yearly membership
3 months ago
well, so i’ve missed a bunch of volunteer zoo meetings, i got a yearly zoo membership, and perhaps i’ll start going and get inspired/motivated again.
How to volunteer at the zoo
It made me
feel good. 
"I was a ZooTeen at the Oregon Zoo."
How I did it: Well, when I first moved to Portland, OR I heard about this ZooTeen program at the Oregon Zoo, so I signed up and got interviewed and finally accepted. I cared for the education animals, like the goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, lizards, snakes, turtles, ducks, etc. Plus I got to give interpretive talks to zoo visitors; a really awesome way to spend a summer if you ask me. Later I got an internship and worked part time in an office and part time as a zookeeper's assistant working with endangered butterfly larvae and birds.My duties throughout: scrubbing, washing, sweeping, hosing, mopping, feeding (from hay to live worms to common weeds), updating data, gathering data, writing up reports, talking with guests, and directing visitors to the restrooms. ;)If you like animals and don't mind getting dirty, wet, or doing hard work, this is for you. You might even find a career in it!
Lessons & tips: Definitely ALWAYS FOLLOW ORDERS! Not doing so could get yourself injured or worse. Remember you're working with animals (not to mention in areas that are usually wet and thus slippery), potentially large or dangerous ones, so always follow the instructions given to you by your supervisor.On that note, make sure you get a TB test and vaccination, and it's a great idea to have medical insurance before volunteering with a zoo (if you don't many zoos will turn you down).
Resources: The Oregon Zoo youth volunteer program.
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
November 20, 2007
2 years ago
I’ve got the number I need to call about volunteering for the animal nutritionist. I just need to get everything ironed out for next semester before I can start figuring out what to do. It would be so easy to do and would make a great resume builder.
