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Come see what everyone's roaring about!
Volunteer for the Blank Park Zoo.
The Blank Park Zoo is looking for energetic individuals who want to volunteer in a fun and exotic environment. Our pride of volunteers helps with everything from educating the public on our animals to handing out treats at Night Eyes.
You must be at least 13 years old to volunteer. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17 please read the section on Zoo Crew and complete a special Zoo Crew application.
We offer lots of great benefits, flexible hours and a large variety of things to do! Just look at a few of the opportunities we have…
Education Docent (Must be at least 18 years of age)
How many bones are in a giraffe's neck? Any of our Zoo Docents can tell you that there is seven…just like humans! As an education volunteer you can help provide information to visitors of all ages through interpretive stations within the zoo and through outreach programs. You must enjoy working with children, adults and, of course, animals. (Please note that volunteers do not work directly with animals on exhibit.)
Guest Services
Do you like life in the fast lane? Then Guest Services is the habitat for you! If you enjoy helping people, then perhaps you would enjoy working at an information booth or assisting customers in the Gift Shop. Guest Services also needs volunteers to help with the train, admissions, membership sales, the Safari Grill and much more!
Horticulture
Did you know the Blank Park Zoo has the largest plant variety in the state? Did you also know that the zoo spans over 22 acres? If you prefer exotic plants to exotic animals then volunteering for the Horticulture Department may begin popping up on your calendar soon! Help with watering, pruning, planting, raking and show off your green thumb!
Kenny's Crew
Are you handy with a hammer? Perfect with a paintbrush? Then we need you! Kenny's Crew is a group of volunteers who have experience and are preferably certified in areas like plumbing, electrical, painting, and carpentry. These volunteers will help with maintenance assignments on a project-to-project basis.
Special Events
From the first beer poured at Zoo Brew to waving the last child goodbye at the end of Night Eyes our special events volunteers are working hard to make each event better then the last. These special volunteers do a variety of things from painting faces to directing traffic in our additional parking lots. If you like to be where the fun is then volunteer for Special Events.
Here's what you need to do to get started…
- Download the
 application and complete it.
- Mail it to: Blank Park Zoo, Attn: Volunteer Coordinator, 7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315
- Wait… the Volunteer Coordinator will contact you soon to set up a meeting. If you don't hear anything within 30 days of sending in your application, please contact us at: 515-323-8331.
**This year's Zoo Crew has been selected, there are no more spots available.**
Zoo Crew (Between the ages of 13 and 17 only)
ZOOCREW is a special opportunity for youth ages 13-17 to get involved at the Blank Park Zoo! As a ZOOCREW volunteer you will have the opportunity to share artifacts from our Safari Stops with zoo visitors, help us keep the zoo looking beautiful, assist Summer Safar Interns with our preschool camps and assist keepers in several areas of the zoo (please note that animal contact is extremely limited). You will also be able to help with Blank Park Zoo Special Events!
If you would like to be a part of ZooCrew here's what you need to do to get started...
1. Fill out an application. For the ZooCrew application, click here. Applications are due on Monday, April 28th. No late applications will be accepted.
2. Interview for a spot on the ZooCrew team. Interviews will be held the week of May 12th.
3. Attend orientation. You must attend the ZooCrew orientation before you can volunteer. Tentative date for ZooCrew orientation is Saturday, May 31st.
4. Begin to volunteer! The ZooCrew season will begin Monday, June 9th. We ask our ZooCrew teens to volunteer a minimum of 40 hours for the summer.
**A fee of $40 for non-members and $35 for members will be due before you start to volunteer. The cost includes a t-shirt and an informational booklet.
*Questions? Please email Daniela Graham at dmgraham@blankparkzoo.org or call at 515-323-8331.
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