Dig Deeper

Apply to be a Zoo Teen volunteer!

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Maryland Zoo! The 2021 application is now open. The teen volunteer program is open to 14-17 year-old students with an interest in animals, conservation, and leadership.

Timeline

April:

  • Application deadline: Friday, April 16th
  • Phone interviews: Monday, April 19th – Sunday, April 25th

May:

  • Virtual interviews (May 1, 2, 5), orientation (May 15 & 16), and in-person training (for accepted applicants) will take place in late May/early June.

*Teens only need to attend one interview and one orientation date

June:

  • Training concludes, volunteer service begins

Tips For Applying

The form found below must be completed entirely by the teen applicant with the exception of the “For Parents/Guardians” section.













    Contact Information

    Teen First Name
    Teen Last Name
    Nickname (if applicable)
    Street Address
    City
    State
    Zipcode
    Teen Email (Primary communication)
    Home Phone Number
    Cell Phone Number
    Volunteering requires a year-round monthly commitment starting in June. Do you feel confident you can meet this requirement?

    How would you get to the Zoo as a volunteer?

    Free bus passes may be available to those taking public transportation.

    Please let us know your dates of planned summer vacations, weddings, or other pre-planned activities:

    Guardian Information

    Parent/Guardian Full Name
    Relationship
    Parent/Guardian Email
    Parent/Guardian Phone
    Second Parent/Guardian Full Name
    Relationship
    Second Parent/Guardian Email
    Second Parent/Guardian Phone

    School Information

    Name of school currently attending
    Name of school attending this fall (if different)
    Teen Date of Birth
    Current Grade Level

    Additional Information

    1. Have you attended any of the following programs at the Zoo? (Check all that apply)

    2. Were you a Special Event Volunteer at: (Check all that apply)

    If other event, which?

    3. How did you hear about the Zoo Teen program?

    What was the name of the staff member or volunteer?
    If other, how did you hear about us?

    4. Will you require any special accommodations or supportive services to successfully volunteer? (Please include any allergies or relevant medical conditions.)

    For Parents/Guardians

    If accepted, a $50 registration/materials fee will be due at orientation. This fee is waived for Baltimore City’s public school students (enrolled now and in fall 2021), as well as any student who qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

    Electronic signature of parent/guardian:

    Please Type Full Name

    If the registration fee presents hardship but you do not qualify for free or reduced lunch, please skip this section and email volunteers@marylandzoo.org to request a fee waiver.

    Questionnaire

    Please complete these questions in one sitting, your answers will not be saved if you redirect or close this page prior to submission. We recommend taking your time when answering — typing out your answers in a separate document first could be helpful.

    1. Why do you want to volunteer at the Zoo? How would be becoming a Zoo volunteer fit into your education, life, and/or career goals? (approx. 150-250 words)

    2. Why do you think zoos are important? (approx. 150-250 words)

    3. What role do you usually play when you work as part of a team? Please share a time that acting in this role helped your team succeed. (approx. 150-250 words)

    4. What extracurricular activities or outside commitments are you involved in during the school year?

    5. What days of the week are you available to volunteer during the summer?

    6. What days of the week are you available to volunteer during the school year?

    I verify that all written work is my own. Electronic signature of teen:

    Please Type Full Name

    Questions? Please contact the Volunteer Office at volunteers@marylandzoo.org or call 443-552-5266. You can contact our Zoo Teen Leaders directly at teenleadershipcouncil@marylandzoo.org.