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Be a Volunteer at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo!
Volunteers provide valuable assistance in almost every area of the Zoo's operations. These committed individuals donate over 40,000 hours a year in a variety of capacities. That's an equivalent value of more than $750,000 in volunteer work. |
WHO IS THE TYPICAL ZOO VOLUNTEER?
If you are serious about dedicating your time and energy to the Zoo on a regular basis, feel strongly about animals and conservation, and would like to put your passion to work, we have an opportunity for you!
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Youth Development Programs
Pyramid of Commitment Level
The Youth Development Department promotes positive personal, social and professional development through Teen Programs and Service Opportunities. Program participants gain a better understanding of the natural world and the role the Zoo plays in it. All of the below programs coincide with the public and private school community service requirements for graduation.
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STUDENT RESOURCE GUIDE
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is dedicated to serving as an educational resource for the community. We receive many requests from students of all ages who are seeking to pursue projects or homework assignments at the Zoo, and we greatly appreciate the interest. There are many ways to learn more about the Zoo’s commitment to conservation, education and research.
If you are seeking help with an assignment, please click here.
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Special Event Volunteer Opportunities |
| Volunteers are needed to help staff our special and fundraising events at the Zoo. If your business would like a great way to get your employees involved, volunteering at the zoo's fundraising events could be the answer! Students - our month-long Wild Wonderland and Zoo Boo events are a great way to earn your required service hours! Special "scare actor" positions are available during Halloween! Special event volunteers are booked through one main contact at your school or business and volunteers work either the week of the event, or in shifts before, during and after the event. Special event volunteers for Zoo Boo and Wild Wonderland work the entire shift of the event. No long term commitment or experience necessary.
Volunteer Requirements:
- All volunteers must be a minimum of 14 years of age.
- All volunteers must be reliable, hard working and possess strong leadership skills.
- All volunteers must complete an Individual Volunteer Application.
- All volunteers must complete a Release of Liability.
- Zoo Boo and Wild Wonderland volunteers must work the entire shift.
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Special Event Volunteer Opportunities:
- Zoofari – food festival (corporate and group contacts only)
- WaZoo – beverage festival (volunteers 21 and over only, corporate and group contacts only)
- Wild at Heart – multi-night Valentine’s Dinner
- Karamu – black tie dinner
- Zoo Zoom and Zoo Run Run – 5K runs inside the Zoo
- Golf Tournament
- Zoo Boo- month long, seasonal Halloween event with various fun volunteer positions available (Teen and Adult volunteers)
- Wild Wonderland - month long, seasonal Holiday event with special "actor" positions available (Teen and Adult volunteers)
- Others as they arise!
Special Event Volunteer Benefits:
- An opportunity to become a part of wildlife conservation and education in your community
- The chance to meet people and share the excitement of the Zoo
- Recognition
- An opportunity to make network and spend time in one of the "top ten" Zoos in the United States
Forms for Special Event Volunteers:
If you need additional information or to submit your forms,
please e-mail our
Volunteer Coordinator or
contact her via phone at (813) 935-8552 ext. 296. |
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Group Volunteer Opportunities |
| Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo welcomes groups of volunteers to assist in one-time projects around the Zoo grounds. Activities might include planting, weeding, spreading mulch, painting, and other “Zoo beautification” projects. Groups may also volunteer at some of the Zoo’s special events. Scout troops, sororities and fraternities, youth groups and other community groups are accepted for volunteer work day projects, depending on the group’s availability and the Zoo’s needs. Projects may be scheduled for any day of the week, and must consist of a minimum of four hours work. Volunteers are encouraged to stay and enjoy the Zoo when the work is done.
Group projects are scheduled at least 30 days in advance.
To request a date and time for your group, fill out our online
application and e-mail
our Volunteer Coordinator or
contact her via phone at (813) 935-8552
ext. 296.
Corporate Volunteer Program
Corporations play a special role by bringing groups of employee volunteers together, often for specific projects on either an ongoing, periodic, or one-time basis. These projects not only provide an invaluable service to the Zoo, but also afford a wonderful opportunity for employees to spend quality time together outside the workplace. If your company would like to become involved at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, we can tailor a program of activities that is just right for you and your employees. There are an unlimited number of possibilities, but the sample programs which follow offer some ideas to get you going.
Adopt a Project
You can work with Zoo professionals to determine a specific activity that your corporation can make your own – for example, a children’s educational program or activity, the promotion and beautification of a particular animal exhibit, or providing guides for traveling exhibits – with a schedule that fits your needs as well as those of the Zoo.
Hold a Corporate Zoo Day
Bring the whole gang together for a one-time “Zoo Beautification.” Enjoy a fun day of teamwork and camaraderie in a tranquil setting.
Link Your Corporate Donations to Your Community
Service
If you are interested in making a corporation donation to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, you may want to consider linking your funds to your employees’ volunteer service – donating a specific amount for every hour volunteered.
