Asheboro, NC - Experience the magic of volunteering....at the North Carolina Zoo.

Imagine a child coming face-to-face with a baby gorilla or seeing an enormous elephant for the first time. Consider an adult walking through tropical gardens or experiencing the beauty of the Sonora Desert surrounded by cacti.

Magical moments like these happen throughout the zoo every day with the smiling assistance, knowledge and skills of volunteers who greet and educate thousands of visitors annually.

Working with the public not your thing? How about providing care and rehabilitation for an injured or orphaned animal, giving them a second chance at life. That's an opportunity for volunteers working in the zoo's Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Volunteering at the zoo is a commitment that requires dedication, time and effort. But volunteers are an integral part of what makes the N.C. Zoo a wonderful place to visit. Last year, zoo volunteers, unpaid interns and service groups contributed nearly 40,000 hours to the park.

The typical volunteer season is April - October, although some positions are year-round. The zoo is currently seeking individuals, couples, families and friends willing to make a minimum commitment of 90 hours annually serving as exhibit interpreters, wildlife rehabilitators, zoo hosts, retail assistants, gardeners, giraffe deck hosts and more.

Check out the opportunities on the web at www.nczoo.org/volunteer for a detailed listing of job descriptions, time commitments, required skills, etc. There you can also complete an online application to be notified of upcoming training dates.

To learn more about one-day opportunities for service groups, churches, businesses, clubs, fraternities, sororities, ball teams and other groups, please contact the zoo's volunteer coordinator at Toy.Lambeth@NCZoo.org or 336.879.7712.

The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary; Pat McCrory, Governor.

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