Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our Group Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended.
Group volunteering at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a great way to bond with your corporation, community group, or school, while also giving back to your community! Groups can help with Service Projects or Special Events while volunteering at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
Please review the following information and submit a Group Volunteer Request Form if interested. Group Applications are processed year-round.
Service Projects:
Projects can vary based on the time of year and what department you are assisting. Here are some examples:
- Get creative with our design team and help build, paint, sculpt, and design multiple props and sets for some of our biggest events of the year. This can include everything from Spooktacular to ZOOLights.
- Keep our animals happy by helping beautify their enclosures. This includes helping our keepers with painting, cleaning, removing plants, and/or moving dirt.
- Help keep the Zoo clean by removing trash and recycling from our parking lots and other guest areas. This project can also encompass a variety of painting projects, window cleaning, and gutter clean up.
Special Events:
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens offers many events year-round. For more information on each, please contact the Volunteer Engagement Department. Here are some examples:
- Spooktacular, our annual Halloween event. This event lasts multiple nights and is one of the biggest events at the Zoo. This event includes carnival games and a candy trail.
- ZOOLights, our annual holiday celebration. This event runs throughout December, and contains thousands of lights, moving sculptures and illuminated animals.
- Brew at the Zoo, join the party! This event includes over 100 food and drink vendors from all around Jacksonville. All volunteers must be at least 21 to participate at this event.
- ExZOOberation, our annual fundraiser. This wildly popular event is a ton of fun for all with silent auctions, dinner and dancing. All volunteers must be at least 21 or older to participate in this event.
Want to join the fun?
Your group qualifies to participate if:
- You have at least 5 people in your group, but no more than 20 (larger groups can be accepted for certain events).
- All group members are willing to work outside and get dirty, no matter the weather and project/event.
- All group members complete and turn in the required waiver forms by the day of volunteering.
- All group members are a minimum age of 14 (age minimum may change for different events/activities).
- Groups with teens:
- Must provide 1 adult chaperone for every 5 teens (ages 14 – 17) to participate in the project.
- All volunteer waiver forms must be signed by a parent or guardian.
Steps to request a service project:
Step 1. Plan ahead. This program is popular, and service projects and special events book quickly. Service projects must be scheduled a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. Most events fill up months in advanced. Your group must receive written confirmation to ensure you are booked on the day/time requested.
Step 2. Fill out and return the appropriate request form: Service Project Request Form or Special Event Request Form. As your company or organization's group project leader, please help us to ensure that all of your team members participating have read and received the information on page one of this form.
Step 3. All volunteers must sign and return the Group Volunteer Paperwork (Liability Waiver, Social Media Policy, and Tetanus Wavier). Any group member ages 14-18 must sign this form and have their parent/guardian sign the Volunteer Liability Waiver as well. These forms can be e-mailed to volunteer@jacksonvillezoo.org prior to the volunteer date or turned in the day of. This is required of all volunteers to participate.
Step 4. The Zoo’s Volunteer Engagement Department will contact you via e-mail or phone to confirm your date and provide the details your group will need.
Step 5. On your volunteer day, come to the Zoo dressed for the weather and have fun!
CANCELLATIONS:
If you need to cancel once your opportunity has been confirmed, please e-mail volunteer@jacksonvillezoo.org. We kindly ask that you give at least a 48-hour notice of cancellation for service projects and one-week notice for special events.
Is your company or organization a member of the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Business Partner Program? If so, contact us about setting up a volunteer schedule with your employees!
If you are interested in becoming a partner, click here for more information.