Volunteer

Iowa’s WILDEST Volunteer Opportunities!

Blank Park Zoo strives for volunteer engagement that inspires conservation action. Our purpose is to engage the community in meaningful volunteer opportunities, while instilling knowledge, enhancing the zoo visitor’s experience, and inspiring an appreciation for the natural world.

You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17 please read the section below on Zoo Crew and complete a special Zoo Crew application.

We offer lots of great benefits, flexible hours and a large variety of things to do! Click the links below to look at a few of the opportunities we have…

Adopt-a-Garden

Do you have a green thumb and a talent for turning flower gardens into colorful masterpieces? The Adopt-a-Garden opportunity is looking for you! Commitment begins in spring (March/April) and goes through October. Gardeners are required to attend one informational meeting to learn about approved plants & color schemes and will have the opportunity to select a garden site. Volunteer gardeners are expected to provide plants and maintain the garden for at least 3 hours a month.

Horticulture

Avid landscape or gardening enthusiasts are needed to help maintain established garden and pathway areas around Blank Park Zoo. Volunteers are needed throughout April – November. The Zoo’s goal is for all garden and landscaped areas around the Zoo be kept clean, neat, pleasing to the eye, and maintained for the safety of the guests.

Skilled Labor Crew

Are you handy with a hammer? Have experience using power tools? We are looking for volunteers who have experience with and are preferably proficient in areas of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and painting. These volunteers will help with maintenance assignments on a project-to-project basis.

Looking to gain experience in animal care? Animal care assistants help animal care staff with the daily chores involved with our animals. Volunteers must be able to clean, sweep, hose, cut up diets, lift heavy loads and follow specific directions. Opportunities are available seven days a week with the following teams: Ambassadors, Aquatics, Avian/Reptiles, Commissary, Large Mammals, and Small Mammals.

Please Note: Volunteers are placed on a need by need basis and do not work directly with the animals. Interest in these opportunities does not guarantee there is a spot available, area managers determine the number of volunteers allowed to work in their area.

Ambassadors

Assist ambassador animal care staff in the daily care of the ambassador animals. This includes diet distribution, cleaning, disinfections, and creating enrichment. Dedicated volunteer that is willing to volunteer at least 3 days a month.

Aquatics

Aquatics area volunteers will assist keepers with daily duties associated with all aquatic animals. Volunteers must have interest in marine and freshwater aquarium animals. Species in the area include a variety of Indo-pacific and Atlantic tropical reef fishes and invertebrates, Amazonian fish, reptiles and amphibians, African cichlids, Pacific cold-water fish and invertebrates, and North American pond turtles. Exhibit diving opportunities may be available, for those volunteers that are scuba dive certified.

Avian/Reptiles

We are looking for motivated, enthusiastic candidates to work around a wide variety of species and exhibits. Volunteers will gain experience in daily husbandry, exhibit upkeep, observations, and enrichment as well as the opportunity to observe training for a diverse group of birds and reptiles. This includes 40+ species of birds and two species of reptiles.

Commissary

Volunteers will assist staff with the preparation of the animal diets. Duties include diet preparation, cleaning, disinfections, and stocking.

Small Mammals

Under direct supervision, assist keepers with preparing exhibits and cleaning barns - picking up waste, hosing, and disinfecting. Volunteers should be prepared to assist keepers in arduous physical activity in the kids kingdom area and wallaby barn.

Additional duties may include preparing enrichment, interacting with zoo guests, and assisting keepers with special projects. Opportunities exist to observe animal training sessions.

Large Mammals

Assist keepers preparing exhibits and cleaning barns, picking up waste, hosing, and disinfecting. Volunteers should be prepared to assist keepers in arduous physical activity. Additional duties may include preparing enrichment, interacting with zoo guests, and assisting keepers with special projects. Opportunities exist to observe animal training sessions.

Ready to Get Started?

Here's what you need to start volunteering.

Click Here to complete the application.
Wait… the volunteer manager will contact you soon to set up a meeting. If you don't hear anything within 30 days of sending in your application, please contact us at: 515-974-2551.
All volunteers must attend an Orientation and pass a background check.
Background checks must be completed before applicants can volunteer and are at the cost of the volunteer. Background checks cost $19. Information will be given to volunteer applicants before they attend orientation.
A confirmation email with upcoming volunteer orientation dates and times will be sent after the volunteer application is received.

PLEASE NOTE – To volunteer for events only you do not need to go through the volunteer application process. For more information on how to sign up email volunteer@blankparkzoo.org.

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Zoo Crew (ages 13-17)

Applications for Summer 2026 will be accepted January 1, 2026 - March 1, 2026.

Zoo Crew is a special opportunity for youth ages 13-17 to volunteer at the Zoo! The purpose of the Zoo Crew programs is to engage young adults in volunteer opportunities, instill knowledge about the zoo, and inspire an appreciation for the natural world. First year Zoo Crew volunteer opportunities include: assisting Summer Safari camp counselors with preschool campers, providing information about the zoo as guest service and education/conservation guides, and keeping the zoo beautiful. Zoo Crew volunteers are also encouraged to volunteer during family friendly special events!

*Questions? Please email Erica Carnes at elcarnes@blankparkzoo.net or call at 515-974-2543.

Group Volunteer Opportunities

We have opportunities for groups to volunteer at the zoo. Volunteers must be 13 or older and adult supervision must be present for teen groups. Service projects usually involve invasive plant removal, light construction projects, painting, special event set up, and zoo clean up. To schedule a volunteer day please fill out the Group Volunteer Form and send it to the volunteer manager.

Please note: we do not have opportunities for volunteer groups to work with our animals.

Service Enterprise Certified
Service Enterprise organizations fundamentally leverage volunteers and their skills across all levels of the organization to successfully deliver on their social mission.
To learn more about Service Enterprise in Iowa, visit Volunteer Iowa’s Service Enterprise webpage.