ZOO BOISE - Keeper Support Volunteer

Save to Favorites

Keeper Support Volunteer

Animals are the reason guests attend Zoo Boise! Keeper support volunteers assist the Animal Care staff in creating a comfortable home for the animals and beautiful habitats for guests to see. They also speak with the public about the animals, the Zoo Boise Conservation Fund, and assist with keeper chats. Positions are currently available in all zoo sections.

General responsibilities:

Keeper support volunteers are responsible for habitat maintenance (removing feces and bedding from habitats and cleaning the glass), stocking supplies, helping with ongoing projects, and conducting animal observations. In addition, volunteers are asked to remove cobwebs, help disinfect habitats and enrichment items, and learn how to properly wash dishes to help Zoo Boise remain in compliance with USDA regulations and AZA accreditation standards. Volunteers are expected to help at the zoo’s public animal encounters when needed. Volunteers should be comfortable speaking with the public and should have a passion for learning. While it is not the focus of the position, volunteers will intermittently get the chance to help prepare diets, make animal enrichment, and observe animal training sessions. Zoo Boise is the proud home to many wild animals across a variety of taxa. However, sharing habitat space with animals can be a safety issue. Volunteers do not work in large carnivore habitats at all. Many of the animal habitats that volunteers assist with will require those animal(s) to be shifted into another location before entering the habitat. This includes most hoof stock and all primates.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must commit to one shift per week for at least 6 months
• Shift times are 8:30am - 12:00pm and 1:15pm - 5:00pm; Monday-Sunday
• Commit to volunteering at one special event OR after-hours rental per year
• Attend a group interview
• Participate in an 8-hour volunteer orientation
• Successfully complete an introductory period of 24 hours
• Pay a $50 program fee
• Note: financial assistance is available, please contact the Volunteer Services Office for more details
• Great customer service and ability to work well with guests
• Able to navigate through animal habitats and tight spaces, able to bend and lift up to 50 pounds
• Willing to get dirty and work outside in all weather conditions
• Must submit a negative TB test at own expense annually
• Must be willing to submit to a Federal background check if deemed necessary by Zoo Boise staff