Minnesota Zoo

Teenage Volunteer Opportunities

The Minnesota Zoo has three programs for teenagers.

ZooTeen Volunteers 13-18 year olds
Wells Fargo Family Farm Volunteers 15-18 year olds
Summer Seasonal Volunteers 17 & 18 year olds

Teens must meet the specific age requirement for each program by May 1st of the year in which they are applying.

Application information will be found at the end of this page after the program descriptions.

Due to the nature of our programs, and the hands-on training that the programs entail, we do not offer one-time community service opportunities for scout, school or court-appointed community service for teenage volunteers.

ZooTeen Volunteers

ZooTeen Program opportunities have been filled for the 2010 summer season. The application process is closed.

Thinking about summer vacation already? Wondering what you can do that's different and exciting. How about becoming a ZooTeen at the Minnesota Zoo? ZooTeens assist with our Summer Camp Program as camp aides helping the Zoo's Naturalist Staff. Duties include snack preparation, participation in tours and learning activities, assisting with craft projects, and interacting with children in the camps to encourage their involvement in the session.

ZooTeen candidates must be...

ZooTeens must be 13 years of age by May 1 of each year
Able to attend an information and interview session and attend ZooTeen training on the scheduled dates. No make up sessions are available. (See the interview and training schedule in the application information.)
Willing to volunteer two or three week-long summer camp sessions during the summer. Camps are either mornings or afternoons. You and your family get the opportunity to choose the weeks and the morning or afternoon session. You can do all day camps as well.

While the ZooTeen Program operates primarily the summer months of the year, ZooTeens who have completed the training are invited throughout the year to help with children's craft projects and costume characters for special events, birthday parties and holiday activities.

Wells Fargo Family Farm Volunteers

Family Farm Volunteers opportunities have been filled for the 2010 summer season. The application process is closed.

Each spring our Farm exhibit kicks into summer gear and more than 100 volunteers are needed to help interpret and handle animals (those farm babies that is) in the goat yard, chicken coop, bunny hutch, swine barn, and cattle barn. Farm volunteers are outside or in a barn throughout the day, answering questions for our guests and helping to ensure they have an enjoyable visit. Farm volunteers choose a volunteer day and are at the Farm 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, the same day each week throughout the summer. Training includes homework: reading the Family Farm training manual and taking animal quizzes, in addition to two half day training sessions in May.

Farm volunteer candidates must be...

A minimum of 15 years of age by May 1 of each year
Able to attend an interview session and attend Farm volunteer training on the scheduled dates. (See the interview and training schedule in the application information.) No make up sessions are available
Enjoy working outdoors in the summer.
Willing to volunteer one full day a week from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
Able to miss no more than two days of volunteering during the summer. Please check your summer calendars carefully before committing.

Summer Seasonal Volunteers

Summer Seasonal Volunteers opportunities have been filled for the 2010 summer season. The application process is closed.

Visit our very popular and award-winning Russia’s Grizzly Coast exhibitand explore marine life in our Discovery Bay exhibit this summer. Training will be provided so that you will be able to share information and experiences for young and old alike creating memories for a lifetime. You might “dig in” and help children discover bones in our great mammoth dig site. Or maybe discuss conservation issues surrounding one of the world’s most endangered species, the Amur leopard, is more your style. Then journey to the underwater world of Discovery Bay exploring everything there is to know about sharks, dolphins, and an incredible array of fish and invertebrates.
Summer Seasonal volunteers choose a volunteer day and are at the Zoo for each week for a four hour shift, morning or afternoon, the same day each week throughout the summer. Training includes homework reading the Summer Seasonal training manual in addition to two half-day training sessions held on Saturdays in May.

Summer Seasonal Volunteer Candidates Must Be...

A minimum of 17 years of age by May 1 of each year
Able to attend an interview session and attend Summer Seasonal volunteer training on the scheduled dates. (See the interview and training schedule in the application information.) No make up sessions are available.
Enjoy working outdoors in the summer for half of your four-hour shift.
Willing to volunteer one day a week from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
Able to miss no more than two days of volunteering during the summer. Please check your summer calendars carefully before committing.

Application Information

If you are interested in becoming a teen volunteer at the Minnesota Zoo, download the Volunteer Application Form

You must be able to attend one of the scheduled interview sessions and be able to attend all the training listed.
When we receive your complete application, you will be sent via email, a link to sign up for an interview session. There will be no admission to interview sessions without pre-registration due to space limitations.

Please remember that this is a selection process and not all applicants are accepted into the program. There are a limited amount of openings for each program.

To receive more information about any of the above programs, please call 952.431.9588 or toll-free at 1.800.366.7811. You can also contact us by e-mail at: volunteer@mnzoo.org