Volunteer Opportunities | Chattanooga Zoo

Adult Volunteers (Ages 18 and up)

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Chattanooga Zoo! We are so very grateful that you would like to share your time and talents with us and our Zoo guests.

All volunteers can choose to follow the Education, Animal Care or Facilities/Horticulture track.

EDUCATION TRACK

Volunteers receive special training and wear many hats within the Zoo. Opportunities in this area include talking with guests about different animals throughout the Zoo, conducting private mini Zoo Tours, assisting with busses arriving for school field trips, staffing Education Carts to enhance guest experience, interpreting keeper training sessions, assisting guests with giraffe feedings, and more. After volunteering the required hours, volunteers on this track can learn to work with our Animal Ambassadors such as turtles, hedgehogs, doves, bearded dragons, rabbits, and more. This track is flexible in days you can volunteer and physical abilities. If you are looking to volunteer only once or twice a month without a set schedule, this is the opportunity for you.

ANIMAL CARE TRACK

Volunteers begin their training in our Nutrition Center learning to prepare diets for the many animals at the Zoo. After volunteering the required hours in this area, volunteers can move on to train as Petting Zoo Husbandry Aides with our Keepers. Here you will learn what it takes to keep all our animals in the Petting Zoo healthy and happy and assist with their daily husbandry needs. Volunteers earning their required hours in the Petting Zoo can then move on to several other areas throughout the Zoo working with our Ambassador Animals, Small Mammals, and Reptiles. This Track is very physical and requires volunteers to be able to lift, bend, shovel, rake, and stand for long periods of time. Volunteers on this Track are asked to volunteer for a 3-hour shift, one day a week on the same day each week, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm with a one-year commitment.

FACILITIES/HORTICULTURE TRACK

This track offers a unique opportunity in which volunteers can assist with maintaining Zoo grounds. This may include, but is not limited to: assisting with gardening, painting, repairing items, etc. Tasks will be assigned based on comfort, knowledge and training level. This track system is very physical and requires volunteers to be able to lift, bend, shovel, rake, dig and stand for extended amounts of time. Volunteers are asked to volunteer for a 3-hour shift one day a week from either 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 m. or 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Special Events

Being a nonprofit organization, the Zoo conducts many special events to help fundraise throughout the year. It takes a lot of work to make these events happen, and we couldn’t do them without our wonderful volunteer support. Volunteers following the Education, Animal Care and Facilities/Horticulture tracks are all asked to help with a minimum of two Special Events annually.

More Information:

Some areas on the Animal Care Track may require you to provide proof of a TB test and Tetanus vaccination.
Most of our volunteers do not have direct contact with Zoo animals except for those in designated roles working with our ambassador animals and in the petting zoo. These positions require training and experience.

If you are under the age of 18 or just looking for a few hours to volunteer for school, CLICK HERE to check out our Youth Volunteer opportunities. CLICK HERE to set up a volunteer project for your group.

Opportunities

There are many ways you can help out at the Zoo. Chances are we have the perfect volunteer opportunity to meet your unique set of skills and talent.