Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Vote now for Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden!
https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/cincinnati-zoo-botanical-garden-cincinnati-ohio/
Please help by voting once per day for the next two weeks.
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NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK (Pretty Please) 🙂
Help US, inform YOU, the way YOU prefer!
Your answers are all anonymous.
Responses will be collected through March 1.
2026 NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK FORM – Please click here to share your opinions
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URGENT *20 MORE Volunteers Needed* @ CHEETAH RUN – Sun., March 22
After a six-year hiatus, Cheetah Run is back!
We’re looking for volunteers to support a variety of important (and fun!) roles, including:
- Water station helpers
- Registration support
- Race guides along the course
There is one shift still available, and we are still looking for an additional 20 volunteers. If you’re interested, please sign up in Better Impact as soon as possible.
Starting next Monday, I’ll send a follow-up email to everyone who signs up to collect your shirt size, since all volunteers will receive a Cheetah Run volunteer shirt.
Not available to volunteer but still want to be part of the fun? You can learn more about the race or register to run here: https://cincinnatizoo.org/events/cheetah-run-5k/
Thanks for helping us bring this exciting event back—we can’t wait to see you there!
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Join the Zoo Volunteer Observers (ZVO) Team!
We’re currently looking for dedicated volunteers to serve as Zoo Volunteer Observers (ZVOs) — supporting animal care teams through detailed behavioral observations, including birth watches and behavior monitoring.
ZVOs complete 4-hour shifts (scheduled 24 hours a day) and document important behavior changes through remote and in-person observations.
Current Openings:
• Mondays: Midnight–4:00 AM
• Saturdays: 8:00 PM–Midnight
If you’re detail-oriented, dependable, and excited to contribute behind the scenes to animal care, this could be a great fit for you!
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Volunteer Opportunity: Records Digitization Assistants Needed! (Wise Owls Needn’t Apply)
We’re looking for 2–4 experienced Zoo volunteers (1+ year of service) to help with an important records digitization project. Volunteers will assist with organizing and scanning archived materials — tasks that require attention to detail, reliability, and confidentiality. Flexible weekday shifts are available between 9am and 4pm, with training provided.
Zoo Updates
Cat Colony Keepers: 1 | Unadopted Cats: 0
We are thrilled to announce that all of CREWs adoptable cats have found fur-ever homes! Our final cat, Hermione has found a home. You may now safely talk to a CREW keeper without being asked to adopt a cat (for a limited time only). Thank you to everyone around the zoo for sharing the word about our cat adoption program. And extra thanks to everyone who has taken a CREW cat themselves.
Do not be dismayed if you might be looking for a cat in the near future. We are expecting to have quite a few really amazing cats retiring in the next few months!
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WLWT Cincinnati Zoo welcomes penguin chicks, announces giraffe tower and wolf habitat
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Entering the Lottery – Incoming Juniors
The new lottery has opened for the incoming Zoo Academy juniors for next year! Find more information and fill out the lottery form for those who will be full 11th graders in August at the button below.
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Summer Camp 2026 REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
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ZOO TALES: Turning Passion into Purpose with the Advanced Inquiry Program
In this episode, we spotlight the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) — a unique online master’s degree offered through Miami University and and Project Dragonfly in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Designed for working professionals, the AIP blends web-based coursework with experiential learning at the Zoo, empowering students to lead environmental and community change through inquiry-driven projects and real-world collaboration.
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New African Penguin Chicks Spark Hope for Species
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Toast TO The Wild Tickets ON SALE NOW!
Our Toast to the Wild tickets are on sale now! Toast to the Wild is presented by Cavalier Distributing. Tickets are on sale for Bourbon Flights May 7, Wild About Wine Aug. 6th and Zoo Brew Oct. 1. These events sell out quickly so get yours before they’re gone. https://cincinnatizoo.org/events/
Plant & Animal Updates
Theodore Roosevelt Joins the Cat Ambassador Program
We are so excited to announce the arrival of a serval kitten from Nashville Zoo! The new kitten, named Theodore Roosevelt (Teddy for short!) was born on October 26, 2025. His parents are both named after important historical figures (Cleopatra and Winston Churchill), so the Nashville team wanted to continue the fun with the kitten names. Teddy’s brother, Alexander Hamilton, will stay with the Nashville Zoo’s ambassador team. Teddy and his brother are weaned and ready to separate from mom, so Teddy has come to the Cincinnati Zoo to start his life as an ambassador!
