Volunteer
Opportunities
The
Saskatoon Zoo Society needs you!
Click
here for a Zoo Society volunteer application form
The
Saskatoon Zoo Society is not the Zoo. We are a non-profit organization
that conducts environmental education
programs at the
Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo and surrounding areas.
(Because we are
not the zoo, we do not have volunteer positions that work directly with the
animals at the
Saskatoon
Forestry Farm Park and Zoo).
Our volunteer
programs are divided into two sections:
1) Special Event Volunteers
These are
volunteers that assist with our special events and fundraising
activities.
Special Event
Volunteers are assigned tasks such as ticket sellers, parking attendants,
food preparation
and serving, activity supervisors, etc.
The time commitment ranges
from 2 to 6
hours per event. If you can help with an
upcoming special event,
give the Zoo
Society a call at 975-3395.
Special event volunteers are needed for the upcoming
events:
Zoo Run (Sunday, April 18, 2010. 8:00
a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)
StarPhoenix Family Day (Sunday, July 18,
2010. Various shifts from 9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.)
Lobsterfest (Saturday, November 6,
2010. Various shifts from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00
p.m.)
2) Education Volunteers (Docents)
Please note: At
this time (Spring 2010) our volunteer training program
is full and we
are not taking applications.
These are
Volunteers that undergo a training period to conduct educational programs such as
Zoo Tours,
Investigation
Station interpreter, Kinsmen Children’s Zoo interpreter, and Outreach
interpreter
(see below for
more information on these areas). This is a major volunteer commitment in
terms
of time and
learning. Education volunteers must be available for training once a week
during weekday
office hours.
Please Note: Applying to be a Zoo
Society Education Volunteer is similar to applying for a job.
To apply to be a education volunteer with the
Saskatoon Zoo Society please complete the Volunteer
Application Form and return it to the Zoo Society
(by mail, facsimile, or email) along with a cover letter
and resume. A committee will review your
application. Successful applicants will be invited for an
interview to determine their final suitability for
the position.
Contact Cathy at
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page
About
our volunteer programs:
Founded
in 1976, the Saskatoon Zoo Society is a non-profit organization dedicated
to stimulating interest in animals, wildlife and
environmental conservation. The Society coordinates a wide variety of
educational programs at the Saskatoon
Forestry Farm Park and Zoo. The success of these programs is due,
in no small part, to a continually growing group of dedicated volunteers.
1) Special Event Volunteers:
Special Events
There
are a wide variety of special event days throughout the year. This is a good
area
for
someone who can come out on an occasional basis.
Farley Fox
Farley,
the Forestry Farm Fox, is the Zoo Society mascot. Volunteers wear the
Farley costume at events to
entertain and to increase awareness of the
2) Education Volunteers:
Requirements
We ask
that all education volunteers:
- Attend all training sessions and
be at least 16 years old
- Become a member of the Saskatoon
Zoo Society
- Work a minimum of four volunteer
hours per month
- Make a minimum one year
commitment
- Wear a volunteer T-shirt ($15)
Tour Guides
Volunteers
provide informative and entertaining interpretive talks on animal
behaviour, natural history, conservation, and ecological concepts as they
guide groups of school children or other special interest groups through the
Zoo, usually during school hours.
Investigation
Stations (Ask-Me Carts)
Volunteers are strategically placed throughout the Zoo with carts equipped
with biofacts ("biological artifacts") pertaining to the
animals. The public is encouraged to investigate the displays and ask
questions about the animals. This program runs from May to September,
Saturdays and Sundays from
The
Ask-Me Interpreters play a key role in our Wild Weekends program.
Kinsmen Children's Zoo and the
Affinity Credit Union Discovery Centre
Volunteers
provide educational interpretation of the different species of animals
that
reside in the Children's Zoo or Discovery Centre. Volunteers provide a
"hands-on" experience for children of all
ages. Volunteers are required at least one Saturday or Sunday afternoon
per month from
Outreach
Volunteers
of the Outreach program take the Zoo on the road to educate the
public about the Saskatoon Zoo Society, the Saskatoon Zoo and its animals.
This program
requires
volunteers who are mature, responsible, patient individuals who would enjoy
giving interpretive presentations. The majority of presentations are done
during the school day.
3) Other volunteers:
Administrative Assistant
Volunteers
are needed to assist the Society with the our newsletter, stuffing
and labeling envelopes, phoning, and other tasks as required. We need
people for data entries of Zoo memberships, and for helping with
fundraising.
Board of Directors
Members
are needed to fill a variety of rewarding board positions within the
Society. You must be able to attend monthly meetings and be prepared to
commit ten volunteer hours or more per month. Board members are elected at
the Annual General Meeting in March of each year. (Must be minimum of
18 years old and a member for 6 months).
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page