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Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley, 25 West 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, 610-807-0336, vc@volunteerlv.org
Opportunity Details
Docent
Docents are an integral part of the organization. These are long term volunteer positions who act as informal teachers for the public and assist the zoo in connecting our guests with our mission. This may be done through interpreting exhibits across the zoo, assisting with interactive exhibits, and working alongside our education team. A passion for educating others about animals, conservation, and our zoo is a must!
Basic Duties
Responsibilities include staffing our interactive experiences, such as our giraffe feed and lorikeet aviary, roving the zoo and assisting guests, showcasing biofacts, and ultimately using exceptional interpretation skills to educate and inspire guests in the field of wildlife conservation.
Volunteering as a Docent involves walking throughout the zoo grounds, standing for long periods of time, working outdoors in various types of weather conditions, and other physical tasks appropriate to the event or activity. This position involves a high degree of guest interaction and you must be comfortable speaking to small and large groups of people of all ages.
* Docent positions are long-term positions that are limited in availability and may not be a good fit for all potential volunteers. A mandatory orientation and training period is required for any accepted applicants.*
Restrictions/Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- A minimum commitment of one year of service equaling at least 70 hours is expected
- Must complete background check process if 18 years or older and not currently enrolled in a higher education degree program.
- Must display careful attention to detail, public speaking and communication skills, ability to follow directions and conduct themself in a respectful and responsible manner, and overall be an excellent role model for other volunteers and guests.
Time Requirements
Minimum of one day per week requirement, especially during Spring/Summer season.
Training
Accepted applicants must complete a mandatory orientation with the Docent Coordinator to review zoo history, policies, and safety. A thorough training period led by an education department staff member in which the trainee is taught to effectively interpret exhibits, run interactive exhibits, handle biofacts, and spread conservation messaging followed by an evaluation of these skills is then required before the applicant is considered a docent. Finally, periodic ongoing training for new opportunities or review sessions for skills already learned may be required to maintain docent status.
Uniform
- Docent name tag
- Docent T-shirt
- Close-toed sneakers or work boots
- Neutral colored pants or shorts that reach longer than the volunteer’s fingertips (no jeans)
- Any additional hats or sweatshirts worn cannot bear any logo besides the Lehigh Valley Zoo logo
Supervisor
- Savannah Tabor, Docent Coordinator
- Zoo Ambassador on Duty
Animals
Animals, Families, Visitors & Travelers, Children and Youth
Age Minimum (with Adult): 18+, Minimum Age:18+
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