Servals are known for their incredible sense of hearing- Teddy has adorably large ears! They are also great jumpers, leaping about 5 times the length of their body straight up into the air to catch birds, which are one of their favorite food items. Servals are tall cats and their long legs are great for reaching down into burrow holes to catch rodents, which are another tasty snack for them.
For more details, please click below:
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Rockdale Urban Learning Garden – What’s Going on in the Garden?
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IT’S MARSHMALLOW!
Click below to watch our lil’ stinker: 🙂
This is Marshmallow. Marshmallow was delivered c-section & had to be separated from his momma at birth. He has been cared for by the good folk here @ CZBG & as you can see is doing quite well.
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Who’s Excited for Warm Weather? These Guys!
The little blue penguins were excited for the warm weather and chance to go out to the beach, please click below:
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Mass Manatee Release Includes Three Former Cincinnati Zoo Residents
Manatees Lilypad, Vora, and Orchid, who were rehabilitated at the Cincinnati Zoo, have been returned to their native Florida waters this week — a powerful example of conservation in action. Learn more
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Having Some Clam Fun!
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Flounder, the Asian small-clawed otter, snacking on shrimp 
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Asian small-clawed otters are opportunistic feeders with a varied diet. They primarily enjoy aquatic prey, such as crustaceans, mollusks, fish, insects, and small amphibians.
They are skilled hunters and often work in groups to find and catch food, using their dexterous paws to break open shells or catch slippery fish.
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JUNO Knows How to Enjoy A Sunday
A lazy Sunday morning with Juno the two-toed sloth.
Sloths aren’t ctually lazy—they’re just masters of energy conservation! Their slow movements and long resting periods are adaptations to their low-energy diet and need to conserve energy in their natural habitat. So while they might seem lazy to us, they’re just perfectly suited to their environment.
Conservation Corner
2026 Barrows Conservation Series Features an Exciting Lineup
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EVERY PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Saving MOUNTAIN GUARDIANS in Nepal
Meet the Hero Behind Award Winning Film Snow Leopard Sisters
The Snow Leopard Conservancy is proud to be the impact partner for the feature length documentary, Snow Leopard Sisters, highlighting the work of our longstanding local partner Tshiring Lhamu Lama and her ground-breaking conservation efforts to preserve the snow leopard population in her home district of Dolpo, Nepal.
We are working together to reduce retaliatory killings through local education programming, construction of predator-proof corrals, and establishing a green local economy enmeshed with snow leopard conservation.
Community engagement is critical in snow leopard conservation. Local leaders, Tshiring Lhamu Lama, and our partner organization, Snow Leopard Conservancy, discuss further.
Please help spread the word! If you’d like to financially contribute to the campaign, please click here.
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2026 Coexistence Webinar Series Recap
This webinar series is a chance for Zoo staff and volunteers to learn the conservation stories of our partners that we support with your help. Join us to hear about them, ask some questions, and potentially find new ways to offer support. We hope that you can share what you learn with our visitors and help us grow the good work happening around the world. Access through the link in MyImpact!
Bahamians, Birds, & Botany – Dr. T’Noya Thompson
- Thursday, February 26, 2026 12pm – 1pm
HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US TO LEARN MORE!
Did You Know?
The Zoo Offers Winter Discount Days! Enjoy discounted admission from January 5 – March 1, 2026.
In Case You Missed It
Annual Compliance Trainings are Due!
If you are volunteering in an animal area, it is time for our yearly compliance trainings. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THIS TASK! For those of you who have not, be on the lookout in your inbox for a REMINDER e-mail about the compliance trainings. All trainings will be in the Better Impact system. These will need to be completed by the END OF FEBRUARY to be compliant.
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*VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY* SEWING FOR SUSTAINABILITY – March 13!
The AmeriCorps Members are hosting their fourth (& free!) annual pop-up thrift shop at the zoo on Friday, March 13th (details below)! This year, free sewing kits will be offered, as well as an ONSITE MENDING STATION. We are hoping to breathe some new life into old favorite pieces and maybe even inspire thrift-shoppers to take up a new skill. If you are passionate about keeping our environment (and our clothing) looking its best, consider sharing your time and talent on the mending station repair team!
Shifts are one hour, though you are welcome to signup for more than one, and all materials will be provided. The only thing you need to bring is your expertise! Along with repairs, we will also be trimming unusable uniforms into cleaning rags for the Parks Services team.
Please reach out to Emma or respond to your newsletter email with any questions about the event.
Clothes COLLECTED until March 6th – See Below For Drop Off Details.
