Be a Docent!

Click here to apply online using our earth friendly paperless application.

Docent is a Latin word for "teacher," and members of the Docent Council at Utah's Hogle Zoo are deeply committed to teaching the community about animals and conservation. Docents are age 14 and over - students, parents, retirees, businessmen, and animal lovers - who can commit to volunteering 8-hours per month.

Docents can be found throughout the community, doing educational presentations in schools, senior citizens centers, scout groups, and civic organizations. Docents also assist with the Zoo's on-site classes, and can be found around the grounds on animal Walk-n-Talks.

Docents age 14 and up who are not animal handling trained work on-site at the Zoo, interacting with the public. Acting as an "interpreter" for the animals, we use items such as footprints, bones, hides, feathers, nests, and other animal artifacts to give our guests an up-close and educational experience. They can be found throughout the Zoo, doing informal, impromptu presentations. They also help with Zoo special events, and assist with enrichment projects.

Docents ages 14-17 may also assist the animal care staff with animal husbandry duties, including washing windows, cleaning ponds, preparing food, making enrichment items, shoveling and raking before interacting with the public on Zoo grounds. These volunteers are asked to volunteer one shift per week in the summer and one weekend per month throughout the rest of the year.

After a year of service, Docents may also qualify to take our animal handling training to use small animals (including snakes, rabbits, spiders, owls, salamanders, kookaburras, armadillos) from our education collection in their presentations.

Docents are trained in the spring and fall. Training consists of 4 days of class.

Animal handling training requires an additional 4 days of class after a year of service as well as additional animal husbandry and handling training. Once trained, Docents sign up for presentations and shifts according to their own availability.

All volunteers at Utah's Hogle Zoo must submit verification of a negative annual tuberculosis skin test as well as attend all required training sessions. Dues and enrollment fees are also applicable.

For more information or to receive a volunteer application, contact Makayla Barrandey at (801) 582-1631 ext. 737.