Learning volunteers

Recruiting Now (ZSL London Zoo - weekdays only)

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with ZSL. ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo are part of the Zoological Society of London, an international scientific, conservation and education charity whose mission is the conservation of animals and their habitats. In addition, the Society employs over 70 scientists to carry out research in conservation science and manages conservation programmes in 80 countries world-wide, including Britain.

ZSL receives no government funding to run the two zoos and income is generated almost entirely through visitors to Whipsnade and London Zoo. Over 1.5 million people visit the zoos each year and it is our aim to give them a unique and memorable experience.

The role of volunteers

Volunteers play a very important role in the life of the ZSL. They do not take the place of paid staff, but they contribute to the success of ZSL by assisting staff, helping the visitors enjoy their day and providing excellent customer service.

Role description

Learning Volunteers help ensure that visitors have a great day out at the Zoo. They contribute to the visitor experience by providing live interpretation, i.e. pro-actively engaging with visitors, interpreting the animal exhibits and facilitating learning on touch tables. They also provide a friendly welcome, someone who can answer their questions and give directions and great customer service. Following basic training, learning volunteers are able to carry out all the core activities on a roster basis throughout the day, usually changing hourly or so. Some activities require more experience and additional training.

Core activities: Live interpretation

Exhibit interpretation

Volunteers are placed at key animal exhibits to chat to visitors, help them see the animals and answer a range of questions. This is a priority activity and requires volunteers to be confident and pro-active in approaching visitors and engaging them in conversation.

An exciting new opportunity opens up in 2013 at ZSL London Zoo when our new Tiger Territory opens to visitors. Learning volunteers will be trained to engage with visitors about fascinating Tiger biology and current conservation issues.

There is no direct contact with any animals and volunteers are also required to ensure visitors don’t touch or feed them either. This activity takes place at the squirrel monkey enclosure, and other outside exhibits, as well as in the tropical rainforest exhibit and the butterfly exhibit. Some of these areas are tropically hot, some are outdoors in all weathers.

Touch tables

The touch tables display a range of biofacts including snake skin, skulls and other biofacts for handling and discovery. Again, the emphasis is on facilitating learning in an informal and enjoyable way.

Badge-making and brass rubbing

This involves running the craft centre, supplying badge components and helping children make badges and learn how to make a brass rubbing, and other art activities.

Presenting live animals

This involves handling and presenting giant snails and cockroaches. This is optional! In addition, when volunteers have been with us for some months, there may be opportunities to do ferret handling.

Information kiosk

Answering a range of queries and providing maps and recommending routes and events. This activity requires a greater experience of the Zoo.

NB. You will notice that there is little direct contact with live animals, although they are all around you; this is an important point which should help to avoid any misconceptions about this volunteer role.

Commitment

We ask for a regular and reliable commitment of one full day per week (Monday to Friday) OR one full day per fortnight if volunteering on a Saturday or Sunday. Reliability is essential. This volunteer opportunity requests a regular, full-day commitment on the same day each week ( weekdays) or a Saturday or Sunday fortnightly, over a substantial period of time. Please ask yourself, before applying, whether you can realistically and regularly make this commitment.

Who are we looking for?

• Friendly, outgoing people who are articulate, confident, and at ease with approaching visitors.
• People who understand what great customer service entails and deliver it consistently.
• Reliability, commitment and regular attendance
• An interest in animals and conservation
• A willingness to learn, follow instructions and keep informed
• A good degree of fitness as you will need to walk across the Zoo from one exhibit to another. Activities are mostly standing up and, while a good part of the day is out of doors in all weathers, some activities take place in a tropical climate!

What do volunteers get out of it?

• An opportunity to be involved in an international conservation charity
• A chance to be in a team of friendly, like-minded people - other volunteers
• Training and an opportunity to learn new skills
• A range of benefits including staff rates for lunch

How to apply for this volunteer opportunity

Volunteers must be over 18. There is no upper age limit as long as you continue to be fit and active, able and willing to learn and remember new information and adapt to change as the Zoo develops. Please download and fill out the form below and return it to:

Please return ZSL London Zoo forms to: Volunteer Co-ordinator, ZSL London Zoo, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY.

Closing date 17th June.

Please return ZSL Whipsnade Zoo forms to: Whipsnade.Volunteering@zsl.org or Volunteer Co-ordinator, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable, LU6 2LF

Download the ZSL London Zoo learning volunteer application form (45 KB)

Download the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo learning volunteer application form (43 KB) (Mondays ONLY. Closing date: 3 June)

2. Due to the importance of recruiting people with the right skills, not everyone will be short-listed. Those who are short listed will be invited for an informal interview and successful applicants undergo a probationary period of induction.

We are fortunate to receive many applications for the role. We aim to process applications to short-list stage within 4 weeks of the closing date. If you do not hear from us within this time, we regret you have not been short listed.

3. Training is done by placing new volunteers with experienced ones, by links to information on the website and at morning briefings. Day to day changes as well as training is given at morning briefings which start at 1030 and it is essential to attend and be on time for these.
4. This opportunity applies to ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Priority will be given to applicants living within commutable distance to the Zoo.