Needs From: United Way of Rhode Island

To apply for this volunteer opportunity, please email your application to volunteer@rwpzoo.org

Play Partner volunteers facilitate and support children’s free play at Hasbro’s Big Backyard at the Roger Williams Park Zoo. In this space, Play Partners helps families create memories through outdoor play experiences that connect them to the natural world. This position doesn’t work with the handling or care of animals. Our Big Backyard includes a raven habitat and native animals that are regularly seen such as songbirds, chipmunks, and pollinating insects. This volunteer opportunity is a great way to grow skills and experience with play-based early childhood education and to explore the introduction of environmental education at the developmental level with infants through elementary ages.

Essential Position Functions:

1. Deliver developmentally appropriate play-based activities and monitor Play Stations:

• Indoor: Nature Swap (requires computer use) and Activity Room.

• Outdoor: Drip Drop Water Garden Play Station, Creativity Corner Play Station, Sticks and Stones Building Zone Station, Beyond the Fence Play Area, and the Treehouse.

2. Assist in the supervision and safe play of children and zoo patrons.

3. Appropriately communicate and liaise with zoo staff and patrons of all ages.

4. Assist with the upkeep of resources.

Requirements:

1. Must be at least 16 years old as of April 1 st . Age verification may be required.

2. Ability to pass a background check upon selection as a Play Partner (applicants 18 and older only).

3. Attend and participate in a required one-day Play Partner training session (tentatively scheduled as March 12th 12:00PM-5:00PM, March 15 th 10:00AM-3:00PM

a. If under 18 at time of first shift, a parent/guardian must attend the first hour of the volunteer position-specific training session.

4. Participate in general orientation required of all staff and volunteers, which may include in-person and online components.

5. Volunteer for at least 45 hours per season by committing to a 3 hour shift each week.

a. The Play Partner season begins April 1st and concludes Indigenous Peoples’ Day each year.

b. Morning (9:30AM-12:30PM) and afternoon (1:00PM – 4:00PM) shifts are available daily. Volunteers commit to a regular weekly schedule on the same day and at the same time each week. Accommodations can be made for students and persons with transportation needs.

c. The Play Partner season ends Indigenous Peoples’ Day and reopens again in April. In the offseason, shifts are scheduled by staff for special events, or specific needs only.

6. Arrive on time and stay for the entire shift unless prior arrangements have been made with staff supervisor. 7. Ability to be outside, in all weather, for the duration of your shift.

8. High level of comfort speaking with the public, especially children. Comfortable speaking with diverse groups regardless of their ages, personalities, backgrounds, etc.

9. Effectively support the mission and priorities of Roger Williams Park Zoo.

10.Must be committed to creating meaningful connections to nature through play and exploration.

11.Adhere to all policies described in the Roger Williams Park Zoo Volunteer Handbook.

12.Must be willing to engage with children/families, adapt to changing situations, show patience, be positive and enthusiastic about nature/play, and have a willingness to learn new things.

Benefits:

1. Free year-round admission to Roger Williams Park Zoo for yourself.

2. Eight free passes per year to Roger Williams Park Zoo for your friends and family upon completion of your 45-hour yearly service commitment.

3. Opportunities for continuing education and networking.

To apply for this opportunity, please email a completed application to volunteer@rwpzoo.org. 

Roger Williams Park Zoo Docents are frontline volunteers whose primary function is to enhance the visits of our guests through conversational interactions.

1. Seek out opportunities to enhance each guest’s visit and to share and support the Zoo’s mission and messaging, with an emphasis on long-term conservation behavior.

2. Provide opportunities for “profound experiences” – interactions and experiences that create emotional connections to the Zoo and nature.

3. Engage guests at exhibits by focusing on their interests and experiences then guiding the conversation to the appropriate animal-related educational content.

4. Prioritize safety, courtesy, and professionalism.

Essential Position Functions:

1. Provide answers to general Zoo questions, such as directions and daily happenings.

2. Assist guests as necessary, including offering to take family photos, park and straighten strollers.

3. Depending on the chosen assignment(s) and their availability, Docents will be responsible for one or more of the following on any given day:

     a. Greeter: Welcome visitors, answer general guest questions.

     b. Farmyard/Contact Yard: Engage with visitors, provide general animal info (names, boy/girl, etc.), support             Wild Bunch staff in ensuring safe guest use of the area.

     c. Activity Carts: Facilitate educational hands-on activities and games designed to highlight conservation                 and animal care.

     d. Habitat Interpretation: Using storytelling skills to connect guests to the zoo's animals and conservation               programs.

Additional training may be offered based on the needs of the program, and the zoo. After completing one season, pending additional training and end of year evaluations, Docents will have the opportunity to be trained to interpret at other animal habitat locations.

Qualifications:

1. Superior people skills: ability to read and interpret social cues and body language; awareness of own body language and visual cues.

2. Excellent verbal communication skills.

3. Excellent guest service skills; instinct for exceeding guest expectations.

4. Interest/experience in conservation and education.

Requirements:

1. Due to the independent nature of Docent responsibility, must be at least 18 years old by April 1st. Age verification may be required.

2. Ability to pass a background check.

3. If selected for an interview, must be available to interview in-person at the Zoo on January 8, 2025, from 6:00PM-8:00PM or January 11, 2025, from 10:00-12:00PM.

4. If accepted as a Docent Trainee, participate in general orientation required of all staff and volunteers, which may include in-person and online components.

5. Attend in-person Docent training dates hosted at Roger Williams Park Zoo, and complete required on-line training on your own time. In-person training sessions will occur weekly, tentatively on Tuesdays 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18 or, Saturdays 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22. On-line training will run concurrently with in-person training.

6. Demonstrate understanding of trained materials by verifying competency via an evaluation which may include written and observational components.

7. Arrive for shifts on time and stay until their conclusion.

8. Ability to: • move from location to location throughout the Zoo. • be outside in all weather for the duration of your shift. • reliably read and respond to email. • interact with guests of all ages and abilities.

9. Must have access to the internet, either at home, at a shared location (including the Zoo, or local library), or on a mobile device. Internet access is required to receive news updates, sign up for shifts, and complete evaluations.

10.Must be flexible and supportive of the Zoo and its mission.

11.Must adhere to all policies in the Roger Williams Park Zoo Volunteer Handbook.

12.Undergo:

• periodic observations and assessments of performance administered by Roger Williams Park Zoo staff.

• refresher trainings on key components (emergencies, guest interaction, etc.).

• Occasional first-time training as the Zoo adds and changes exhibits.

Benefits:

1. Occasional opportunities to attend continuing education programs.

2. Broad exposure to many facets of Zoo operation.

3. Excellent resume builder for careers focusing on customer service, education, science, conservation, and more.

4. Community service hours for schools, etc.

5. Volunteering in a fun and energetic environment!

6. Free year-round admission to Roger Williams Park Zoo for yourself.

7. Eight free passes per year to Roger Williams Park Zoo to give to friends/family