Zoo Crew
Zoo Crew is a group of dedicated youth volunteers, grades 7-12, who support the Zoo’s mission. Students will increase their knowledge of the natural world, develop a sense of environmental stewardship and evolve their job readiness and communication skills.
Zoo Crew volunteers will:
- Learn from animal care and education professionals.
- Perform beginner's animal husbandry.
- Engage with zoo guests and summer campers.
- Develop life and job skills.
Applications are OPEN for 2025 Zoo Crew Sessions!
Zoo Crew volunteers will choose from two pathways within the program: the animal care track, or the education track. Apply for your chosen track below!
Application Deadlines:
Session 1: Friday, April 4 (or until full)
Session 2: Friday, June 13 (or until full)
Junior Counselors: Friday, May 2 (or until full)
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.
Education Track
Education volunteers will work with our summer camp program, learning about environmental education from our staff and working directly with campers.
We've made some positive changes to the 2025 program!
Previously, Zoo Crew was run on an open registration basis. Moving forward, volunteers must apply for a position and participants will be accepted based on the strength of their application. Previous participation in Zoo Crew does not guarantee a returning spot in the 2025 season. Applications will be accepted until Friday, February 14, 2025 and participants will be notified of their admittance to the program by Friday, February 21.
Zoo Crew volunteers will choose from two pathways within the program: the animal care track, or the education 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. 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.)
For our volunteers on the animal care pathway, we have also made the decision to bring back 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. While all levels (including Junior Counselors) will attend life skills and job readiness training classes with the Zoo Crew manager, the different levels of Zoo Crew are described below.
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 Jungle 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 the more interactive stations such as Critter Outpost and The Hive, as well as a new 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. Ambassadors may also have the opportunity to mentor and supervise lower levels of Zoo Crew with the assistance of the Zoo Crew manager.
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 nine 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.
Zoo Crew Dates & Cost
Session Dates
Session 1: April 19 - June 27 • Training date: April 13, 1-4pm
Session 2: June 28 - August 31 • Training date: June 22, 1pm-4pm
*** Because Junior Counselors do not work weekends when camp is not in session, they will work both Session 1 and Session 2 for the duration of camp (May 27 – August 1) • Training date: May 17, 1-4pm
Volunteers will initially choose ONE session to apply for and will work 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 availability. Please keep in mind that job training and life skills class curriculum is the same in both sessions.
Cost
$250 per session
Fees cover orientation, T-shirt, name tag, daily supervision by keepers and Zoo Crew manager, and program supplies and materials. Benefits include a 10% discount in the cafe and gift shop, as well as exclusive Zoo Crew social activities throughout the season!
Zoo Crew Hours
- Each Zoo Crew member will sign up for ONE weekday to work and will work only that day of the week throughout the session.
- Weekday shifts will only be worked during LPS summer break.
- In addition to your chosen day of the week, you will also be assigned a Wild Wednesday night as well as weekend and Boo at the Zoo shifts.
- Each weekday is limited to 20 Zoo Crew – five Junior Counselors, six Level Ones, six Level Twos, and three Level Threes. Junior Counselors will not work on the weekends.
- Each animal care volunteer will be partnered with a similarly aged peer every day for their station rotations throughout the zoo.
Weekday Work Hours (LPS Summer Break)
7:45am – 4:45pm, with a half-hour lunch break and a fifteen-minute afternoon break.
Wild Wednesday nights: 4:45-8pm
*Zoo Crew will only work their week day shifts over LPS summer break.
Weekday Assigned Days
Session One
Mondays- May 26, June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23
Tuesdays- May 27, June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24
Wednesdays- May 28, June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25
Thursdays - May 29, June 5, June 12, June 19, June 26
Fridays - May 30, June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27
Session Two
Mondays- June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, August 4
Tuesday - July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5
Wednesdays - July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6
Thursdays - July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7
Fridays - July 4, July 11, July 18, July 25, August 1, August 8
Weekend Work Hours
9:30am – 4:45pm, with a half-hour lunch break and a fifteen-minute afternoon break.
Other Assigned Days
In addition to your chosen weekday, Zoo Crew will also work the following assigned weekend, Wild Wednesday, and Boo at the Zoo shifts:
Weekend Assigned Days
Session One
Mondays – April 19, May 4, May 24, June 8
Tuesdays – April 20, May 10, May 25, June 14
Wednesdays – April 26, May 11, May 31, June 15
Thursdays – April 27, May 17, June 1, June 21
Fridays – May 3, May 18, June 7, June 22
Session Two
Mondays – June 28, July 13, August 2, August 17
Tuesdays – June 29, July 19, August 3, August 23
Wednesdays – July 5, July 20, August 9, August 24
Thursdays – July 6, July 26, August 10, August 30
Fridays – July 12, July 27, August 16, August 31
Wild Wednesdays
Session 1 Monday Zoo Crew will work the evening of June 4
Session 1 Tuesday Zoo Crew will work the evening of June 11
Session 1 Wednesday Zoo Crew will work the evening of July 2
Session 1 Thursday Zoo Crew will work the evening of June 18
Session 1 Friday Zoo Crew will work the evening of June 25
Session 2 Monday Zoo Crew will work the evenings of July 9 and August 6
Session 2 Tuesday Zoo Crew will work the evenings of July 16 and August 20
Session 2 Wednesday Zoo Crew will work the evening of August 13
Session 2 Thursday Zoo Crew will work the evenings of July 23 and August 27
Session 2 Friday Zoo Crew will work the evening of July 30
Boo at the Zoo
All Monday Zoo Crew (Session 1 and 2) will work October 26
All Tuesday Zoo Crew (Session 1 and 2) will work October 27
All Wednesday Zoo Crew (Session 1 and 2) will work October 28
All Thursday Zoo Crew (Session 1 and 2) will work October 29
All Friday Zoo Crew (Session 1 and 2) will work October 30
Zoo Crew Social Events
Pool Party • TBD
Movie Night at Zoo • October 17th 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Questions?
Contact the Education Team by emailing jchestnut@lincolnzoo.org or calling 402.475.6741 ext. 137
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my Zoo Crew can’t 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 with at least 24 hours' notice. 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 jchestnut@lincolnzoo.org or calling 402-475-6741 ext. 137
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 kind of classes will Zoo Crew attend during their session?
Classes will be led by the Zoo Crew manager and will educate students on topics such as job skills, career readiness, college options, public speaking, animal research, and more!
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.
