Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Still Time To Get Your Uniform Purchased Shipped to CZBG For Free! (3/16-3/30)
Volunteers may receive free shipping on uniform items ordered through the website during a special window in March. A huge thank you to our incredible Purchasing Team for extending this opportunity to our volunteer community — we’re so grateful for their partnership and support!
Free Shipping Window: Now–March 30
Orders placed during this time will be shipped directly to the Zoo (no shipping cost to you!) and will need to be picked up here once they arrive. If you order during the free shipping period, you can expect your items to be available for pick up at the Zoo during the first half of May.
An email was sent on Monday, March 16 with the ordering link and step-by-step instructions to make sure you receive free shipping.
This opportunity is completely optional — just a great chance if your polos are looking a little well-loved or if you’d like to add a new layer to your volunteer gear.
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Sign Up to Volunteer at Bourbon Flights!
Please fill out the Form below if you are interested in Volunteering at the A Toast to the Wild event, Bourbon Flights on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Volunteer Shifts are from 6:30pm-10pm,, you will need to arrive at check in NO LATER than 5:45pm. Below you will find a timeline of the event.
- 5:30 – Pizza!
- 5:45 – Orientation questions and station locations info (and eating more pizza!)
- 6:15 – Head to Stations
- 6:30 – Event Starts
- 9:30 – Last Call
- 9:45 – Pouring Ends
Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer
Zoo News
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Named Best Botanical Garden in the Nation
Click the Link below to Read More:
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Dave’s Cover Story with the Business Courier
Dave Jenike grew up at the zoo. The child of two educators, family vacations were to national parks, and weekend adventures took place at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. It inspired in him a sense of wonder for the natural world. An old family photo shows Sam Jenike holding his 4-year-old son Dave, arm outstretched, feeding a giraffe peanuts at the zoo in 1965.
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Pat Story’s Final Chapter at the Zoo
After 18 amazing years as the Cincinnati Zoo’s Media Productions Manager, Pat Story is putting the lens cap on the camera for final time on June 4. Pat and his wife are beginning a new chapter in Venice, Florida — close to the beach and within walking distance of everything they love.
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Making an Impact for Mexican Wolves
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EdZOOcational Programs at our local community schools!
Do you remember the first time you were able to experience zoo magic? It may have been the first time you visited the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, when you visited your local zoo, or it may have been when zoo educators visited your school with animal ambassadors!
From November through February, the School Program team and Education AmeriCorps members were able to bring the Zoo’s knowledge, curiosity, and passion to ten elementary schools in the Cincinnati area through the EdZOOcation 2U program!
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ZooTales
In this episode, staff from the Cincinnati Zoo share their experience traveling to Thailand to work alongside conservation partners at Bring the Elephant Home. Learn how communities are working to reduce human-elephant conflict and how global partnerships help protect elephants and the people who live alongside them.
[https://cincinnatizoo.podbean.com/…/from-cincinnati-to…/]
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Cincinnati News & Stories
Click Here to see the News & Stories shared from the Zoo over the past 2 weeks
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Paint Night Fundraiser through AAZK!
| Join us for a relaxed drop-in Paint Night at the Wooden Cask Brewing Company! When? – Wednesday, April 8th Time? – 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Drop in anytime, but arrive by 8 PM to have time to paint!) Price? – $25 early sign-up (now – April 7) via PayPal QR code or Venmo @Kass0716 • $30 at the door An artist will be there to guide you, but there’s no strict design—get creative and make it your own! Bonus: $1 from every drink and food purchase during the event will be donated. Plus: We’ll have a small raffle with a few fun baskets! Bring some friends, grab a drink, and enjoy a creative night out while supporting a great cause. |
Plant & Animal Updates
Tulips are Emerging!
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Jaguar Reproduction Study Published
CREW’s Imperiled Cat Signature Project team is proud to share that our study on optimizing artificial insemination timing in jaguars has been published in Reproduction & Fertility! As wild jaguar populations continue to decline across the Americas due to habitat loss and poaching, zoos have faced limited success with natural breeding programs to conserve this keystone species. To address these challenges, we adjusted the dosage and timing of reproductive hormone treatment protocols and developed a novel approach to artificial insemination (AI).
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What’s Going on in the Garden?
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What Are The Sheep Up To At Bowyer… And What Is Up With That Pile Of Poo?
The Workforce is Doubling for our Unpaid & Hardworking Landscaping Crew at the Bowyer Solar Array! Over 200 Sheep, Scaling Up to 800!
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March 20th – Please wish Happy 12th Birthday to Sugar the river otter!
One Smart Skunk
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Our Butterfly Aviary is now open!
