Adult Volunteers

Applications open August 2024

Interpreters talk with guests of all ages about animals and conservation actions. They lead activities and conduct presentations with specific themes.

Department: Conservation Engagement

Staff Liaisons: Amy Hale, Education Program Specialist, and Philina Richardson, Volunteer Engagement Assistant

Summary

Guest experience interpreters serve as informal educators. Interpreters interact with guests of all ages, telling the stories of animals, explaining conservation actions, and increasing guests’ general knowledge of nature. Interpreters also lead activities and conduct presentations with specific themes.

*Note: Interpreters do not handle or care for animals.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service to visitors
• Educate the public on animals, conservation, and the environment
• Present activities and biofacts, provide information, and facilitate visitors’ exploration
• Answer or direct general zoo questions to appropriate resources (i.e. Front Gate, Membership, comment cards, Gift Shop)

Qualifications

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Able and willing to interact with the public in a positive manner
• Ability to take verbal and written direction well
• Ability to work independently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to work various shift times based on interpretive needs

Training

• Zoo Meet & Greet: Dates TBA
• Zoo Orientation: Dates TBA
• Training Dates TBA

Time Commitment

• Minimum of two shifts per month and 96 hours per year
• Commitment of at least one year

Applications open August 2024

Volunteers support the horticulture staff in maintaining the landscaped beds on Zoo grounds.

Department: Operations-Horticulture

Staff Liaison: Bryon Jones, Lead Horticulturist

Responsibilities

(under the direction of our horticulture staff)

• Assist in maintaining the Zoo’s landscaped beds, including pruning, trimming, weeding, mulching, and planting
• Assist with other operations or horticulture duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Professional or advanced gardening experience
• Knowledge of gardening techniques and plant identification
• Ability to perform work in all weather conditions
• Ability to lift heavy items and stand or sit for long periods of time
• Ability to take verbal and written direction well
• Ability to work independently, with a great work ethic
• Ability and willingness to interact with the public in a positive manner

Training

• Zoo Meet & Greet: February 18 or 21
• Zoo Orientation: March 10 or 13
• On-the-job training

Time Commitment

• One 3‐hour shift each week (7 am–10 am)

Please join our waitlist!

Volunteers assist with husbandry of the major aquarium exhibits by diving under the direction of the dive safety officers.

Area: Aquariums

Supervisor: Heidi Wilken, Dive Safety Officer

Responsibilities:

(under the direction of aquarium staff and dive safety officers)

• Remove and document invasive species accumulating on exhibit viewing windows and coral heads
• Lessen exhibit bio‐load through the use of sand filtration equipment and exchange of artificial coral
• Use a full-face dive mask with communication system to talk to guests about the animals

Qualifications

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Must be certified by a nationally recognized scuba organization to the level of rescue diver or willing to achieve this certification prior to beginning in-water training at PDZA
• Must have a minimum of 12 dives in Washington or similar cold-water environment
• Supply all dive gear for initial checkout dive(s). For regular shifts, only cold water exposure protection (wetsuit or drysuit, boots, gloves, hood) and a mask are required.
• Supply cost of dive physical
• Maintain current CPR and Oxygen Administration Certification
• Abide by all standards of the PDZA dive manual, including logging all PDZA dives and volunteer hours
• Able and willing to talk with guests in a positive manner
• Ability to take verbal and written directions well

Training

• Assessment Dive
• Zoo Meet & Greet: February 18 or 21
• Zoo Orientation: March 10 or 13
• On-the-job training

Application Process

• Complete the dive application
• Complete the medical waiver
• Submit dive application and online application through My Impact
• After attending a Zoo Meet & Greet (group interview), you’ll complete an assessment dive with our dive team. Final acceptance as a volunteer is contingent upon the assessment dive and attending Zoo Orientation
• Priority consideration will be given to those with weekday availability or Scientific Diver training

Time Commitment

• One dive shift (about 2‐3 hours) every other week OR every week depending on dive schedule
• Minimum of 60 hours per year
• Commitment of at least one year to the program

Applications open August 2024

Volunteers support the set-up/take down of light strands and other display pieces for the annual Zoolights event.

