Learning Positions

Learning Positions

Play Assistant

Seasonal summer position (June –August)
Time Commitment: One shift per week
Shifts available: Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

As a play assistant, you will help create a sensory-rich learning environment, greet guests, and gain hands-on experience with the zoo’s youngest visitors at Farm-in-the-Zoo. This position is ideal for applicants who have an early education background or are hoping to gain experience guiding play-based learning. Applicants should enjoy facilitating activities for young children.

Responsibilities include:

  • Encouraging creativity and promoting motor skills through music, art, and block building
  • Assisting guests as they explore different textures, sights, and sounds with sensory bins
  • Facilitating play and maintaining a safe space
  • Supporting children as they direct their own experience
  • Helping children and parents get oriented to the site and the experience

Skills and Qualifications

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must have a friendly and approachable manner
  • Must be energetic
  • Ability to work well both in a team and independently
  • Sensitivity to and respect for diverse populations
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality about sensitive animal information
  • Comfort working in a collaborative environment and adhering to zoo policies, procedures, and guest-service standards

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to lift up to 30 pounds
  • Ability to wear closed-toe shoes
  • Comfort traversing zoo grounds in all weather conditions; accommodations can be made
  • Comfort working at a child’s level, which may include standing and kneeling for long periods of time; accommodations can be made

Onboarding Requirements

  • Complete an online application; if you need help filling out an application, email volunteer@lpzoo.org
  • Successfully complete an interview with the Volunteer Services department on one of the following dates:
    1. Wednesday, March 5
    2. Wednesday, March 19
  • Complete and pass a standard criminal background check
  • Attend a day-long on zoo grounds orientation on one of the following dates:
    1. Saturday, March 22
    2. Friday, March 28
    3. Monday, March 31
    4. Sunday, April 6
    5. Monday, April 14
  • Attend and complete all required training courses, which includes a 4-hour in-person session and online at-your-own-pace courses. You must attend the following in-person training date:
    1. Wednesday, May 28

Guest Engagement Volunteer

Year-round position
Time Commitment: One shift per week for at least six months per year
Shifts available: Daily from 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. or 1–4:30 p.m. (may vary seasonally)
Primarily recruiting for Mondays, Friday, and Saturday mornings, plus Wednesday and Sunday afternoons

Guest Engagement volunteers connect guests to the zoo’s mission by sharing stories of care, conservation and science, and community. Using interpretive best practices, volunteers facilitate scheduled interactive, hands-on learning experiences through chats, mobile learning stations, and animal encounters. After learning an initial suite of interpretive programs, volunteers are encouraged to supplement their knowledge by completing training on additional programs.

Responsibilities include:

  • Facilitating interpretive conversations about animal care, conservation and science, and community to connect guests with the zoo and inspire people to take action to help wildlife
  • Assisting with facilitating interpretive animal encounters at Farm-in-the-Zoo
  • Supporting on-grounds demonstrations through crowd engagement
  • Facilitating interpretive activities with partners at specially designed mobile learning stations
  • Moving and setting up a rolling cart weighing up to 250 lbs; accommodations can be arranged
  • Delivering programs at special events as requested

Skills and Qualifications

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must have a friendly and approachable manner
  • Ability to work well both in a team and independently
  • Sensitivity to and respect for diverse populations
  • Comfort in proactively approaching and speaking to diverse audience groups of varying size and age range to engage in interpretive programs
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality about sensitive animal information
  • Comfort working in a collaborative environment and adhering to zoo policies, procedures, and guest-service standards
  • Ability to communicate with clarity, empathy, and understanding to fellow zoo employees, volunteers, and guests to deliver effective interpretive programs
  • Comfort with supportive coaching and feedback from staff on interpretive skills

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to wear closed-toe shoes
  • Ability to stay in one location for a scheduled period
  • Ability to traverse zoo grounds in all weather conditions; accommodation can be arranged

Onboarding Requirements

  • Complete an online application; if you need help filling out an application, email volunteer@lpzoo.org
  • Successfully complete an interview with the Volunteer Services department on one of the following dates:
    1. Wednesday, February 19
    2. Thursday, February 20
    3. Friday, February 21
    4. Tuesday, February 25
    5. Thursday, February 27
    6. Saturday, March 1
  • Complete and pass a standard criminal background check
  • Attend a day-long on zoo grounds orientation on one of the following dates:
    1. Saturday, March 22
    2. Friday, March 28
    3. Monday, March 31
    4. Sunday, April 6
    5. Monday, April 14
  • Attend and complete all required training and online coursework
  • Additionally, complete 16 hours of position-specific training. Choose one virtual and one in-person training date:
    1. Virtual Training: Tuesday, April 15 or Saturday, April 26
    2. In-person Training: Saturday, May 3 or Tuesday, May 6
  • Begin volunteering shortly after training (typically after one or two weeks)
  • Once you begin, successfully complete a six-week onboarding program during shifts
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