Volunteer

Adult Volunteer Program

Adult Volunteers are the Pride of Zoo Miami!

If you are looking for a fulfilling way to get involved in your local community, the zoo may be the perfect place for you. Our adult volunteers are at the forefront of guest experience, making meaningful contacts with tens of thousands of people each year.  

Opportunities include assisting our Critter Connection team in the Wacky Barn, helping to prepare animal diets in our zoo kitchen, assisting guests as an Ambassador, and more! 

Benefits include: 

• Discounts throughout the zoo on food and souvenirs 

• Free zoo admission for you and 6 others  

• Volunteer exclusive events including field trips  

• Free and discounted admission to other participating attractions 

• And more! 

Apply Here!

Applicants are required to: 

1. Be 18 years or older (Check out our teen opportunities starting at 14 years old!) 

2. Complete an application and attend an informational session at the zoo 

3. Pass a national background check 

4. If accepted into the program, attend a two-day orientation and commit to 70 hours of volunteer service per year 

Our program offers room for growth, with a tiered volunteer system designed to educate and challenge you as you spend more time at the zoo. 

This program is sponsored by Zoo Miami Foundation.  Further questions should be directed to volunteer@zoomiami.org 

Volunteer Login

Counselor-in-Training

As a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Volunteer, you'll spend part of your Summer helping to create an unforgettable Zoo Camp experience for children ages 4-12!

The CIT program is a great way for high school students ages 14-18 to fulfill their required community service hours while being surrounded by the over 2,500 animals that call Zoo Miami home!

Applications are now available at the link below and are due by April 30th. 

This program is sponsored by Zoo Miami Foundation. Any questions should be directed to volunteer@zoomiami.org.

Apply Here!

The Conservation Teen Scientist program (CTS) is an opportunity for 14-18 year olds to get involved at the zoo and develop practical life skills like public speaking.  

CTS undergo training to develop an extensive knowledge about the animals at the zoo and interpret that information for guests throughout the park. They also get the chance to assist in zoo operations including the kitchen where they prepare animal diets, the giraffe feeding platform, and more!  

The program is a yearly commitment, requiring 15 days of volunteering over the summer and 2 days per month during the school year.   

This is highly competitive and only a certain number of applicants will be accepted each year.   

Applications open here on the website in early spring and are due at the end of April.  

This program is sponsored by Zoo Miami Foundation.  Further questions should be directed to volunteer@zoomiami.org 

Click HERE for Reference Form

Apply Here!

Sponsored by:

                   The Wildflower Foundation, Inc.

Teen Academic Volunteers

Great news! Our Teen Academic Volunteer program is opened at a limited capacity by reservation only. Teen academic volunteers will have assignments that involve working closely with zoo staff in providing customer service at the revenue concession operations. Various tasks include providing information and directions, assisting in preparing equipment for rentals and assisting with crowd control.

Interested in joining our Teen Academic Volunteer Program?

Apply Here

For letter request, please click below:

Letter Request

Any questions and/or to make your reservation should be directed to the zoo front desk at (305) 251-0400 x0.

Welfare, Enrichment, and Behavior (WEB) Volunteer

The Zoo Miami Welfare, Enrichment, and Behavior (WEB) volunteer program provides an exciting opportunity for volunteers to learn, grow, and experience what it’s like to work in zoo animal welfare while contributing to the effectiveness of our wellbeing program. This program is designed for interested individuals with greater time constraints who are unable to complete full time internships to develop as researchers, learn more about animal training or enrichment, and about the various opportunities available in zoos, as well as invite animal lovers to give back to their community in a meaningful way by supporting the welfare of their local zoo’s animals.

Volunteers are required to come in for a minimum of 1 day in a 3-month period to maintain their volunteer status. Responsibilities and opportunities will be available on a case-by-case basis, depending on the time commitment volunteers are able to make, the amount of training they are able to receive in that time, and the needs of the department.

Volunteer responsibilities and opportunities may include:

• Contributing to the zoo-wide visibility project by collecting visibility data throughout the park.

• Creating fun and engaging enrichment items for our animals.

• Utilizing industry standard software to collect observational behavior data.

• Coding camera trap footage.

• Conducting literature reviews.

• Proposing interventions for behavioral concerns.

• Conducting basic statistical analysis of behavioral data

We can invest more time into training volunteers and guiding them through more complex involvement when they are able to commit to coming in more, but even volunteers only coming in for a few hours a month are able to contribute to valuable research that can assist in driving data-based management decision making.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old.

• Must provide cover letter, resume, and completed application; email to ZMvolunteers@miamidade.gov 

• Must provide professional and/or academic references.

• Must have good communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Must submit to background check and fingerprint screening at designated Miami-Dade county facility.

Click HERE for Application Form.

Adult Guest Experiences Volunteer

Work assignments involve working closely with zoo staff in providing customer service at the zoo admissions and revenue concession operations. Various tasks include providing information and direction to the guests, validation of tickets, assisting in preparing equipment for rental, assisting at the monorail stations, assist in crowd control and other related duties to include day or night special events.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old

• Must be a U.S. resident

• Must provide cover letter and resume

• Must have good communication skills, written and verbal

• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs and be in good physical condition

• Must interview, complete application and submit to background check and fingerprint screening at designated county facility

Interested applicants must register and apply on Park Link. 

Adult Maintenance and Horticulture Volunteer

Participate in maintenance and horticultural projects.  Various tasks include ground maintenance, painting, landscaping projects, pruning, trimming, planting, fertilizing, mulching and other related tasks.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old

• Must be a U.S. resident

• Must provide cover letter and resume

• Must have good communication skills, written and verbal

• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs and be in good physical condition

• Must interview, complete application and submit to background check and fingerprint screening at designated county facility

Interested applicants must register and apply on Park Link. 

Group Volunteer Program

We also welcome volunteers from companies, scout troops, fraternities, and other community groups to assist with one-time projects and events around the Zoo Miami. These projects provide an invaluable service to the Zoo while also providing a wonderful opportunity for groups to spend quality time together. We can tailor a program of activities that is right for your group.

Please contact ZMVolunteers@miamidade.gov to make arrangements.