June 5, 2023 - August 4, 2023 — Camp runs Monday-Friday and is broken into 1 week sessions
Grades 9–12
Applications for Summer 2023 are now closed. Feel free to look at the information below to help plan for future summers, but know that certain information, such as session dates, tend to change year to year. Applications for Summer 2024 will open around February of that year.
About The Program
Love kids, nature, and ZooCamp? We need your help! Join our ZooCamp Teen Assistant program and spend part of your summer playing with kids, helping to lead activities, making crafts, dressing up in costumes and, of course, having fun. Teen Assistants are truly an integral part of the camp experience! Teen Assistants should be energetic and enjoy spending time with children. This program is designed for teens entering grades 9–12 in the Fall of 2024.
We have 3 different Teen Assistant positions, each with different roles and requirements. Find the different job descriptions, applications and other information below.
All Teen Assistant applications must be submitted by April 15th at 5pm in order to be considered. Applicants that submit their application early will be prioritized.
Summer ZooCamp is broken into 8 different 1-week sessions and different TA positions have different required time commitments. The sessions for summer 2023 are as follows:
June 5-9, 2023 | June 12-16, 2023 | June 19-23, 2023 | June 26-30, 2023 | July 10-14, 2023 | July 17-21, 2023 | July 24-28, 2023 | July 31- August 4, 2023
*Note: Camp will not be held during the week of July 4th (July 3-7)
Info meetings to learn more about this program will be held on both April 7th & 8th at 4:15pm over zoom:
Topic: Teen Programs Info Meeting
Time: Apr 7 & 8, 2023 04:15 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2641518807
Meeting ID: 264 151 8807
Teen Assistant
Unpaid Volunteer Position — Hours volunteered count as community service hours
Responsibilities
Support ZooCamp Teachers in leading a group of no more than 16 campers
Facilitate games and activities with campers
Support teachers in leading lessons
Help ensure the wellbeing of campers and peers
Act as a positive role model for campers
Understand and follow all ZooCamp and Zoo safety protocol
Attend check in meetings with your group Teacher
Help with lunchtime set-up and activities with campers
Support climate group projects
Create a kind, warm, fun environment for everyone and add your personality and voice to the ZooCamp community
Requirements
No previous camp experience is needed, though it is always beneficial
Applicants should be responsible, eager to learn & good at following instruction
Must volunteer for at least 3 sessions of camp — see session dates at the top of this page
Shifts run Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Must attend a training on Sunday, May 28th, 2023 from 9am-3pm
Experience with children is preferrable
Must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and at least 1 booster
Application Process
Complete the 2023 Teen Assistant Application by the May 1st deadline. As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload one letter of recommendation that must be completed by an adult who is not related to you.
If you are a returning Teen Assistant from previous years, you will fill out the 2023 Returning Teen Assistant Application and will not need letters of recommendation.
We will get in touch with you through email by May 1st, 2024 to let you know if you have been selected to be a TA this summer and tell you which week(s) you will be volunteering. If you have not heard from us by May 10th, please contact me using the email link at the bottom of this page.
Lead Teen Assistant
Paid Position — $400/week, assuming full attendance
Responsibilities
Support ZooCamp Teachers in leading a group of no more than 16 campers
Facilitate games and activities with campers
Help teachers plan schedule and teach lessons
Assist with conflict resolution between campers as needed
Help ensure the wellbeing of campers and peers
Act as a positive role model for campers and fellow TAs
Understand and follow all ZooCamp and Zoo safety protocol
Act as point person for other TAs in your group
Attend weekly staff meetings and 1:1 meetings with your teacher and ZooCamp director
Lead lunchtime set-up and activities with campers
Help lead climate group projects
Create a kind, warm, fun environment for everyone and add your personality and voice to the ZooCamp community
Requirements
Applicants must be at least 16 years old
Previous Oakland Zoo ZooCamp Teen Assistant experience is highly preferred - we will be more lenient with this requirement in 2023 as last year was our first full camp since 2019
Applicants should be confident, extremely responsible and comfortable leading both children younger than them as well as their peers
Applicants must be flexible and able to adapt quickly to different tasks in order to help out where needed in a fast-paced environment
Previous childcare experience is required
Must sign up for at least four sessions of camp, but the sessions do not need to be consecutive — see session dates at the top of this page
Shifts run Monday-Friday, 8:15am-4:30pm
Must attend a training on Sunday, May 28th, 2023 from 9am-5pm
Must attend an interview with an Oakland Zoo staff member if you are chosen to move onto the interview stage of the application process
Must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and at least 1 booster
We will get in touch with you through email by April 20th, 2024 to schedule an interview if you are chosen to move on to that stage of the process. If you have not heard from us by May 1st, please contact me using the email link at the bottom of this page.
Teen Assistant Intern
Paid Position — $400/week, assuming full attendance
Responsibilities
Assist Assistant Director and Director with day-to-day camp activities (sign-in/out, logistics, office work, set-up, and other duties as assigned)
Participate in all-camp activities and spend time with groups as needed
Support climate group projects
Participate in professional development training
Attend weekly staff meetings and daily check ins with the ZooCamp Assistant Director
Work with the Assistant Director to develop and carry out an intern project/s (individually or in pairs/groups) - This can be multiple small projects (one per session) or a larger project that goes throughout the summer
Develop curriculum or activity and lead it with campers - work with teachers and ZooStaff to get feedback and improve for the next session
Create a kind, warm, fun environment for everyone and add your personality and voice to the ZooCamp community
Requirements
No previous camp experience is needed, though it is always beneficial
Applicants should be focused, detail oriented and well-organized
Applicants must be flexible and able to adapt quickly to different tasks in order to help out where needed in a fast-paced environment
Must sign up for at least 4 consecutive weeks of camp (June 5-30 or July 10-August 4)
Shifts run Monday-Friday, 8:15am-4:30pm
Must attend a training on Sunday, May 28th, 2023 from 9am-5pm
Must attend an interview with an Oakland Zoo staff member if you are chosen to move onto the interview stage of the application process
Must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and at least 1 booster
We will get in touch with you through email by April 20th, 2024 to schedule an interview if you are chosen to move on to that stage of the process. If you have not heard from us by May 1st, please contact me using the email link at the bottom of this page.
Additional Information
Teen Assistants & Lead Teen Assistants work with a variety of camp classes, aged pre-K through 5th grade. Although we do our best to accommodate your preference for a specific age group, we cannot guarantee placement with any particular class. We also feel it is beneficial for TAs to experience a range of different age groups.
The final number of TAs accepted is determined by the number of camp classes and enrollment. If you are not chosen, we recommend you try again next year and/or look into some of the other teen opportunities the Oakland Zoo has to offer.
Covid-19 Protocols
Vaccination: All Zoo staff, including ZooCamp teachers and volunteers, are vaccinated against Covid-19. We encourage campers to be vaccinated, but we will not be checking vaccination status.
Masks: We are no longer requiring masks at ZooCamp. Masking at the Zoo is strongly encouraged, especially in indoor spaces where social distancing may not be possible.
Exposure at camp: If you test positive for Covid-19 while attending camp, please let us know immediately. We will send out potential exposure emails to groups if known cases arise.
If you test positive or have any symptoms of illness, please stay home from camp.
Covid-19 Protocols are subject to change.
Note: All of these policies apply not just to TAs, but staff and campers as well.
