Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Happy NEW YEAR From the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden!
Year-End Wrap Up:
We would love to hear from you about your Volunteer Experience in 2025. For the next month we will have a survey available for all active volunteers so that we can hear your voice. Click on the link below to complete the survey.
Click Here for the Volunteer Program Evaluation Survey
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Logged Hour Recognitions
In 2025, our volunteers went above and beyond, logging an impressive 106,668 hours!
374 of you logged over 100 hours this year alone—nearly 2.5 times more volunteers than last year hitting this level of dedication! THANK YOU!!!
Years of Service Recognitions
We are incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing group of dedicated and dependable volunteers! This year, we’re thrilled to honor 39 exceptional individuals who are celebrating milestone anniversaries.
From those reaching their FIVE to FORTY-YEAR marks, each milestone is a testament to your passion and commitment to making a difference.
Was your name listed above? We would love to recognize your service with a small token of our appreciation… Recognition Pins! If you would like to receive your pin, please fill out the request form below.
Click Here to Request Your Recognition Pin
*If you feel that there has been an error in the logged hours or years of service calculations, please complete the form and write a note in the additional comments field at the bottom of the form.
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2026 ANNUAL ANIMAL AREA COMPLIANCE TRAINING
This annual training is required for all staff and volunteers in animal areas. It includes watching training videos and completing a quick quiz. We will be sending out an email to all those who are required to renew this training. (Volunteers who have completed this online training as of October 1, 2025, will not be asked to renew the training until 2027.) Please keep an eye out for your reminder email!
For those looking to get a head start, these trainings are available in the Better Impact volunteer management system under your Opportunity List: Animal Area Volunteers_Required Trainings, “Yearly Compliance Trainings for Volunteers in Animal Areas”.
(Click here for a tutorial on accessing the training.)
Thank you for everyone’s cooperation in keeping our Zoo safe for Humans and Animals alike!
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January Pins Have Arrived!
Employee Pin Sale Times: Sunday/Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 8:00AM-9:00 AM
New employee pins will release during the first Employee Pin sale day of the month.
Reminder: If you come in during a time outside of the employee pin sale times to purchase the exclusive pins, it will only be possible at the discretion of the gift shop management team. Exclusive pins are kept off the sales floor during normal operating hours so those sales cannot take place outside of employee pin sale times if the store is busy (as will often occur during the weekend and during evening events). Thank you for your understanding!
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Volunteer Program Reminders
In 2025, we noticed some confusion around program policies, procedures, and scheduling. To ensure everyone has the same clear information, please review the reminders below. These are important expectations for all volunteers.
Program Protocols & Policies
Parking
- Volunteer parking is available in the Dury Parking Lot.
- White cones in the first lane designate preferred volunteer spaces.
- During busy seasons, cone spaces may be limited. Please reserve these for volunteers who need closer access.
- Replace the cone when you leave so it’s available for afternoon volunteers.
- If Dury parking is full, you may park in any external Zoo lot.
- Your prox card provides free access.
- If the gate does not open, press the help button, identify yourself as a volunteer, and provide your name. Then email the volunteer office so Public Safety can update your card if needed.
- Some roles have assigned parking locations on or off Zoo grounds. These spaces may only be used while working those specific shifts.
- When visiting the Zoo as a guest, please park in the Vine Street or Euclid Lots.
Entry
- When volunteering, enter through the Dury walk-in gate. This ensures accurate accountability in case of an emergency.
- Never bring guests through staff/volunteer entrances.
- Never share your badge with anyone.
- When visiting as a guest, enter through the main Vine Street entrance and show your badge at the ticket window for free admission.
Uniform
- Volunteers must wear their official volunteer shirt during shifts, with their badge clearly visible.
- Some roles have additional uniform requirements. Please confirm with your supervisor or the Volunteer Office if you have questions.
Social Media Policy
- Behind-the-scenes photos may not be shared on social media.
- If you believe a photo is appropriate to share, request approval from your supervisor or the Volunteer Office.
- Do not share sensitive information or anything not officially released by the Zoo.
- Volunteers represent the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on and off grounds, including on social media. Please communicate respectfully and professionally at all times.