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Group and Corporate Daily Volunteer Requirements:
- All volunteers must be a minimum of 14 years of age.
- All volunteers must be reliable, hard working and possess strong leadership skills.
- All volunteers must complete an Individual Volunteer Application
- All volunteers must complete a Release of Liability.
Group and Corporate Daily Volunteer Opportunities:
- Recycling and eco-conservation projects.
- Beautification projects within Zoo grounds.
- Other special projects that we can customize for your group (based on availability and current Zoo needs).
Group and Corporate Daily Volunteer Benefits:
- An opportunity to become a part of wildlife conservation and education in your community
- The chance to meet people and share the excitement of the Zoo
- Monthly Volunteer Newsletter
- Recognition
- An opportunity to network and spend time in the #1 Zoo in the USA
Forms for Daily Volunteers:
- Individual
Volunteer Application (PDF)
- Release of Liability (PDF)
If you need additional information or to submit your forms,
please e-mail our
Volunteer Coordinator or contact her via phone
at (813)
935-8552 ext. 296. |
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Adult Volunteers – Administration, Education and Operations Department |
Are you interested in contributing your time and talents to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo? We are currently accepting volunteers in our Administration, Education and Operations Department.
Adult Volunteers in these departments contribute time to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and assist with an area of their choice such as, data entry, administrative projects, greeting our guests or assisting at our rides, assisting with children’s crafts and other projects in our Education Department and more. Join our team of professionals today!
The Recycling Program is also a great option for active adults who are interested in assisting the Zoo with our goal of being a role-model in the community for our environmentally-conscious decisions. This program is fully supported by volunteers! Join our “Green Team” today!
Our Adult Volunteer Program option is perfect for those who are seeking to gain experience in a chosen department, provide vital support to a department within the Zoo and to make new friends.
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Animal Department Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to make a six-month commitment to at least 4 hours per week.
Upon receipt of your completed volunteer application, along with all supplementary documentation, you will be contacted for an interview.
After your interview is successfully completed, background check performed and cleared, you will attend an orientation and tour of the Zoo with our Special Events Volunteer Coordinator.
If you need additional information or to submit your forms,
please e-mail our
Volunteer Coordinator or contact her via phone
at (813)
935-8552 ext. 296.
Interested in volunteering for WaZoo or Zoofari?
Please e-mail our Volunteer Coordinator or contact her via phone at (813) 935-8552 ext. 296. Restrictions apply. |
Adult Volunteers & Interns - Animal Department |
Animal Department Volunteers work alongside our keepers in the following animal areas: Primates, Herps & Aquatics, Florida Mammals, Asian Gardens, Safari Africa and Aviary.
Volunteers assist keepers in many aspects of animal husbandry, including cleaning and maintenance of animal exhibits (80% of time), diet and enrichment preparation (20% of time). Volunteers are allowed no direct animal contact.
The first several times you volunteer with the department you will spend your time shadowing the Animal Care Staff. When Animal Care Staff feels comfortable with your performance they will increase your responsibility. |
Animal Department Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to make a six-month commitment to at least 4 hours per week.
Volunteers and interns must submit a negative TB test yearly, and proof of tetanus shot within the last 5 years. Volunteers are accepted on an as-needed basis. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in the Animal Department please fill out the Adult Volunteer Application and Release of Liability. If you are interested in becoming an Intern in the Animal Department please fill out the Internship Position Application.
You will be contacted upon receipt of your completed Volunteer application, along with all supplementary documentation, if an available opportunity matches your needs and availability.
For additional information or to submit your forms,
please e-mail our
Volunteer Coordinator or contact her via phone
at (813)
935-8552
ext. 296. Thank you again for your interest. We look forward to working with you in the future.
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Docent Program |
Docent the Latin term for "teacher," is
the title given to specially trained educational volunteers
in zoos, aquariums, and museums. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
Docents give tours of the Zoo, answer questions from our
guests, and use artifacts, biofacts, and Outreach animals
to educate and engage the public.
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Docent Requirements:
- All Docents must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
- All Docents must be reliable, hard working and possess strong leadership skills.
- All Docents must complete an Docent Adult Volunteer Application (below) with $105 check made payable to "Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo" that covers screening, docent polo, name badge, training materials and one year of Docent annual dues.
- Attend all ten weeks of docent training (70 hours). Training is held twice a week on one day from 6-8:30pm (Thursday) and one day on the weekend from 9am-4pm (Saturday). Training will be on Zoo history, animals, conservation and ecology issues. The ten-week Docent Training class is offered annually.
- Annually commit to 96 hours of educational volunteering.
- Annual Docent Organization dues ($12).
- Attend monthly Docent meetings on the 3rd Wednesday evening from 6:30-8pm.
We appreciate your interest in the docent program. If you are interested in participating in the next docent class that will be in September 2012, please click here and fill out the contact information form and we will contact you approximately two months before the start of the class
If you need additional information,
please e-mail or contact
(813)
935-8552 ext. 209.
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