There are many ways you can help out at the Zoo. Chances are we have the perfect volunteer opportunity to meet your unique set of skills and talent.

Apply to Volunteer

 

Adult Volunteers (Ages 18 and up)

Thank you for your interest in volunteering opportunities at the Chattanooga Zoo. We are so very grateful that you would like to share your time and talents with us and our Zoo guests.

All volunteers can choose to follow either the Education Track or the Animal Care Track.

EDUCATION TRACK

Volunteers are specially trained volunteers who wear many hats within the Zoo. Opportunities in this area include talking with our Zoo guests about the animals throughout the Zoo, conducting private mini Zoo Tours to families, assisting with busses arriving for school field trips, Education Carts, talks for Keeper Training Sessions, assisting during Zoo guest giraffe feedings, and more. After volunteering the required hours, volunteers on this Track can request to train on handling and interpreting utilizing our Animal Ambassadors such as turtles, hedgehogs, doves, bearded dragons, chinchillas, ferrets, rabbits, and more. This Track is flexible in days you can volunteer and physical abilities. If you are looking to volunteer only once or twice a month without a set schedule, this is the opportunity for you.

Special Events

Being a not-for-profit organization, the Zoo conducts many fundraising Special Events throughout the year. These events require several hands to make them happen and we couldn’t do them without our wonderful volunteer support. Volunteers following both the Education Track and the Animal Care Track are asked to help with a minimum of two Special Events annually.

ANIMAL CARE TRACK

Volunteers begin their training in our Nutrition Center learning to prepare diets for the many animals at the Zoo. After volunteering the required hours in this area, Volunteers can move on to train as Petting Zoo Husbandry Aides with our Keepers. Here you will learn what it takes to keep all our animals in the Petting Zoo healthy and happy and assist with their daily husbandry needs. Volunteers earning their required hours in the Petting Zoo can then move on to several other areas throughout the Zoo working with our Ambassador Animals, Small Mammals, and Reptiles. This Track is very physical and requires volunteers to be able to lift, bend, shovel, rake, and stand for long periods of time. Volunteers are also asked to volunteer a minimum of one year and preferably a 4-hour shift one day a week from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

More Information:
  • Some areas on the Animal Care Track may require you to provide proof of a TB test and Tetanus vaccination.
  • Our volunteers do not have any contact with the Zoo animals other than our Animal Ambassador animals that are trained to be handled for Education programs.
If you are under the age of 18 or just looking for a few hours to volunteer for school, CLICK HERE to check out our Youth and/or Episodic Volunteer opportunities.

Group Volunteers

Have a group that wants to volunteer? If your organization is looking for opportunities, we can help! For details, click the button

below or contact us at volunteer@chattzoo.org.

Details