Volunteers

Animal Care volunteers work alongside a keeper assisting with daily animal care including cleaning of exhibits and indoor holding buildings, preparing diets, raking, hosing, making enrichment items, and much more! Our volunteers in the Animal Care Department are an integral part of the daily care of our animals. Thanks to the time and dedication given by our volunteers, the animals' lives are more enriched.

• Age 18 or older
• Commit to regular attendance of four consecutive hours per week, either 8:00am – 12:00pm or 12:30pm – 4:30pm
• Commit to volunteering for at least six months
• Maintain a negative TB test (valid within one year) and current tetanus vaccination (valid within ten years)
• Proof of measles vaccination is required
• Some animal areas may require additional proof of vaccination
• Pay the one-time Animal Care Volunteer Program fee of $20 which includes a uniform t-shirt and Animal Care Volunteer Handbook
• Abide by the procedures and expectations outlined in the Oakland Zoo Volunteer Manual including those set by the Animal Care, Conservation and Research Department (ACCR).

Fill out the online application.

Note: The application page will not save your answers, so make sure you have enough time to complete the entire application. You may want to write your answers to the questions on a separate document and then copy them in.

After we receive your application, we will review your documents and reach out to you within four weeks.

• If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted to schedule an interview.
• Once an applicant is accepted into the program, a $20.00 program fee is required before volunteering commences.
• Those accepted will attend an Animal Care Volunteer Orientation, which are typically 30-60 minutes in length. The $20 non-refundable volunteer fee will be collected and uniforms issued.
• This process takes several weeks.
• All volunteers are required to enter their volunteer hours in our volunteer tracking system within a few days of your shift.
• The application deadline for our July volunteer orientation is May 25.
• The application deadline for our November volunteer orientation is September 21.
• The application deadline for our March volunteer orientation is January 18.

Please email us if you have more questions about our Animal Care Volunteer Program.