Volunteer

Volunteer or Intern At the Zoo

Thank you for your interest in the Memphis Zoo's volunteer program. We are very pleased to have an active and dedicated group of volunteers making a difference at the Memphis Zoo.

Follow these links to learn more about great opportunities to volunteer at the Zoo

Why Volunteer?

• Meet new people and make new friends
• Network with the community
• Explore career and personal interests
• Earn recommendations for future employment or college applications
• Develop marketable job skills and build your resume
• Share your time, talents and energy with others
• Uncover hidden skills and talents
• Increase your self-confidence
• Stay physically active
• Make a difference in your local community
• Share your passion of the natural world with others
• Become involved in conservation, recreation and education efforts
• Learn more about the animals and/or plants you love
• Directly support the mission of the Memphis Zoo
• Have fun!!!

Types of Volunteers

Regular volunteers – long-term volunteers who adhere to an ongoing schedule and come regularly to the Zoo to do various tasks.  Level of commitment: medium.     

Interns—college students who volunteer for a set period of time to gain practical and management experience within their field of study.  Level of commitment: high.  Click here to get more information about internships.   

Externs—college students who volunteer for a set period of time to fulfill academic purposes as part of a class or college credit.  Level of commitment: high.   

One-time Event Volunteers—volunteers age 14 and older who work various stations and posts at special events.  Level of commitment: low.  Click here to get more information about Volunteering for Special Events.   

Group Volunteers—groups of people who come as a whole, representing any type of organization, to volunteer collectively either during special events or periodically on small projects.  Level of commitment: low. 

Family Volunteers -- a family who volunteers collectively during their visit to the Zoo and helps to answer guests questions about the Zoo. Level of commitment: low. Families can only work as Guest Relations Volunteers and must volunteer together. Families should submit an individual Volunteer Application for each adult and a Volunteer Waiver Form for each minor. 

Docents—volunteers who educate the public about our animals at the exhibit areas, conduct scheduled tours of the Zoo, and give talks to organizations. Docents are important members of the Zoo community that bring to their role a deep interest in the natural world and a desire to share that knowledge with others.  Level of commitment: high. Click here to get more information about the Docent program.

How To Get Started

1. Attend a Volunteer Information Session to learn more about the Memphis Zoo and the opportunities.
2. See our list of available Volunteer Opportunities and decide which opportunities interest you most and match your availability and skills.
3. Review our FAQs page.
4. Complete our online Volunteer Application Form.
5. Attend an interview with one of our volunteer coordinators.
6. Pay a $50 Volunteer Membership Fee.
7. Pass a background check.
8. Attend an orientation to complete all paperwork and receive materials and uniform.
9. Begin volunteering!

Special Event Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed to help staff our special and fundraising events at the Memphis Zoo. If your business would like a great way to get your employees involved, volunteering at the Zoo's special events could be the answer! Students - Zoo Boo and SunTrust Zoo Lights events are a great way to earn your required service hours with a total of 29 nights of opportunities to volunteer! Special event volunteers are booked through one main contact at your school, organization or business and volunteers work during the event. Independent volunteers should contact the Volunteer Coordinators directly.  Special event volunteers for Zoo Boo and SunTrust Zoo Lights work the entire shift of the event. No long term commitment or experience necessary.  

Special Events Volunteer Requirements:

• All volunteers must be a minimum of 14 years of age.  14 and 15 year old volunteers must have a parent or guardian accompany and volunteer with them.
• All volunteers must be reliable, hard working, able to follow instructions, able to work independently and able to work in outdoor weather conditions.
• All volunteers must be people oriented and able to focus on the guests (refrain from using cell phones, iPods, etc.).
• All (one time event) volunteers must complete and submit a Volunteer Waiver Form prior to volunteering.
• Volunteer Groups must have a 1:5 adult (21+) to youth (18 and under) ratio and a group application on file.
• Zoo Boo and Zoo Lights volunteers must work the entire shift.  

Special Event Volunteer Opportunities

• Earth Day Celebration – It’s your environment; help protect it!  Raise awareness for environmental issues by operating game or information stations.
• Zoom through the Zoo – 4K run in and around the Zoo.
• Members’ Night—an event in honor of our members. 
• Dreamnight at the Zoo—an event for critically ill and/or severely disabled children
• Harvest Fest—a celebration of harvest time and local artisans.
• Senior Day—a day free for Senior Citizens.
• Zoo Boo—a seasonal Halloween event with various fun volunteer positions available
• Zoo Lights—month long, winter Holiday event with various positions available. Others as they arise!
• Others as they arise                  

Special Event Volunteer Benefits

• An opportunity to become a part of wildlife conservation and education in your community.
• Get your group involved with the Zoo.
• The chance to meet people and share the excitement of the Zoo.
• Complete required service hours for school.
• An opportunity to network with and spend time in the "#1 Zoo in the U.S." as ranked by TripAdvisor.com in 2008.

Get Involved

• Get your email address added to our Event Volunteers Email distribution list by emailing our volunteer office.  Put “Event Volunteer Email List” in the subject line.
• Find out specific event dates by calling the Volunteer office at (901) 333-6653.
• Commit to working a specific date and shift.
• Submit the Volunteer Waiver Form (must be updated every 6 months) prior to event.
• Come prepared to have fun, focus on our guests, and complete the shift.

Forms Needed for Special Events Volunteers

Volunteer Waiver Form

Group Application

Internship Opportunities

Internships are offered three times a year:  Summer, Fall and Spring.  All applicants must have completed their freshman year at an accredited college or university prior to applying, and must be maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA in the area of their major. Only applicants majoring in the sciences will be considered for animal care internships; however students in any field may apply for administrative positions. Interns must commit to working a minimum of 24 hours per week for eight consecutive weeks.  All Memphis Zoo internships are unpaid. Interns will be considered volunteers, and therefore will operate under the supervision of the Volunteer Coordinators, as well as their area supervisors and also be required to pay the $50 Volunteer Membership Fee. 

Please review the volunteer opportunities page for internships available and then submit an internship application.  Deadlines for applications are as follows:  March 1 for Summer (May-Aug) internships, July 1 for Fall (Sept-Dec) internships and November 1 for Spring (Jan-Apr) internships. 

The Memphis Zoo will be happy to facilitate any projects or presentations deemed necessary for credit. ALL PROJECTS MUST BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE BY ZOO STAFF SUPERVISOR.

If you need additional information or to submit your forms, please e-mail our Volunteer Coordinators or call the Volunteer Office at (901)333-6653 or by email at volunteer@memphiszoo.org.