Volunteer Benefits
- Free parking
- Free Zoo admission
- Earned complimentary Zoo tickets
- 25 logged volunteer hours = 1 comp ticket
- 50% discount at Zoo restaurants while volunteering
- 25% discount in Zoo shops
- 50% discount on Zoo tickets
- 20% discount on Zoo membership (with a once-a-year opportunity to share with friends and family)
- Annual volunteer celebrations
- Discounts on select Zoo events and lectures
- Bi-monthly Volunteer Update newsletter
Volunteer Program Yearly Schedule
January–February
- Hour and year recognition & pin requests
- Annual compliance training (animal area volunteers)
- Volunteer program survey
March
- Seasonal volunteer roles begin
April
- Volunteer Appreciation Week
- Event details shared in March Volunteer Updates
May–August
- Monthly Volunteer Appreciation After-Hours Events
September
- Reminder to log hours for comp tickets
- Invitation to Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
October
- Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
- Open to all active volunteers who meet minimum hour requirements
- Comp tickets distributed to attendees
- Volunteers unable to attend must submit a request form (linked in the Volunteer Update)
November
- Requested complimentary tickets distributed
- Festival of Lights Volunteer Preview Event
- Recruitment for many volunteer roles begins
December
- Slower month for the Volunteer Office as we celebrate a successful year
FULL Volunteer Program REFRESHER
Has it been a few years since you completed New Volunteer Orientation? Feeling a little unsure about the perks, expectations, protocols, or procedures? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!
You can revisit all the information from the New Volunteer Orientation right in our volunteer management system, Better Impact. Whether you want to refresh your memory on the entire orientation or just focus on specific areas, it’s all at your fingertips.
Follow the instructions below to check it out and get back up to speed!
How to Review Virtual Orientation
- Log in to your account and click My Profile in the top-right corner.
- From the dropdown menu, select Training.
- In the new window, find “New Volunteer Orientation” and click Take to begin.
Need help? Watch this video tutorial on accessing the Virtual Orientation.
Zoo Updates
From Our Animal Leadership Team:
“In a milestone year marking our organization’s 150th anniversary, we achieved some truly significant accomplishments:
- We opened new, expansive habitats rooted in animal wellbeing, including Siamang Point, Bear Ridge, Sea Otter Coast, and a new large primate habitat in Jungle Trails.
- We welcomed new animal residents into these and other spaces and supported their successful transitions through the expertise of our animal care staff and comprehensive behavior and welfare monitoring. New residents included demoiselle cranes, red river hogs, Southern sea otters, bat-eared foxes, black beauty stick insects, common murres, babirusa, gray kangaroos, and more.
- Our new CT machine significantly elevated our animal health program, while our broader animal team continued to conduct research and leverage new technologies to improve care and conservation outcomes for many species.
- Our ambassador animal teams and Wild Encounters facilitated more than 1.9 million special visitor experiences with ambassador animals.
- We advanced local species conservation efforts – from expanding American burying beetle recovery work to rescuing our first cohort of Eastern box turtles.
- We passed our AZA accreditation inspection with flying colors, affirming the high standards of excellence that should make us all proud.”
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THE NATURE OF HOPE – A Message from Thane
I guess it’s come to this. One last shot at the buzzer. And the topic is hope.
I have been in the conservation field for 50 years and have seen a lot of changes.
Those big laws that came out of the 70s cleaned our rivers and saved the eagles and wolves. And I have seen the public’s interest and awareness in protecting nature steadily grow.
Of course, we have more than twice as many people as 50 years ago, so resources get scarcer by the day. But I think most challenging is the now constant barrage of bad news.
At the turn of the Century, Jane Goodall and I worked on a book together called Hope for Animals and Their World about dozens of scientists who refused to take no for an answer. They saved condors, ferrets, Mauritius kestrels and dozens of other species that everyone else had given up on. Our book grew out of our concern that people were losing hope in the future. Of course, all they were getting was news from the newspaper then. Today it is impossible to avoid the headlines. I hear stories all the time about doom scrolling, people believing that we are in a death spiral, and that climate grief has people frozen in place with no future in sight.
At the Cincinnati Zoo, we have long committed to providing a hopeful message about wildlife and the future. Rather than despair, we are purveyors of ‘Hope + Action’ as the way forward. Not as a theory, but in practice every day.
