Detroit Zoo Seeks Volunteers
ROYAL OAK (CBS Detroit) – Could you see yourself helping out at the zoo? If so, the Detroit Zoological Society is looking for you!
Available positions include Zoo Ambassador, Gallery Guide at the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery, Guest Assistant at the Arctic Ring of Life, and member of the "Mob Squad" at the Australian Outback Adventure, among others.
"Volunteering with the DZS is great fun for people who would enjoy continuing their education, sharing their love of animals, meeting lifelong friends, developing new skills and even getting exercise walking the zoo's 125 acres," said DZS Volunteer Services Manager Linda Denomme.
Check out this video, produced by DZS volunteer Giff Rogers, highlights the several volunteer opportunities at the Detroit Zoo.
"Our hope is that people will watch the video and ask themselves, 'Who wouldn't want to be a Detroit Zoo volunteer?'"
Don't have any zoo experience? That's fine. Denomme says a Detroit Zoological Society volunteer requires no experience and volunteers do not handle or feed the lions, tigers, or bears.
DZS volunteers will enjoy numerous benefits in exchange for their time, including discounts and an annual volunteer appreciation party. Last year, 1,167 volunteers contributed 103,335 hours of service to the DZS, representing $2,251,670 in support.
Recruitment and training of volunteers 18 years of age and older begin in the spring to prepare for the summer season which will start this year with the Detroit Zoo's yearly Bunnyville event on March 30, 2013. Training will be offered for both seasonal and year-round opportunities.
The 2013 volunteer orientation dates are:
• Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 29, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Volunteer orientation sessions will be held in the Detroit Zoo's Ford Education Center. Advance registration is required and if you want to download an application, visit http://detroitzoo.org/volunteers/volunteering-detroit-zoo.
For more information call 248-541-5717 ext. 3802 or email volunteer@dzs.org.
