Central Park Zoo Volunteer Program

William Holmstrom ©WCS

Become a Zoo Guide at one of the nation’s greatest institutions. You’ll assist the Education Department at the Central Park Zoo in delivering wildlife and environmental conservation information to zoo visitors, offering administrative support, leading tours, supporting zoo school programs, and participating in a variety of events.

Wildlife Guide Responsibilities
Volunteers should be flexible and prepared to serve in any of the capacities listed below following the required 8-session training course. All decisions regarding work assignments will be made by the Coordinator of Volunteers or the Day Captain.

  • Engaging in interactive discussions about selected animals, their exhibits, and environmental conservation with the public. A volunteer should initiate conversations with visitors to make them feel welcome as well as share information.
  • Conducting pick-up tours for the casual visitor and selected organized groups, including school groups and groups of adults. These tours can encompass multiple exhibits, focus on a specific region and its wildlife, or concentrate on a specific topic, such as animal adaptations or behavior.
  • Delivering amplified sea lion narration at feeding times. Narrations involve using a microphone to speak to large audiences.
  • Reading to children during summer story time activities.
  • Helping the Education Department with administrative duties such as record-keeping, light administrative duties and arts & crafts prep for special events and educational programs.
  • Participating in a variety of promotional, corporate, private, and special events.
  • Helping our youngest visitors explore the wonders of the Tisch Children's Zoo.
  • Attending additional trainings following the initial 8 session training program. Opportunities for professional development will be available for guides to attend to further their knowledge of wildlife and environmental conservation. Volunteers are required to attend a minimum of three continuing education programs per year.

Time Commitment Required of Volunteers
After acceptance into the program, each volunteer is asked to make a minimum one-year commitment to the Central Park Zoo, commencing with the successful completion of the training course. Weekday volunteers must commit to working a minimum of one full day per week and weekend volunteers must commit to working one full day every other weekend; a minimum of approximately 200 hours of service per year. Arrangements may be made with the Coordinator of Volunteers to work additional days, if desired. Guides are expected to make up missed days.

The Zoo is open every day of the year, including all holidays. Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.

Training
All volunteers are required to complete a multi-week training course taught by zoo staff. The 8-session training course will take place on Sunday mornings in February and March. The cost of training is $100. This includes fees for training refreshments, materials, uniform shirt and explorer vest. Final acceptance of a volunteer into the program is contingent on successful completion of the training course and a 3-month probationary period.

Please note that the 2010 class of volunteers has been accepted. We will begin receiving applications for the 2011 training class in September 2010. Applications will be accepted until December 31st.  
Download the application

Program Organization
The Coordinator of Volunteers and the Curator of Education are responsible for selecting, supervising, and evaluating volunteers. For each day of the week, a Day Captain will be elected by the day’s members or appointed by the Coordinator of Volunteers. The Day Captain will be directly responsible for assigning work to that day’s volunteers, making up a schedule, supervising volunteers, and maintaining records for the day. If a problem arises that the Day Captain cannot handle, he/she will contact the Coordinator of Volunteers.