KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Knoxville Zoo has several volunteer opportunities in a variety of areas for those with a passion and love for animals. 

Knoxville Zoo's annual volunteer fair will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Zoo's Conference Center. Those interested in volunteering at the zoo are invited to attend anytime during the fair. Participants can check in at the Fort Sanders Ranger Station located at the zoo's front entrance for directions. Zoo staff and current volunteers will be available for questions and comments throughout the fair.

Volunteers serve in a variety of roles at Knoxville Zoo. From assisting keepers and curators with daily duties to working with the education department on outreach programs, volunteers stay busy during their time at the zoo. Some volunteers help with zoo special events and in administration as well. There are more than 100 volunteers who assist at the zoo on a regular basis, contributing more than 14,500 hours annually.

Volunteers receive many benefits including discounts at zoo food and retail venues and behind-the-scene orientations of exhibits.

Participants must be at least 13 years of age or older and a member of the zoo. There is a training fee, which includes a volunteer manual and shirt. Adults must attend a four-day training course. Youth training is a multi-step process that will be discussed at the volunteer fair.

For further information on the volunteer program, please contact Heather Debord, volunteer coordinator, at 865.637.5331 ext. 374 or e-mail hdebord@knoxville-zoo.org.
           
For those interested in seasonal employment possibilities, the zoo will also host a job fair on Feb. 16 to hire seasonal staff for the upcoming season.

Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392 from Interstate 40 and is open every day except Christmas Day. The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxville-zoo.org.