Volunteer Opportunities

Animal Interpreters: Love talking to people? Inspired by the amazing animals at Naples Zoo? Then this is perfect for you! Animal Interpreters train to share additional information with guests about our amazing animals. Interpreters attend additional training and are given a brief quiz on each animal prior to hands-on training at each station.

Animal Shows: Is behind the scenes your favorite place to be? Animal Show volunteers are responsible for cueing cameras and video during our educational shows. They also make pre-show announcements (you are hidden in a booth) and may help with pre and post show set-up/cleaning. Must be comfortable using AV equipment and making announcements.

Botanical Volunteers: Green plants your passion? Then join our crew and help keep the historic gardens looking lovely! You may help with plantings, watering, weeding, pruning, mulching and other gardening tasks.

Clerical: Love the Zoo, but not able to be out in the heat? If you are detail oriented and can enter data in a computer, then this is a good match! Clerical volunteers file, help with mailings, and enter data.

Commissary Aide: Love to be busy? Commissary Aides assist with everything from diet preparation to helping receive shipments of food. Must be able to lift 50 lbs, pay attention to details and be willing to help with cleaning. A great way to learn about one of the critical jobs at a zoo! If interested, may also help make enrichment items.

Guest Services: Are you a social animal? Come greet guests, give out information, and help make sure that everyone has a great time! May also serve as a way-finder to help direct guests after shows. Also ideal for someone who is only available periodically to provide extra help on event days and Free Saturdays.

Park Attendant Aides: There are two areas you can help! 1)Want to be out in the Zoo, but not talking to guests all the time? Then come help make sure that our paths are kept clear of litter, that trash cans aren’t overflowing, and making sure that all are safe. May help with traffic control on busy days. 2) Primate Expedition Aides will work assisting with crowd control at the boat dock, providing general cruise and Zoo information, and presenting various artifacts as well as answering questions about artifacts during popular times when wait times are longer.

Parking Aide: Always thought traffic cops had the best job? Well come see for yourself! Parking Aides help direct cars during our Free Saturdays (1st Saturday of each month) and at special events. Must be able to multi-task and listen to instructions to ensure both your safety and the safety of our guests.

Special Events Volunteers: Love parties? Come help ours be a success! We need everything from people to open gates for vendors to helping put on table linens and creating center pieces. Our events range from public events to weddings, birthday parties, and fundraisers.

Student Volunteers: Yes! We have opportunities if you are 16 years old or older. Positions will depend on experience, knowledge, skills and customer service abilities.

Zoo Keeper Aide: Ideal for those wanting to go into the field as a career. Aides will be responsible for assisting with the day-to-day care of our animal collection. Candidates in this program will clean animal habitats, assist in the formulating and distribution of animal diets, support the keeper to whom you are assigned with creating and distributing animal enrichment, and performing other tasks in the area as needed. Prior experience or volunteer service with the Naples Zoo is required.

Become a Naples Zoo Volunteer

FILL OUT a Volunteer Application (PDF)
Free Download of Adobe Acrobat to read PDF files.

Submit your Volunteer Application
FAX the info to (239) 262-6866.
MAIL it to the zoo: Naples Zoo, Volunteer Application, 1590 Goodlette Road, Naples FL 34102
DROP IT OFF at the zoo. (Location)

When your application has been reviewed, we will contact you to schedule an interview. If accepted as a Zoo Volunteer, we will then have you attend a half day orientation and possible training sessions.

Thanks for helping Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens fulfill its mission!