Volunteers

Wild Bunch

Location: Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo

Wild Bunch volunteers are needed to assist with special events throughout the year. Volunteers help set up events, staff activity stations for guests of all ages, and help with event break down.

• Wild Bunch volunteers must be 14+.
• Available during Summer and Winter Seasons.

Jr. Zoo Teen

Location: Franklin Park Zoo

The Jr. ZooTeen program is a creative and meaningful educational opportunity for highly-motivated youth ages 11 to 14. This program offers both a hands-on learning atmosphere as well as several mentoring relationships with senior staff members. To learn more about the Jr. Zoo Teen program, visit our Education section here.

Zoo Ambassador

This volunteer opportunity is for motivated, independent, gregarious individuals that enjoy answering questions, interacting with guests, and have a passion for animals and conservation. Zoo Ambassadors are trained in educational and guest relations techniques. They assist with admissions, guest services and education.

• Zoo Ambassadors must be 16+.
• Available in both the Summer and Winter Seasons.
• Zoo Ambassadors must complete at least one, three-hour shift per week between 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Butterfly Garden Ambassador

Location: Franklin Park Zoo; Summer Season only

Butterfly Garden Ambassador volunteers will join a team helping visitors to Franklin Park Zoo’s Butterfly Hollow exhibit to learn about butterflies and other pollinator insects and the plants they depend on. In addition to helping out guests, these volunteers will also have opportunities to assist our Horticulture and Animal Care staff in maintaining the Butterfly Hollow exhibit and the surrounding pollinator gardens.

Butterfly Garden Ambassadors must be 16+
Available in the Summer between Father’s Day weekend and Labor Day weekend
Butterfly Garden Ambassadors must complete at least one shift per week
The morning shift is 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The afternoon shift is 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Wild Bunch

Wild Bunch volunteers are needed to assist with special events throughout the year. Volunteers help set up events, staff activity stations for guests of all ages, and help with event break down.

• Wild Bunch volunteers must be 14+.
• Available during Summer and Winter Seasons.

Education Volunteer/The Naturalist

Education volunteers encourage the public to think and learn about animals, habitats and conservation by helping them understand exhibits, enrichment and animal behaviors in an engaging way. They involve the public with educational tools and kits.

• Education volunteers must be 16+.
• Available after completion of 60 hours in an entry level role.
• Education volunteers must complete at least one, three-hour shift per week between 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Zoo Ambassador

This volunteer opportunity is for motivated, independent, gregarious individuals that enjoy answering questions, interacting with guests, and have a passion for animals and conservation. Zoo Ambassadors are trained in educational and guest relations techniques. They assist with admissions, guest services and education.

• Zoo Ambassadors must be 16+.
• Available in both the Summer and Winter Seasons.
• Zoo Ambassadors must complete at least one, three-hour shift per week between 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Butterfly Garden Ambassador

Location: Franklin Park Zoo; Summer Season only

Butterfly Garden Ambassador volunteers will join a team helping visitors to Franklin Park Zoo’s Butterfly Hollow exhibit to learn about butterflies and other pollinator insects and the plants they depend on. In addition to helping out guests, these volunteers will also have opportunities to assist our Horticulture and Animal Care staff in maintaining the Butterfly Hollow exhibit and the surrounding pollinator gardens.

Butterfly Garden Ambassadors must be 16+
Available in the Summer between Father’s Day weekend and Labor Day weekend
Butterfly Garden Ambassadors must complete at least one shift per week
The morning shift is 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The afternoon shift is 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Horticulture Volunteer: Pollinator Inventory Group

At selected locations throughout the Zoo, from 9am to 11am, every Tuesday, from May through October, join our expert environmental horticulturists to use the I Naturalist phone application to identify pollinators. This is a great way to learn about native plants and local pollinators. Plus you will be helping the Zoo learn which insects are visiting the plants!

In an effort to match your interests and experience with the needs of our native plant nursery, and  Zoo New England’s  gardens and landscape, please fill out this survey in addition to your application.

Horticulture Volunteer: Garden Installation Group

Location: Franklin Park Zoo

From 9am to 11am, every Wednesday, from May through October, volunteers can assist our expert environmental horticulturists with planting new gardens at the Zoo. Many of the plants are perennials and native plants. While contributing to creating a healthy environment for pollinators and birds, this is a great opportunity to learn about planting design and gardening with native plants, right here in Boston! There are lots of plants to be planted, but on non-planting volunteer days, we will be mulching and weeding the new gardens.

In an effort to match your interests and experience with the needs of our native plant nursery, and  Zoo New England’s  gardens and landscape, please fill out this survey in addition to your application.

Horticulture Volunteer: Organic Vegetable Gardening Group

Location: Franklin Park Zoo

Join our expert environmental horticulturists, from 9am to 11am every Thursday, from May through October, in our Organic Garden, growing produce for our zoo animals! This year we will be installing Hugelkultur raised beds! Hugelkultur is a German word that means “hill culture.” Learn how to create nutrient rich plant environments with materials collected from the woods!

In an effort to match your interests and experience with the needs of our native plant nursery, and  Zoo New England’s  gardens and landscape, please fill out this survey in addition to your application.

Commissary

Assists Commissary staff in daily routine and provides quality, professional support to the staff as needed in diet preparation for Zoo animals.

• Commissary volunteers must be 18+
• Available during Summer and Winter Seasons.
• Commissary volunteers must complete at least one, two-hour shift per week between 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Education Volunteer/The Naturalist

Education volunteers encourage the public to think and learn about animals, habitats and conservation by helping them understand exhibits, enrichment and animal behaviors in an engaging way. They involve the public with educational tools and kits.

• Education volunteers must be 16+.
• Available after completion of 60 hours in an entry level role.
• Education volunteers must complete at least one, three-hour shift per week between 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Keeper Aide

Keeper Aide volunteers assist the Animal Care department behind-the-scenes to help provide for the health, safety, care and enrichment of our diverse animal collection.

• Keeper Aide volunteers must be 18+. There is limited availability for volunteers who are 16+ at the Franklin Park Zoo’s Children’s Zoo area.
• Available after completion of 60 hours in an entry level role.
• Keeper Aides must complete at least one, four-hour shift per week.
• For the Summer Season the morning shift is between 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and the afternoon shift is between 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• For the Winter Season the morning shift is between 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and the afternoon shift is between 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wild Bunch

Wild Bunch volunteers are needed to assist with special events throughout the year. Volunteers help set up events, staff activity stations for guests of all ages, and help with event break down.

• Wild Bunch volunteers must be 14+.
• Available during Summer and Winter Seasons.