Supervisor(s):

Responsibilities

(under the direction of operations staff)

• Assist in the set-up/ removal of light strands and display pieces on grounds
• Transport light strands and other Zoolights equipment to main Zoo grounds for installation and to the storage facility for storage preparation
• Folding and packing of light strands for annual storage

Qualifications

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Ability to perform work in all weather conditions
• Ability to lift heavy items and stand or sit for long periods of time
• Ability to take verbal and written directions well
• Ability to work independently with a great work ethic
• Ability and willingness to interact with the public in a positive manner

Training

• Zoo Meet & Greet: Dates TBA
• Zoo orientation: Dates TBA
• Complete on-the-job training by staff

Time Commitment

• One 3-hour shift each week (7 am – 10 am) on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
• The position is available from October through February

Applications open August 2024

Visitor Services Assistants welcome Zoo guests by providing directional assistance, assistance with entering and exiting the Zoo, and answering questions about the Zoo. Visitor Services Assistants talk with guests of all ages and assist during school field trip season, at Zoo events, on days with high attendance, and upon request.

Supervisor(s): Justin Curti, Visitor Services Supervisor

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist guests with entering Zoo grounds through the ticket turnstiles
• Monitor exit gates and direct strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs to adjacent exits
• Provide information about zoo schedules, amenities, and daily guest experiences
• Provide excellent customer service to guests
• Answer or direct general zoo questions to appropriate resources (i.e. Front Gate, Membership, comment cards, Gift Shop)

Qualifications

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Ability and willingness to interact with individuals from a wide variety of age groups and ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds
• Ability to take verbal and written direction well
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to stand or walk for two hours or more
• Ability to work outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Willingness to work various shift times based on anticipated attendance needs

Training

• Zoo Meet & Greet: February 18 or 21
• Zoo Orientation: March 10 or 13
• On-the-job training

Time Commitment

• Minimum one 2-hour shift per week
• Shift times: 9:15 am–11:30 am, 11:15 am–2:00 pm or 2:00 pm–4:00 pm
• Position time frame all year

Applications open August 2024

Assist and support the Wildlife Champions program staff in teaching outdoor lessons that instill empathy for wildlife and stewardship for nature with Tacoma public school students (Arlington Elementary/Lister Elementary) through visits to neighboring natural areas (Oak Tree Park/Swan Creek Park).

Supervisor(s): Liz Hines

Responsibilities

(under the direction of Wildlife Champions Instructors)

• Pre-reading lesson plans before the day of teaching. Lesson plans will be emailed to you once you have been approved to assist
• Assist in prepping materials and helping students put on their Wildlife Champions all-weather coats
• Help to safely walk students to and from their classroom, across a busy street, and into Oak Tree Park and Swan Creek Park (0.2 miles; 15 minutes)
• Help the primary instructors in leading classes (K-5th) in student management/supervision and in various activities from the pre-read lesson plans. Approximately 28 students for 50 minutes
• Assisting in the cleaning of materials used in the lesson
• Shift times will be arranged based on the class schedule, which will include time to discuss the lessons of the day with a Wildlife Champions instructor

Qualifications

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Ability to take verbal and written direction well
• Ability to work with children in kindergarten through fifth grade

Training

• Zoo Meet & Greet: February 18 or 21
• Zoo Orientation: March 10 or 13

Time Commitment

• Minimum of 2 days per park week (approximate time 9:30 am-3:30 pm). PLEASE NOTE: This is a weekday-only opportunity
• Shifts are 1.5-2 hours long, with the potential to extend to all-day
• Park weeks TBA

Arlington Elementary School
7202 South Pine Street, Tacoma, WA 98409

Oak Tree Park
7633 South Montgomery Street, Tacoma, WA (Intersection of S. Cedar and S. 74th Streets)

Lister Elementary School 
2106 East 44th Street, Tacoma, WA 98404

Swan Creek Park
3997 East Roosevelt Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98404

Community science volunteers support a variety of projects, from helping others explore the shore at low tide to contributing to scientific research. Volunteers can:

• Teach beachgoers about marine life at low tide while collecting data.
• Study local Purple Martin breeding colonies for recovery.
• Support community science events like the City Nature Challenge.
• Support urban carnivore research by reporting observations or analyzing wildlife camera photos.

Questions? Please contact the volunteer office at community.science@pdza.org or 253-404-3800 ext. 3761