The Cincinnati Zoo has 300 employees and a remarkable Board of Trustees and Foundation Board that ensure the zoo thrives. More than 1000 people are directly involved as volunteers at the Cincinnati Zoo helping encourage others to get involved. Over 300 Zoo Teens work here throughout the year. 50 urban students attend the Zoo Academy high school. Over 100 adults receive masters degrees annually through the Cincinnati Zoo and Miami University, and we have 50+ college interns/co-ops, as well as 19 Americorps volunteers. And more than 500 adult volunteers do everything from inspiring visitors to building enrichment items for animals.
These practical participatory programs won’t save the world by themselves, but we believe ‘Hope + Action’ beats despair anytime. So, in closing, I’ll leave you with a favorite verse from the poet of Kentucky, Wendell Berry, who says it best.
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Thank you for giving me a life worth telling stories about.
Thane
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THE POWER OF TEAMWORK – A Message from Dave
As we wrap up another remarkable year at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate everything you have helped make possible.
From our Board, to our leadership team, to our community, and to our followers around the world, the message is the same: what this Zoo accomplishes year after year is extraordinary. And that is because of you.
As I prepare to transition to Zoo Director in the coming weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the work we’ve accomplished together. We’ve built an amazing team and a culture of care, creativity, collaboration, and resilience – one that empowers people to do their best work and invites guests to feel connected to something meaningful.
Thank you for everything you bring to this Zoo and to each other. It is an honor to work with you, and I’m excited for all we will continue to accomplish together in the year ahead.
With gratitude,
Dave
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Watch OUT for the ZooTeen Program at CZBG LEADING THE WAY in 2026!
More than 300 teens benefited from our ZooTeen program in 2025. This program nurtures curiosity, courage, leadership, and care for the living world. The goal is to develop whole humans who are ready to steward both nature and their communities. Teens come for animals and conservation, but they leave with confidence, leadership skills, belonging, and a clearer sense of who they are and what they care about. Watch the video to learn more about how Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is investing in the next generation of conservation leaders.
ZooTeen Applications are currently open! If there is a Teen in your life that might be interested, encourage them to check out the program and apply – Volunteer | Cincinnati Zoo
Plant & Animal Updates
2025 Horticulture Highlights!!
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s horticulture and local conservation teams were busy this year.
In addition to planting 120,000 tulips and 60,000 annuals on site at the Zoo, the Horticulture Team completed landscaping for Elephant Trek, Bear Ridge, New World Primates, and other new habitats. They also stepped off grounds on many occasions to plant community gardens, maintain existing gardens, and host native plant sales.
Read the comprehensive 2025 Horticulture Highlights Report (by Associate Director of Horticulture Jerome Stenger) or see the condensed-but-still-impressive summary by clicking the article below.
“From our green hort hearts to yours, thanks for your love and support in 2025. Doing what we do is a privilege (sans snow removal), but we couldn’t do it without the support of everyone at this special organization. Thank you and Happy Holidays from Horticulture.”
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Look for a New Face in Cat Canyon!
Arya, an 11-year-old female Malayan tiger, arrived from the ABQ BioPark last week and explored her outdoor habitat for the first time this morning. She is still getting acclimated to her new environment, so she may not be visible all the time.
Arya was at the BioPark on a breeding recommendation from the Malayan tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP), but a medical issue made it necessary to remove her uterus. As she is no longer able to contribute to the critically endangered Malayan tiger population, the SSP recommended the move to Cincinnati. We are thrilled to have her. With conservation breeding of this rare species as a top priority, the SSP is working to identify a female mate for Triton, the male tiger at ABQ BioPark.
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Turtles and Teamwork: A New Home for Box Turtles
In this episode, we spotlight a conservation partnership between the Cincinnati Zoo and the Ohio Division of Wildlife to rescue and rehome native box turtles found in a demolition site. Learn how these turtles are being cared for—and why protecting local species matters.
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MBOKA JO UPDATE
Mboka Jo is 3-months-old and starting to teeth. He’s exploring everything with his mouth these days.
Click above to see the lil’ cutie in action!
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Guess Who’s Thirty-Five!
Please wish Henry a Happy 35th Birthday (January 1)!
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Kevin in Action!
Kevin is a 1 ½-year-old male that was stranded as a pup and was deemed non-releasable by the USFWS. We are honored to be working with the Sea Otter Recovery Program (SORP) to provide a forever home for Southern sea otters that can’t be returned to their native waters.
