This role is now full for the 2024 season! Still interested in being part of the crew? Call or email us at 608-283-1612/volunteer@henryvilaszoo.gov. Spots do open up occasionally, and we would be happy to get you on the wait list.
ROLE SUMMARY
This is a new role for the 2024 year! Painters have the chance to learn and practice, as well as join in for busy summer days and larger events. This is an excellent opportunity to practice your art and have fun!
Face Painters bring color and glitter (the biodegradable kind!) to our guests on beautiful days and special events. HVZ provides all the supplies and practice for beginning to intermediate painters. Guild members are not professionals by any means – and that’s just fine! This is an opportunity for interested volunteers to learn, practice and grow with a group of other crafty and enthusiastic artists.
“I made a kid look like a red panda! When are we doing this again?”
Morgan, Face Paint Volunteer for Boo at the Zoo
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Paint faces!
- Make guests smile and feel beautiful with paint and glitter
- Help guests feel comfortable and heard while they’re in the artist’s chair
- Properly clean and care for all supplies
- Come ready to learn at Face Paint Guild monthly meetings
- Communicate with HVZ staff regarding monthly volunteer schedule
Volunteering For All
Face Painting takes place in locations all throughout the Zoo depending on the day, weather, and event(s) going on. It involves using hypoallergenic, water-activated paint pallets. Painters regularly get paint and water on themselves. Painters are very close to kids and adults while painting. This role involves a lot of communication – both verbal and non-verbal – between the painter and the guest getting painted. Most painting will take place outdoors – weather allowing. In inclement weather, face painting will move indoors to our Guest Services building where we house our Ambassador Animals (reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and two hedgehogs).
Requirements & Skills
- 16+, or 14+ with completion of HVZ Teen Program
- Able to hold a paint brush steady
- Able to sit for 2-2.5hrs at a time
- Enjoys meeting new people (especially kids!)
- Can be patient and calm with wiggly subjects
- Suggested for practice at home: A set of basic brushes and a single cake of paint
Time Commitment
3-4hrs/mo: Face Painters commit to a monthly 1-1.5hr guild meeting. Each meeting will end with volunteers scheduling a minimum of one 2-2.5hr shift for the following month. This shift can be any day/time, but will be informed by weather, events, etc.
The Face Painting Guild will run March through October. The first painting day will be in April. The last will be on Boo at the Zoo on Saturday, October 26th, 2024.
Training
All of these trainings are available as refreshers at any point upon request.
- Online
- Basic Face Paint Etiquette, Tools & Techniques (30min)
- In-Person
- Guild Meetings – Each meeting will focus on a different face paint skill. An example of this might be line work, where we practice tear drops, lines, swirls and dots. By the end of the season, volunteers should be comfortable with a variety of painting techniques.
Weather Policy
Henry Vilas Zoo is open regardless of weather. While we remain open, we trust our Face Painters to decide whether or not they would like to volunteer in light precipitation, cold/hot temperatures, etc. The volunteer is in charge of scheduling a make-up shift in the event they choose to stay home due to weather.
In the event of truly inclement weather, we will call volunteers to cancel. In this case, volunteers do not need to make up their cancelled shift.
All guild meetings are indoors.