • The Gardener volunteer role is seasonal.
    • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from March through June.
    • The volunteer season runs from May through November. 
    • After the season ends volunteers are welcome to switch to another role, go on a winter hiatus until the following year, or end their volunteer service based on their availability. 
  • Gardener volunteers must complete one shift per week for the duration of the season. 
    • Franklin Park Zoo Availability: Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • Stone Zoo Availability: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Apply for Gardener - Franklin Park Zoo
Apply for Gardener - Stone Zoo

Group Volunteers

Location: Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo

Looking for a great team-building opportunity? Want to show your support for a community organization with an important mission? Group volunteering offers fulfilling opportunities for community groups and businesses to express their support of Zoo New England's mission. Projects include helping with special events, grounds keeping and special projects. Groups are also encouraged to share their special talents.

Ages 14+
Please note: There must be one 18+ chaperone for every ten participants under the age of 18.

Questions? Please see our FAQ for Group Volunteers.

Contact us for further information on our Group Volunteer Program or to book a group volunteer experience. We are scheduling groups at least six weeks in advance to ensure enough time to coordinate a suitable project.