The Living Desert - Volunteer Opportunities

Friends of
The Living Desert - FOLD

FOLD offers the following volunteer opportunities:

• Adult Volunteers (minimum high school graduate requirement)
• ZOOTEENS high school program

All volunteers must maintain active membership status at The Living Desert. Click here for a membership application.

Adult Volunteers

Adult volunteers may choose to become General Volunteers or Docents. General volunteers fulfill a variety of roles throughout the park, working in the Petting Kraal, as Veterinary Hospital tour guides, in the Retail Nursery, in one of our Gift Shops, just to mention a few. Docents are volunteers who interact in many ways with our guests--young and old--helping to interpret our Living Desert exhibits and teach the public about the desert in general. Docent training is held once a year, beginning in November, and continuing through early March. (Classes are held two mornings a week, except during holiday breaks.) Docents are required to volunteer a minimum of 126 hours a season (our season runs from July 1 to June 30) in an interpretive youth tour–related capacity for a minimum of two years after completing training.

If you are interested in becoming a Docent, click here for more information.

All new adult volunteers must attend a one-time, 6-hour orientation followed by a one-on-one interview with the FOLD Volunteer Program Manager to discuss potential assignments. Orientation sessions are held 4 times per year. If accepted, all volunteers generally commit to assisting one 3-4 hour shift per week on a regular basis.

Scheduled Fall 2008 New-Volunteer Orientations

Monday, January 28, 2008 OR
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Time: 9 am to ~2 pm

Place: Hoover Auditorium, Education Center

Complete the online volunteer application to apply for volunteer service. For specific questions or to sign up for an Orientation, please e-mail or call Judi Greene, Volunteer Program Manager, at 760-346-5694 ext. 2503, jmgreene@livingdesert.org

ZOOTEENS

Interested in working with the public, children, interpreting carts, exhibits and helping with special, fun events?

Get an exciting new perspective of The Living Desert by applying to be a ZOOTEEN! The High School Volunteer Program accepts a select number of high school students who attend special training. ZOOTEENS must commit to working 12 hours per month plus volunteering at special events throughout the year.
ZOOTEENS are teenagers with a special interest in zoo education, a unique and important role in environmental conservation and desert appreciation.
ZOOTEEN Orientation is generally in the fall with subsequent interviews. If selected you will be notified for training.

Saturday, January 5, 2008, New-ZOOTEEN Orientation, from 9-11 am, Hoover Education Center. Call for information and/or to sign up.

ZOOTEEN COMMITMENT

To proudly represent The Living Desert to the community.
To use your time and talents to carry out the mission statement of
The Living Desert:
“Desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation.”

You have a unique opportunity to work with the public, educate them and enable them to appreciate desert habitats all over the world.

Get involved with us! Complete the online ZOOTEEN applicationto apply for volunteer service. For specific questions, please call Mafi Neckelmann at 760-346-5694, ext.2512,
send email to: mneckelmann@livingdesert.org.