- Zoo Uniform Collection – Bring your unusable uniforms to be recycled through Sew Valley. Click this link Zero Waste — Sew Valley to learn more about how your old uniforms will be given a new life!
- Zoo Uniform Swap – Bring your gently used uniforms to exchange with your coworkers and grab some new-to-you items for your uniform wardrobe!
- Mending Education Station – Learn how to extend the life of your clothes and take home some educational resources to jump start your mending journey!
Need some inspiration to buy second hand?:
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY* ZERO-WASTE Volunteer Team Forming
If you’re passionate about sustainability, love hands-on projects, or just want to make a real difference, consider joining our new volunteer group! As part of this new team, you might:
- Help staff a table at small Zero Waste events where guests bring hard-to-recycle items
- Assist with sorting materials in the Recycling & Reuse Garage once a month
- Roll up your sleeves for some hands-on impact, helping sort materials from smaller events (with gloves and guidance) to make sure everything ends up in the right place
- Support new and creative waste-reduction initiatives across the Zoo
Please complete the form below to let us know you’d like to learn more:
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE INTEREST FORM
Once we build a strong, dedicated volunteer team around this effort, there’s real potential to expand Zero Waste initiatives even further—more events, more materials diverted, and an even bigger impact for wildlife and wild places.
~Come JOIN US and let’s MAKE A DIFFERENCE!~
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CAREER EXPLORATION PANEL “MAKING A SPLASH IN THE AQUATIC SCIENCES” – Sun., Feb. 22
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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.
- 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
- Tues., August 18, 2026 – TBD
- Tues., September 8, 2026 – TBD
- Tues., October 20, 2026 – TBD
- Tues., November 10, 2026 – TBD
- Fri., December 11, 2026 – TBD
*Review the PowerPoint presentations from the previous 2026 lectures below
- Tuesday January 13, 2026 – Animals in Winter
- Tues., FEBRUARY 10, 2026 – The Zoo’s Local Conservation Programs – Guest Speaker: Mollie O’Neil
- No documents will be shared from guest speakers
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 NEXT YEAR IN 2027!
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]
- 2027 MEXICO (Date TBD)
- Join Mollie O’Neil and experience this annual fan favorite
- 2027 CUBA (Date TBD)
- Join David Orban and experience Cuba’s vibrant ecosystems, wildlife, and the Zoo’s conservation partnerships.
- 2027 GALAPAGOS (Jun. 28 – Jul. 7, 2027) *Registration available in March
- Escorted by Dr. Mike Wenninger – registration available Spring 2026 (also a pre Machu Picchu trip available). Trip details TBD
- 2027 AFRICAN SAFARI (Details TBD)
- 2027 BRAZIL (Details TBD)
- Launching for the first time in the Zoo’s travel program, come join Lily Maynard and explore Brazil’s extraordinary biodiversity, lush habitats, and remarkable wildlife encounters. You will get to see firsthand our Conservation Impact partners.
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2026 ZOO EVENTS:
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| February 4 – March 4, 2026 | Landscaping for the Homeowner | 7:00-9:00pm |
| March 18 – April 29, 2026 | Barrows Conservation Lectures | 7:00pm |
| Thursday, March 19, 2026 | Sustainable Urban Landscapes Symposium | 8:50am-5:00pm |
| Sunday, March 22, 2026 | Cheetah Run 5K | 8:00am |
| April 1 – 30, 2026 | Zoo Blooms | 10:00am-5:00pm |
| Thursdays in April 2026 | Tunes & Blooms | 6:00-8:30pm |
| Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Easter Celebration | 12:00-5:00pm |
| Friday, April 10, 2026 | Zootanical | 5:30pm-9:00pm |
| April 18, May 2 and May 16 | Native Plant Sale at Bowyer | 9:00am-1:00pm |
| Thursday, May 7, 2026 | Bourbon Flights | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Monday, May 11, 2026 | Zoo Golf | TBD |
| Friday, June 26, 2026 | Zoo La La | 7:30-11:00pm |
| Monday, July 6, 2026 | Reds Day at the Zoo | 11:00am-12:00pm |
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 | Wild About Wine | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Thursday, August 27, 2026 | Plant Trials Symposium | 8:50am-5:00pm |
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | ZOOFARI | 7:00pm-11:00pm |
| Thursday, October 1, 2026 | Zoo Brew | 7:00-10:00pm |
| October 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 and 31- Nov 1 | HallZOOween | 12:00pm-5:00pm |
| Saturday, November 21, 2026 | Native Plant Symposium | 8:50am-4:00pm |
DAD-JOKE ZONE, CLASSIC Edition:
What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?
