Teenagers Encouraged To Bring Their Friends And Volunteer At Toledo Zoo

By Andi Norman

Toledo, OH - The application deadline for The Toledo Zoo’s ZOOTeen Program has been extended to March 31! The ZOOTeen Program is open to all young people age 13 – 17 with an interest in animals, nature, education, conservation, and/or community service. ZOOTeens commit to volunteering for the summer, but they also have the option of participating year-round if they wish.

ZOOTeens staff educational information stations around the Zoo, assist in the upcoming Nature’s Neighborhood exhibit, make enrichment for the animals and support Summer Camps. In addition, ZOOTeens are active in the community, supporting a wide variety of organizations such as the Metroparks, the Toledo Area Humane Society, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Housing East Redevelopment Corp., The Nature Conservancy, Partners for Clean Streams, and many more.

According to Bill Davis, the Zoo’s Volunteer Coordinator, “we extended the deadline because we continue to receive phone calls, not only from individual parents and teens seeking application information, but from schools as well, requesting classroom presentations highlighting the ZOOTeen Program and the importance of community service. Our goal is to accommodate as many of these requests as possible and make sure that as many teens as possible have the opportunity to volunteer this summer and positively impact their community.”

The Toledo Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located on the Anthony Wayne Trail (US 25), four miles south of downtown Toledo. For more information, please visit www.toledozoo.org or call (419) 385-4040. Lucas County residents are admitted free of charge each Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. ID showing proof of residency is required.

The Toledo Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.