Volunteers are the heart of our Zoo and have always played dominant roles throughout its history. Inspired by Mr. Charles Paddock and his friends, our community has always answered the call of ongoing needs of the Zoo in the form of food supplies, construction materials, puppeteers, docents, gift shop volunteers, clerical assistance, and financial support. These early benefactors understood the value and uniqueness of the Zoo for all Central Coast residents and visitors. We are always looking for volunteers for our education programs, events, and office support.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please complete the form below and email it to volunteering@charlespaddockzoo.org or call 805-470-3174.
A Volunteer is any individual who donates time and/or services to facilitate Charles Paddock Zoo programs. Training requirements for each position below are considered minimums, and are subject to review and modification as necessary. The following are the departments that currently offer volunteer opportunities at the Charles Paddock Zoo:
Work closely with the zookeepers to help take care of the animals. Tasks include making diets, washing dishes, projects, and observations. This volunteer position has levels that allow more responsibilities, including working with animals at the keepers’ discretion, and independence as you move up. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN DIET PREPARATION.
Help make the Charles Paddock Zoo events a success for guests of all ages. These volunteers assist with activities, crafts, and guest interactions during special events like Ice Cream Safari, Sweet Adventures for Mom at the Charles Paddock Zoo, International Tiger Day Celebration, Zoo Boo, and more!
We strive to create an environment that is oasis for both animals and people. This volunteer opportunity will have you getting your hands dirty in no time by allowing you to care for plants by watering, cleaning, weeding, checking for pests, and more.
Inspire curiosity and caring by helping our guests connect with animals and nature! Aid in creating new animal enthusiasts by bringing out artifacts, telling a story about our collection, or developing curriculum for programs! Strong communication skills are highly encouraged for this volunteer position.
Do you have a special skill that might be helpful to the zoo? Whether is carpentry, maintenance or any other special skill (such as building nest boxes, painting, crafts …) – we need you. Contact us and let us know what you are good at. WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A SKILLED CARPENTER TO HELP US BUILD NEST BOXES!!!