Conservation Corner
How CREW Grows Endangered Plants from the Ground Up
“In 2025, scientists at CREW mass-propagated the Kentucky clover for restoration in their native habitat. Plants were propagated onto rooting media in February 2025, acclimatized in CREW’s greenhouse, then sent to Bowyer Farm, where they were repotted and cared for until the outplanting in April 2025. In just two months, CREW produced almost 1,000 Kentucky Clover plants that were strong enough to survive an outplanting in the wild. At CREW, we are always “rooting” for a brighter and greener future!”
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Cincinnati Zoo Scientists Collaborate with Zoos Around the World for Cat Conservation
Through its Imperiled Cat Signature Project, CREW has developed innovative assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that have advanced our ability to produce offspring in a multitude of wild cat species. These include improved semen freezing methods that lead to more viable sperm after thawing, as well as species-specific artificial insemination (AI) protocols tailored to meet the unique needs of each felid.
We are honored to be able to collaborate with our fellow zoos and aquariums to advance wild cat ART and look forward to another year of reproduction research and feline conservation in 2026.
Sustainability Stories
Daisy Sticksel Conservation 2025 Award Winner
“Plant for Pollinators” is a program of CZBG that was launched in 2019 as a public engagement campaign designed to increase pollinator habitat in the greater Cincinnati area. The goal was to register at least 500 pollinator gardens annually, and as of this year, the program has more than 4,000 gardens spread throughout the region! The program makes it easy for gardeners to help pollinators — from plentiful web resources and an annual of sale of pollinator kits, to simple requirements.
Part of the beauty of “Plant for Pollinators,” and one reason it won the Daisy Sticksel award, is that participants don’t need to create a large, new garden; as long as they use one pollinator plant and one nectar plant, their “garden” can be as simple as a window box! The message that every little bit helps, and even a small garden can have a positive impact on the environment, resonated with us at OAGC, and made for a clear choice this year. Congratulations to the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Plant for Pollinators” program on winning the 2025 Daisy Sticksel Conservation Award!
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ServeOhio Spotlights AmeriCorps Member – Annabel Stanley 🌿
Second Year AmeriCorps Member Annabel Stanley has been spotlighted by ServeOhio this month. Annabel is currently serving in the AmeriCorps Urban Forestry role in Horticulture, but started as an Education Member last year. She has taken so much initiative this year in leadership roles and helping to bring this current cohort together!
“Annabel Stanley is growing more than trees in Cincinnati—she’s growing community, resilience, and opportunity. As an Urban Forestry AmeriCorps Member with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Zoo Unto Others program, Annabel is helping expand the tree canopy in underserved neighborhoods and inspiring youth to connect with nature.
One of her most impactful moments? Helping elementary students at a behavioral health school plant a sensory garden—an experience that blended environmental education with emotional healing.
Annabel’s service is shaping her future, too—she plans to become an adolescent therapist focused on youth without access to private therapy.” Check out the link to read more about Annabel’s AmeriCorps Journey→ CLICK HERE
Honoring the Light Chip Brought to Our Zoo
A message from Brittany:
We are deeply saddened to share the loss of one of our beloved volunteers, Chip Fast, who passed away during the holiday season. Chip dedicated nearly 20 years of service to the Zoo, contributing over 1,200 volunteer hours as a Volunteer Educator and later as a Habitat Ambassador, following the program as it evolved and always remaining a positive, steady presence.
Chip was a truly special human being. He had a rare ability to make everyone feel seen, valued, and inspired. When Chip entered a space, he brought light with him—and that light stayed with you long after he left. He touched the hearts of visitors, volunteers, and staff alike, leaving lasting impressions through his kindness, curiosity, and genuine care for people and wildlife.
Chip was deeply loved, and his absence will be felt throughout our Zoo family. He leaves behind footprints on all of us, and his legacy will continue in the connections he created and the joy he shared so freely.
Click Here to see the Obituary
On a personal note, Chip meant a great deal to me. One of the moments I will miss most is hearing him quietly sneak up to my desk and greet me with a warm, familiar, “Hey, kid.” It was such a small thing, but it perfectly captured who Chip was—thoughtful, kind, and always finding ways to make people feel special.
I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity, along with a few fellow volunteers, to visit Chip recently and spend time with him reflecting on his years at the Zoo. Hearing him share stories and memories of a place he loved so deeply was a meaningful experience—one that clearly brought him joy. What I don’t think Chip ever fully realized is just how much of an impact he had in return, and how profoundly he shaped my own experience, perspective, and heart.
