CALM is always in need of volunteers in areas of individual interest and facility needs. CALM volunteers perform daily routine chores, which enable staff to complete more complex tasks or projects. CALM volunteers may assist animal keepers, assist the maintenance staff or educate the visiting public. Group volunteer events are also available.
For your safety, ALL volunteers must wear long pants (jeans are best) and closed-in shoes. No shorts, capris, ¾ length pants, workout/yoga pants/spandex, flip-flops or sandals will be allowed. All volunteers ages 13-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
June 1 – 5:30 – 6:30 pm Animal Care Orientation
June 3– 9:00 – 10:30 am Animal Care Orientation
June 3 – 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Guest Experience Volunteer Orientation for the CA Coast Room
All classes will be held at CALM and class fees are due before the classes begin.
Please note that individuals who have not completed the orientation class for Animal Care Volunteer and Commissary Volunteer will not be able to sign up for those opportunities. These classes are offered quarterly so if you miss the class, there will be more opportunities in the future.
Click the ‘Volunteer Portal’ button below to find available volunteer opportunities. Click the ‘How to Register’ button for help volunteering.
How to Register – Step By Step
Elizabeth Mackay
661-546-8950 or elmackay@kern.org
**Please note that in order to volunteer in the Animal Care Department, an orientation class must be completed**
Open to all volunteers ages 13+. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
No orientation required
Cost-Free; optional purchase of a $25 T-shirt
Open Year Round
Open to all volunteers 16+
Cost-Free; optional purchase of a $25 T-shirt
No orientation class required
Open to all volunteers ages 13+ in a group of 10 or more.
Designated “Group Lead” required
Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. One “lead” adult is required per 10 underage volunteers.
Cost-Free; optional purchase of a $25 T-shirt
This position is for you if:
Volunteers perform duties as required for the care and maintenance of Zoo animals and exhibits. Activities include scrubbing and hosing enclosures, removing trash, feeding diets, and assisting keepers with various projects. Make connections with local zookeepers and learn the ins and outs of the zoo industry and proper animal care practices. It is important to note that this volunteer opportunity is about working to ensure that CALM’s animal needs are met and is heavily based on feeding animals, cleaning their enclosures, and aiding in enrichment creation. Animal Care Volunteers are not guaranteed to work directly with zoo animals and must adhere to all safety standards when working alongside wildlife.
This position is for you if:
Volunteers perform duties as required for the preparation of animal diets zoo wide. Activities include following specific recipes for an array of animal species. Creation of diets will include cutting, chopping, blending, etc. of meat, fish fruits, vegetables, and a variety of enrichment items. Volunteers will be required to handle all aspects of the commissary including cleaning, doing dishes, stocking donations, and organizing a variety of foods.
This position is for you if:
Volunteers work directly with the public to enhance our educational programs. Volunteers will learn to work in our California Coast Room, be stationed at various areas around the zoo to answer guest questions and share facts about CALM and CA native animals and have the potential to work with our ambassador animals at CALM.
This position is for you if:
Volunteers perform duties as required for grounds projects. These duties can include raking, mowing, planting, painting etc. and involve working directly with our grounds team to help beautify CALM. The daily tasks change based on the season, so no two days are every quite alike.
This position is for you if:
Volunteers perform duties related to the specific event. Special event volunteers are critical to helping our fundraisers flow smoothly! In this position you may be asked to aid in setting up/breaking down an event, aid in traffic flow or work directly with the public.
How to sign up:
CALM utilizes VolunteerMark to organize our many opportunities. All volunteers can sign up with VolunteerMark at calmzoo.org/volunteers. A step-by-step guide on how to volunteer is available on that portal.
Please note that individuals who have not completed the orientation class for Animal Care Volunteer and Commissary Volunteer will not be able to sign up for those opportunities. These classes are offered quarterly so if you miss the class, there will be more opportunities in the future.
