If you love animals and enjoy working with people, the zoo is the place for you! We have a wide variety of opportunities available and many different programs to get involved with that cover many different areas of interest.

Our ZooGuides undergo extensive training and commit to 88 hours of service per year. You can get started by signing up to attend a short orientation.

NOTE: Working with the animals requires special training and experience and is NOT an option for new volunteers.

If you can't make a long term commitment, you can still help with events (see Community Event Volunteering). Email Community Volunteer or call (503) 525-4273. You can also check with us if you have a special skill you would like to share with us on a short-term basis.

If you are looking for a place to volunteer for the summer, you can help the zoo by becoming a ZooAmbassador. ZooAmbassadors are volunteers who commit to one 4½-hour shift per week during the summer at seasonal exhibits.

High School age volunteers work at the zoo year round.

ZooTeens (entering 9th–12th grade) spend the summer sharing the amazing things they learn about animals with zoo visitors. They also get to help with the care and feeding of the animals they work with, such as goats, rabbits, and chickens.

The Family Farm exhibit offers an experience in career exploration for teens in the 9th–12th grades. These volunteers care for animals and interact with zoo visitors from September through May.

We are always looking for groups who can spend a few hours helping with horticulture projects. The minimum age for participation is 12.

For information, see Group Volunteering,
email Community Volunteer, or call 503-525-4273.

The zoo has 12-week, unpaid college internships in a variety of career areas.

Are you a certified SCUBA diver with at least three hours a week to devote to the zoo? Dive right into a supportive, stimulating and fun volunteer environment while developing your diving skills. Volunteers work closely with marine life keepers to care for animal habitats.

Zoo divers must be at least 18 years of age and be certified scuba divers with a minimum of 40 dives; please see the volunteer diver form for additional requirements. Interested candidates should contact Dive Safety Officer JoEllen Marshall at 503-220-1561 ext. 5314 or joellen.marshall@oregonzoo.org.