photos by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

Experience the Wild Side

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When I was a little girl, my parents would take me and my sister to the Amarillo Zoo for a special treat. I remember looking at the longhorns and wooden Disney cutouts in Prairie Dog Town. While the simplicity of the exhibits brings back fond memories, there really wasn’t much to look at. That’s no longer the case. Over the past few years, the zoo has gone through impressive updates, one of the more recent being a new volunteer program.

Just over a year ago, Mike Boley came to the zoo as the Visitor Service Coordinator and he spearheaded a volunteer program that has grown to include around 25 volunteers, mostly teens, WTAMU students and a few teachers. But Mike wants seniors to know that volunteering at the zoo is a fit for them as well. “There’s something for everyone even if you don’t like the outdoors or animals,” he says. There’s always a need for help in the office, for example, and then there’s crafts, games and special events.

I watched two teen volunteers in action. Jessica Hammons and Eliani Cooper volunteer every week. Jessica has been at the zoo for two years, volunteering every Friday and helping with special events on Saturday. Eliani has volunteered for a year. Both girls found out about the opportunity from a flyer at the library and, after an orientation, decided the zoo was something they’d be interested in.

Jessica has always loved animals and her favorite part of the volunteer work is being able to touch animals that you wouldn’t normally find in a backyard. Eliani’s favorite part of volunteering is meeting and talking to all of the people who come to the zoo and working around the animals.

“I like feeling like I’m doing something,” says Jessica. “I know it helps the community and it’s great knowing that people are getting enjoyment from the work I’m doing.”

For Eliani, the work experience she’s gained has been invaluable. “I’ve always been very shy and had a hard time talking to people,” she told me. “I had no choice but to talk to all the people who would come up and ask questions and it has really changed me.”

Both girls say it’s been challenging working with the public but acknowledge that it has prepared them for the future. They’ve been given a lot of responsibility and both feel a sense of ownership because of it.

On a typical Saturday, up to 3000 people visit the zoo, so volunteers and staff stay busy. Zoo employees always accompany volunteers when handling animals and they supervise volunteers as they prepare daily diets and enrichment for animals like the wallabies, lemurs and spider monkeys. As far as animal care, volunteers don’t have any involvement with the carnivores. Instead, they help with the hoof stock (goats, cows, horses and sheep) by raking their pens, brushing and feeding them. They also learn about animal behavior and history, work on special events, crafts, games and summer camp for kids. Volunteers receive ongoing training not only about the animals, but also regarding how to deal with the public and related challenges. Mike told me that most of the students are already interested in animals so the experience helps develop that interest.

This volunteer work is perfect for people who love animals and working outside. But even if those things aren’t on the top of your list, there’s plenty of work to be done in the office as well. It’s been such a great experience for Jessica and Eliani that they both wanted to personally invite people to come and enjoy wildlife close up at the Amarillo Zoo.

“You can’t experience or enjoy the zoo until you get here,” Jessica says.

“It’s always changing and you never know what you’ll find,” adds Eliani.

They both agree that there are lots of other things that they could be doing on a Saturday but they prefer to be at the zoo working with the animals and sharing their love of them with each visitor that they meet.

How You Can Help
Interpreters Educate guests about the animals and exhibits at the Amarillo Zoo.
Guest Services Make sure that everyone’s zoo experience is as amazing as possible by greeting groups, answering questions and providing assistance to all visitors.
Special Events Help with all aspects of special events.
Animal Care Assist in the daily cleaning, feeding and other husbandry duties for the Zoo’s education animal collection, hoof stock and children’s zoo area.

For more information and an application call 381.7911 or visit the Amarillo Zoo.

by Michele McAffrey

Born and raised in Amarillo, Michele enjoys cooking for her large family and spending time with them on the weekend.