It's that time!

Thank you for your interest in becoming an Animal Ambassador Docent (AAD) for the 2024-2025 season!

Application Deadline: Friday, September 13, 2024

Informal Interviews: Wednesday, September 18 - Friday, September 20. These are easygoing 15min conversations in-person/via Zoom where we can get to know you and follow-up with any questions you or we may have from your application. We will reach out to schedule this with you after receiving your application.

If you feel like you need more information about what AAD is, you can go to our website here. You can also sign up for our Zoom/in-person AAD info session on Wednesday, September 11, 3:30-4PM by contacting Lauren Salzmann at volunteer@henryvilaszoo.gov.

Animal Ambassador Docent Application

Commitment Agreements

Orientation Commitment(Required)

I am able to attend the required AAD orientation on Saturday, October 5th, 8:30AM-1:30PM.

Time Commitment(Required)

I have looked ahead at my calendar. I am able to commit to a 9AM-1PM shift on the same day each week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday) from October 2024 to October 2025. Aside from one or two times, I am able to make at least x3 shifts per month.

Animal Commitment(Required)

I understand that the animals I will be handling have been chosen by our curator for handleability. I understand that I will NOT be handling dangerous animals, and that I will need to train in and check off on each education animal regardless of previous experience.

Moving forward

An answer of "No" to any of the commitments above has triggered this section. We stand firm on our orientation, time and animal commitments. If you are unable to agree to any one of these, then we may want to look at another role for you. That's not a bad thing! And it's not forever! It just means that AAD commitments don't fit you RIGHT NOW. 🙂

Please let us know here what challenges or concerns are keeping you from the above commitments. We'll give you a call asap to follow up.

About You

Last Name(Required)

First Name(Required)

Why do you want to be an Animal Ambassador Docent?(Required)

What hesitations/concerns do you have coming into this (if any)?(Required)

What do you want to get out of this role?(Required)

This role represents one of the highest levels of responsibility for a volunteer. Are you able to give the necessary mental, emotional, and physical energy for this role? Why or why not?(Required)

*A "no" doesn't automatically mean you can't do this role. We often make modifications for volunteers based on their needs, and will do so if able and if it still allows for the performance of regular AAD duties.

Scheduling

Weekly AAD Shift 1st Preference (starting in October after the AAD Orientation)(Required)

Weekly AAD Shift 2nd Preference (starting in October after the AAD Orientation)(Required)