Adult Volunteers

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 Liaison: Amy Hale, Education Program Specialist

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 guest’s 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 visitor’s 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
• Exhibit strong written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to work various shift times based on interpretive needs.

Training:

• Zoo orientation
• Interpretive skills training and exhibit mentoring:

Time Commitment:

• Minimum of two shifts per months and 96 hours per year
• Commitment of at least 1 year.

Applications now closed.

Volunteers support the horticulture staff in maintenance of the landscaped beds on Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium grounds.

Department: Operations: Horticulture

Staff Liaison: Bryon Jones, Lead Horticulturist

Responsibilities:

(under direction of horticulture staff)

• Assist in the maintenance of the landscaped beds on zoo grounds including pruning, trimming, weeding, mulching, and planting of new plants.
• Assist with other operations or horticulture duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Professional or advanced gardening experience
• Knowledgeable in gardening techniques and plant identifications
• Ability to perform work under 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
• Able and willing to interact with the public in a positive manner

Training:

• Zoo orientation training
• Complete on‐the‐job training from horticulture staff

Application Process:

• Approval of application and background check
• Interview with horticulture staff

Time Commitment:

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

Applications now closed.

This program is closed for the season. Please check back in the spring.

Explore the Shore beach walk naturalists educate the public about beach animals and share how to care for beach at Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park.

Department: Conservation Engagement

Summary: 

During scheduled beach walks that are open to the public, naturalists will engage participants on the topics of beach stewardship and citizen science. They will aid participants in identifying marine animals and recording the presence and location of the animals using the iNaturalist mobile app.

*Note: Explore the Shore beach walk naturalists will not be working on zoo grounds.

Responsibilities:

• Provide excellent customer service to participants
• Educate groups on marine animals, beach stewardship, and citizen science
• Provide marine animal information and facilitate the participant’s exploration of the beach
• Facilitate recording the presence and location of animals along Owen Beach using the iNaturalist mobile app.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 18 years of age or an active participant in the Zoo Guide youth volunteer program
• Able and willing to interact with the public in a positive manner
• Ability to take verbal and written direction well
• Exhibit strong verbal communication skills
• Ability to engage adults and children in an outdoor setting keeping them safe while meeting the goals of the program including beach stewardship and citizen science.
• Ability to walk 1.5 miles on rocky terrain
• Knowledge of marine animals and habitats preferred

Training:

• Complete the “Introduction to Marine Invertebrates” and “Explore the Shore Beach Walk Naturalist” online training courses (takes approximately 2 hour)
• Attend Explore the Shore Beach walk trainings

Application Process:

• Acceptance as a PDZA volunteer

Time Commitment:

• Attendance at all 5 beach walks preferred, a minimum of 3 beach walks required. Due to the coronavirus, we are rescheduling. Stay tuned!​

Provide support to community engagement employees while on outreach to schools and/or community events.

Area: Education

Supervisor(s): Stacey Luhring and Heather Detwiler

Summary:

School programs range from one to five 1‐hour long programs in a day. Community outreach is usually between two and six hour shifts. Travel for programs is throughout Pierce County and parts of King, Mason, and Thurston counties. Transportation from the Zoo will be provided or volunteer may choose to meet at the school/event.

Responsibilities:

• Program set up including loading and moving bins and supplies to classrooms
• During classroom programs:
• Assist students with individual and small group activities during programs
• Help interpret and monitor student/participant handling of biofacts during program
• Aid in classroom management as requested by instructor
• During community outreach:
• Help set up and break down tables, supplies and shade tents (if needed); aid in crowd control during animal appearances
• Answering questions about the Zoo, its animals, and program offerings and interpreting biofacts
• If traveling with the instructor assist with navigation to program venue (written directions will be provided and address may also need to be entered into GPS)

*This position does not include formal teaching of any portion of programs or handling animals.

Qualifications:

• Active Education Interpreter, who enjoy interacting with children of all
  ages
• Comfortable with crowds, noise, and diverse audiences
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Able to act quickly and professionally should an emergency situation arise (i.e. car accident, animal related injury, inappropriate visitor, etc.)
• Able to carry up to 30 pounds up and down stairs
• Able to stand or sit for long periods of time (30‐60 minutes at a time)
• Able to take direction well

Training:

• On‐the‐job training for each type of program (i.e. school programs, community outreach, special off‐site events) and its related content.
• Learn about the animal biofacts used for outreach

Time Commitment:

• Commitment for the duration of the school year or for the summer community program season.
• One 3 to 8‐hour day each week depending on scheduled programs. The time and day of volunteering will vary depending on scheduled programs.
• Most classroom outreach programs are Monday through Friday during school hours. Community outreach programs usually occur on evenings, weekends or weekdays during the summer.

Applications closed. Please check back.

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

Area: Aquariums

Supervisor(s): Gavin Wuttken, Dive Safety Officer; Heidi Wilken, Asst. Dive Safety Officer

Responsibilities:

(under direction of aquarium staff and dive safety officers)

• Removing and documenting 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 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
• Must have a minimum of 12 dives in Washington or similar cold water environment
• Supply all dive gear and 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 direction well

Training:

• Complete all required dive applications and tests
• Complete zoo orientation training
• Complete on‐the‐job training for aquarium diving

Application Process

• Complete dive application process (written scuba exam, diving physical, and scuba skills evaluation)
• Acceptance as a PDZA volunteer

Time Commitment:

• One evening dive shift (~ 2‐3 hours) every other week OR every week depending on dive schedule
• Minimum of 60 hours per year
• Commitment of at least 1 year to the program.

Applications closed. Please check back.

Volunteers provide routine husbandry duties to the collection of aquatic species and support aquarium operations as directed by aquarium staff.

Area: South Pacific Aquarium, Pacific Seas Aquarium

Supervisor(s): Gavin Wuttken, aquarium liaison

Responsibilities:

(under direction of aquarium staff)

• Clean windows and guest areas
• Ensure clean kitchen facilities and food prep utensils
• Weigh, measure and prepare food items
• Keep accurate records
• Clean exhibit spaces
• Clean and maintain aquarium equipment
• Feed aquarium fish and invertebrates

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Aquarium husbandry and maintenance experience preferred
• Able and willing to talk with the public in a positive manner
• Ability to take verbal and written direction well
• Ability to work independently
• Exhibit strong communication skills
• Display great work ethic

Training:

• Complete zoo orientation
• Complete on‐the‐job training from Aquarium staff

Application Process:

• Acceptance as a PDZA volunteer
• Submit letter of interest to volunteer office
• Interview with aquarium staff

Time Commitment:

• One 4‐hour shift each week and a minimum of 176 hours per year
• Commitment of at least 1 year

Applications closed. Please check back.