He will always be remembered, deeply missed, and forever a part of this program and all of us who were lucky enough to know him.
-Brittany Garera-Stapleton, Volunteer Program Manager
Did You Know?
There is still time to catch the Festival of Lights…
PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo shines bright through January 4! ✨
Or join us for the AFTER GLOW!
January 9, 2026
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Bundle up and enjoy the glow of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s spectacular lights display post-holiday! On Friday, January 9, 2026, we’re keeping the lights on for one last adults-only (18+) evening at After Glow: Adults-Only Night at the Zoo.
In Case You Missed It
**UPDATE** Carol Trosset’s Natural Lecture Series 2026 Dates
Carol’s monthly Natural History Lecture Series for volunteers will continue in 2026! Below you will find a list of the scheduled lectures from January to July.
If you would like to attend, please sign up in Better Impact. *E-mails are sent to everyone who signs up with instructions on where to park and where to meet the day before the lecture.
- Tues., JANUARY 13, 2026 – Animals in Winter – How do animals survive the winter? We will examine different survival strategies.
- Tues., FEBRUARY 10, 2026 – The Zoo’s Local Conservation Programs – Guest Speaker: Mollie O’Neil
- Fri., MARCH 13, 2026 – Cat-like Carnivores
- APRIL 2026 (Two Dates TBD) – Wildflower Walks at Gorman Heritage Farm
- Tues. & Fri., May 5 & 8, 2026 – Bird Walks at Spring Grove
- Fri., June 12, 2026 – Ancient and Modern Elephants
- Fri., July 10, 2026 – Primates
Did you miss one of the 2025 Lectures? Links to all the previous slide presentations can now be found on the Better Impact Page under the Files section.
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TRAVEL WITH THE ZOO IN 2026!
The Cincinnati Zoo is offering some exceptional travel experiences in 2026, each connecting travelers with wildlife, conservation, and unforgettable landscapes!
Come travel with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! We have been taking folks around the globe since 1964. Our trips are adventurous, educational, and fun. All our tours are escorted by zoo naturalists who are knowledgeable, friendly, and well-traveled. Our trips create real-life connections with like-minded travelers. Come join us today on our next exciting adventure!
Questions? Please contact Christina Anderson at 513-487-3318 or [email protected]
- *SOLD OUT* MEXICO: Monarch Migration (Feb. 10 – 16, 2026)
- Led by Brian Jorg, Horticulture Manager
- *ONLY FIVE SPOTS REMAINING* CUBA: Bird Watching (Feb. 22 – Mar. 1, 2026)
- Led by David Orban, Director, Animal Science and Strategy
- Experience Cuba’s vibrant ecosystems, wildlife, and the Zoo’s conservation partnerships
- *BRAND NEW DESTINATION* BRAZIL: (Sept. 5 – 18, 2026)
- Led by Mollie O’Neil, Director of Community Partnerships in Conservation
- Explore Brazil’s extraordinary biodiversity, lush habitats, and remarkable wildlife encounters. You will get to see firsthand our Conservation Impact partners
- *ONLY FOUR SPOTS REMAINING* PATAGONIA: (Feb. 18 – 28, 2027)
- Led by Mark Fisher, COO CZBG
- Expedition through the dramatic landscapes and wildlife of Patagonia.
- This fan-favorite trip fills quickly—only four spots remain.
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UPCOMING ZOO EVENTS:
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| November 20th, 2025 – January 4th, 2026 | PNC Festival of Lights | 4:00pm+ |
| Friday, January 9, 2026 | PNC FOL After Glow | 5:00-10:00pm |
| February 4 – March 4, 2026 | Landscaping for the Homeowner | 7:00-9:00pm |
| March 18 – April 29, 2026 | Barrows Conservation Lectures | 7:00pm |
| Thursdays in April 2026 | Tunes & Blooms | 6:00-8:30pm |
| Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Easter Celebration | 12:00-5:00pm |
| Thursday, May 7, 2026 | Bourbon Flights | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Friday, June 26, 2026 | Zoo La La | 7:30-11:00pm |
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 | Wild About Wine | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Thursday, October 1, 2026 | Zoo Brew | 7:00-10:00pm |
DAD-JOKE ZONE, Horticulture Edition:
