Zoo Crew is a group of dedicated youth volunteers, entering grades 7-12 in fall of 2027, who support the Zoo’s mission to enrich lives through firsthand interaction with living things. Students will increase their knowledge of the natural world, develop a sense of environmental stewardship, and increase their job readiness and communication skills. Zoo Crew volunteers will: 

Zoo Crew is an application-based program, where volunteers are accepted on the merit of their application, which includes a letter of recommendation from an adult in the student's community (not a family member) and an in-person interview with the Zoo's staff. The interview process is new this year! Potential candidates for the program will be contacted to schedule an in-person interview if their application passes the first round of eliminations. Previous participation in Zoo Crew does not guarantee a returning spot in the 2027 season. Applications will be accepted until 5 PM on Friday, February 5, 2027. 

Animal Care applicants will initially choose ONE session to apply for and will work that ONE weekday per session. On your application, you will indicate interest in Session 1, Session 2, or both. If you select both, you may be assigned to one or the other based upon demand and availability. It is also possible that you could be accepted to work both sessions consecutively, depending on quality of application and session availability. Education applicants will select "Both sessions" on their application, as Junior Counselors work their assigned weekday for the duration of the ten weeks of summer camp (May 24 to July 30).  

Tracks

Zoo Crew volunteers will choose from two pathways within the program: the animal care track, or the education track.

Animal Care Track
Animal care volunteers will work with our keeper staff to learn basic animal husbandry and the skills necessary to work in the zookeeping industry. 

For our volunteers on the animal care pathway, there are volunteer “levels” based on age and experience. This ensures developmentally appropriate tasks for each age group and allows Zoo Crew members who have dedicated multiple summers to the Zoo to earn more hands-on training with our animal care team. The different levels of Zoo Crew are described below. 

Education Track
Education volunteers will work with our summer camp program, learning about environmental education from our staff and working directly with campers.

All Zoo Crew in both tracks will help with camp check-in on weekday mornings throughout the summer.

Animal Care Levels of Zoo Crew

Level One: "Zoo Crew Explorer" - 7th and 8th grade, or first year in Zoo Crew 
Designed for students new to the world of volunteering who are interested in learning more about animals and what it is like to work at a zoo. Zoo Crew Explorers will broaden their knowledge of zoo operations through daily chores, gain training in beginner's animal husbandry with ambassador species at our Critter Outpost, and assist the Education department with guest engagement and interpretation. 

Level Two: "Junior Zoo Ambassador" - 9th and 10th grade AND second to third year in Zoo Crew 
Designed to challenge students beginning high school who find themselves interested in environmental and life sciences. Junior Ambassadors will enhance their knowledge of animal husbandry by graduating to animal ambassador stations such as The Hive and Jungle Outpost, as well as an interpretative station at the Giraffe Deck. Junior Ambassadors will begin to explore what it is like to be a zookeeper by completing chores in the keeper kitchen.  

Level Three: "Zoo Ambassador" - 11th and 12th grade AND third year or more in Zoo Crew 
Designed for students who are familiar with volunteering and are dedicated to the zoo's mission. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to showcase what they have learned in the program by shadowing a keeper for the day and assisting with daily animal husbandry and care tasks. Level 3 Ambassadors must understand that much of their day will involve cleaning up after animals, and that this level is for those who have determined this is clearly the career path they want to pursue. This level also requires an up-to-date tetanus vaccine and a tuberculosis test, for the safety of both the Zoo animals and the Zoo Crew volunteer, as participants may be in behind-the-scenes spaces like work sites and animal holding areas.  

Junior Counselors – 9th through 12th grade, any year of Zoo Crew 
Designed for students with a passion for conservation education and guest engagement. Junior Counselors will assist instructors with our summer camp program, working directly with children ages five to eight years old as they explore the zoo and learn more about environmental and life sciences. These Zoo Crew will not work weekend shifts but will choose ONE weekday to work each week through the ten weeks of summer while camp is in session. 

$250 per session 

Fees cover orientation, t-shirt, name tag, daily supervision by keepers and education staff, and program supplies and materials. Benefits include a 10% discount in the cafe and gift shop as well as exclusive Zoo Crew social activities at the end of the season, like Movie Night! 

7:45 AM - 4:45 PM, with a half-hour lunch break and a fifteen-minute afternoon break. 

Zoo Crew will only work their weekday shifts over LPS summer break.

Weekend Work Hours  

9:30 AM - 4:45 PM, with a half-hour lunch break and a fifteen-minute afternoon break. 

Other Assigned Shifts

Boo at the Zoo

Working the Zoo's Halloween event, Boo at the Zoo, has become a long-standing and cherished tradition for Zoo Crew volunteers every October. In years past, each weekday crew was assigned to volunteer one night each of the week-long event. Our Zoo Crew program has grown so much over the last few years that we now have more Zoo Crew teens than we have BATZ jobs, so we will do date assignments a bit differently this time around. If accepted to the program, please be sure to keep an eye on your email in the fall for more information on BATZ date assignments.  

Zoo Crew will not work Wild Wednesday evening shifts this year. 

Social Events 

Movie Night • Friday, October 1st, 6 - 8 PM

This year, we are doing training a little differently to avoid redundancy for those who have been in the program for multiple summers. 

Level Ones & Those Moving up to Level Two

• Session 1: Saturday, April 3, 2027 • 2 - 5 PM 

• Session 2: Saturday, June 19, 2027 • 2 - 5 PM 

Level Twos & Threes Who Have Been Through Zoo Crew Before

• Session 1: Saturday, April 3, 2027 • 1 - 2 PM

• Session 2: Saturday, June 19, 2027 • 1 - 2 PM 

What if my Zoo Crew cannot attend one of their scheduled dates? 
When registering, you should choose a day of the week with the least number of conflicts for your Zoo Crew. If a participant can’t make a scheduled shift, they should alert the Education Team at least 24 hours in advance. We understand this isn’t always possible in the event of illness, but please try to report all pre-planned absences in advance by emailing kzabel@lincolnzoo.org, or calling 402-475-6741 ext. 149. 

Can my Zoo Crew pick up additional dates or find a sub?  
Due to the limited number of spots available every day, we are not able to accommodate additional Zoo Crew or subs unless requested by the Education Team. This is to help keep Zoo Crew running smoothly and not overwhelm the Zoo’s Animal Care Team. 

What is the age requirement to register for Zoo Crew? 
Zoo Crew is for students who will be entering 7th grade through 12th grade in the fall of 2027. 

What does the acceptance process look like? 
Applications close at 5 PM on Friday, February 5, 2027. Acceptance emails will be sent by Friday, February 12, and interviews will be scheduled upon acceptance. Previous participation in Zoo Crew does not guarantee a returning spot in the 2027 season. 

Other questions? 
Contact the Education team by emailing jchestnut@lincolnzoo.org or call 402.475.6741 ext. 137