Oakland Zoo Teen Wild Guides

To inspire respect for and stewardship of the natural world while providing a quality visitor experience.

Begun in 2005 with 14 volunteers, this program now serves over 120 teens from the Bay Area.

Ever wanted to work at the zoo? The Oakland Zoo’s Teen Wild Guide Program is an amazing opportunity for teens 13-18 to learn about animals, children and zoos, while gaining invaluable experience! Teen Wild Guides are trained as interpreters in the Valley Children’s Zoo, interacting with children and adults alike while educating about our animals. On a typical day, teens work at a variety of stations throughout the Valley Children’s Zoo, including:

•Working in the goat yard, monitoring the animals and teaching children about being a keeper.

•Painting faces while teaching about animals, including bats, lemurs and bugs.

•Providing animal interpretive information for the public at interactive stations

In addition, our Teen Wild Guide program is affiliated with Roots & Shoots, an international organization founded by Dr. Jane Goodall. Our Teen Wild Guides meet regularly to plan and implement service projects designed to help animals, the environment, and the human community. In the past, we have raised money for a variety of different conservation organizations, participated in beach clean-ups and habitat restorations, and organized teen-led events, such as the Asian Animal Festival and CaliforniaFest!

Teen Wild Guides also regularly have the opportunity to help with special events, and are invited to help create new stations for the entire program. Teens who stay on are encouraged to develop within the zoo, with possibilities to handle small animals, participate in special keeper projects, and become a leader to other Teen Wild Guides, as a “Lead TWG”.

There has never been a better time, or more reasons to get involved with the zoo! Come to an informational orientation to pick up an application and learn more! Our website, www.oaklandzoo.org, has a list of upcoming orientation dates. Orientations will be held in the Maddie’s Center for Science and Education, Classroom #1. Alternatively, you may visit our website at www.oaklandzoo.org for a downloadable application.