Volunteers and Internships
Oakland Zoo Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
If you love animals, want to help, or want to start a career working with animals, then we have several options for you to get involved at the Oakland Zoo. Learn about our volunteer and internship programs.
Adult Volunteer Opportunities
Work alongside a keeper assisting with daily animal care: cleaning of exhibits and night houses, preparing diets, raking, hosing, making enrichment items, and much more! Want to help our Animal Care team in a different way? Become part of the Behavioral Observation Team!
Age 18 and older
Work alongside a keeper assisting with daily animal care: cleaning of exhibits and night houses, preparing diets, raking, hosing, making enrichment items, and much more! Want to help our Animal Care team in a different way? Become part of the Behavioral Observation Team!
Age 18 and older
Zoo Ambassadors assist guests and enhance the guest experience, providing the highest level of customer service.
Age 18 and older
We are not accepting Docent Applications at this time but we do have an entry level position available that is a prerequisite to becoming a docent - Zoo Ambassador.
Age 18 and older
The Internship Program in Animal Care provides engaging learning experiences designed to inspire an ethic of stewardship in the next generation, stimulate interest in zoos as a viable career option, and to increase the diversity of professionals working in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) within zoos, aquariums, and in the wild.
Fall, Winter, and Summer Sessions
Age 18 and older
We work with a variety of community groups (corporate, school, church, service) to complete habitat restoration, animal enrichment, and landscape management projects.
Year-Round
Age 18 and older
Teen Volunteer Opportunities
Our popular Teen Wild Guide (TWG) program is an important part of our volunteer corps consisting of young people interested in animals, conservation and our many young guests. They are motivated, friendly and have a lot of fun! Participants will be trained as interpreters in the Valley Children's Zoo, teaching visitors about animals and monitoring the goat/sheep barn. As TWGs develop within the program, they will have the opportunity to plan and participate in service learning projects, assist keepers and gain leadership experience.
Grades 9–12, Year-round
Our popular Teen Wild Guide (TWG) program is an important part of our volunteer corps consisting of young people interested in animals, conservation and our many young guests. They are motivated, friendly and have a lot of fun! Participants will be trained as interpreters in the Valley Children's Zoo, teaching visitors about animals and monitoring the goat/sheep barn. As TWGs develop within the program, they will have the opportunity to plan and participate in service learning projects, assist keepers and gain leadership experience.
Grades 9–12, Year-round
Each summer we offer new opportunities to intern with different departments throughout the zoo. These internships provide teens with exposure to different careers, develop and strengthen leadership skills, and aim to inspire and build a foundation for a stronger future.
Summer 2026 - Grades 11–12
Love kids, nature, and ZooCamp? We need your help! Join us as a ZooCamp Teen Assistant or Intern 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 and Interns are truly an integral part of the camp experience! We have 3 roles available, each with different responsibilities and requirements.
June 1, 2026 - August 7, 2026 — Camp runs Monday-Friday and is divided into 1 week sessions
Grades 9–12
Current Oakland Zoo Volunteers
Already working with us? Update your log hours or sign-up for an assignment. If you are experiencing issues logging into the system, you can contact the Volunteer Programs staff at VicNetHelp@oaklandzoo.org