Our Butterfly Aviary is now open, and you can once again walk among free-flying butterflies in this colorful, up-close experience. We have up to 15 different species of butterflies from Mexico and central and South America. We also have 5 different species of birds from whistling ducks to Saffron finches. Come visit and see who might land on your shoulder!
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We’re excited to share some tiny but BIG news!
A baby blue duiker was just born— and it’s a boy! This little one is already exploring, sticking close to mom, and stealing the keeper’s hearts.
Blue duikers are one of the smallest antelope species in the world, making this arrival extra special. Mom and baby are behind the scenes but you can see Dad, Rocco, at the Jungle Trails swamp habitat.
Conservation & Sustainability
NEW – Conservation Connection Newsletter
Did you know that there is now a Conservation Connection Newsletter?
Click Here to Read the Conservation Connection Newsletter
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Earth Day Recycling and Zero Waste at Barrows Lectures
The Sustainability Department has been working on expanding our Zero Waste events, which will for the first time include our Barrows Lecture Series this spring. We will be providing a compost bin for food preparation and will ensure all other consumable items are either recyclable or compostable.
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2026 Barrows Conservation Series Features an Exciting Lineup
In Case You Missed It
Mark Your Calendars – 2026 Events in need of Volunteer Help
Check back in the Volunteer Update to see when the sign ups for these volunteer roles become available. Typically the ask will come out in the update 4-6 weeks prior to each event!
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| Sunday, March 22, 2026 | Cheetah Run 5K | 8:00am Race Time |
| First Four Thursdays in April 2026 | Tunes & Blooms | 6:00-8:30pm |
| Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Easter Celebration | 12:00-5:00pm |
| Thursday, May 7, 2026 *Accepting Volunteers* | Bourbon Flights | 7:00-10:00pm |
| *Tentative* June 16, 2026 | Stuffed Animal Clinic | 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Friday, June 26, 2026 | Zoo La La | 7:30-11:00pm |
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 | Wild About Wine | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | ZOOFARI | 7:00-11:00pm |
| Thursday, October 1, 2026 | Zoo Brew | 7:00-10:00pm |
| October 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 and 31- Nov 1 | HallZOOween | 12:00-5:00pm |
| November 13 & 14, 2026 | Hops & Holly | 7:00-10:00pm |
| December 31, 2026 | Happy Zoo Year | 4:00-10:00pm |
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Birds of New Zealand Lecture Opportunity free for all Zoo Staff & Volunteers!
Cincinnati Native and Author Buck Niehoff will be here on March 31st for a special interest lecture recounting his personal experiences with the indigenous, flightless birds of New Zealand.
This lecture will cover species like the little blue penguin, kea, and the famous kiwi. It will explore conservation topics, Niehoff’s personal experience with the unique birds, detailed in his book, Walking with Birds, and may even include a visit from one of Cincinnati Zoo’s own little blue penguins!
Along with Niehoff, additional guest appearances are expected to be made by both Jean Russell of New Zealand, equipped with a presentation regarding the present conservation status in her Country, and one of the Cincinnati Zoo’s own little blue penguins! Attendants will receive a copy of Walking with Birds and come away with a greater understanding of these unique species and the conservational efforts supporting them.
The lecture is free and will take place on March 31st at 7:00 pm in Frisch’s Theater.
Space is limited, so registration is required.
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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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Carol Trosset’s Natural Lecture Series 2026 Dates
If you would like to attend a lecture, 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.
- Mon., April 13 @ 10am & Fri., April 17 @ 1:00pm – Wildflower Walks at Gorman Heritage Farm
- Carol will lead a wildflower walk at the Trosset Wildflower Sanctuary at Gorman Heritage Farm in Evendale. Many species will be blooming in a very small area. Street address is 10052 Reading Road. Overflow parking is available to the right before you enter the farm property. There is a $5.00 entry fee. The Farm is open from 9:00-3:00, and you are welcome to explore the rest of the property including gardens and farm animals while you’re there. Significant rain cancels.
- 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
- Fri., MARCH 13, 2026 – Cat-like Carnivores
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!
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]
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2026 ZOO EVENTS:
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| 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 | 5:30-9:00pm |
| 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 |
| *Tentative* June 16, 2026 | Stuffed Animal Clinic | 8:00am-5:00pm |
| 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 | 7:00-11:00pm |
| 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 |
| November 13 & 14, 2026 | Hops & Holly | 7:00-10:00pm |
| Saturday, November 21, 2026 | Native Plant Symposium | 8:50am-4:00pm |
| December 31, 2026 | Happy Zoo Year | 4:00-10:00pm |
DAD-JOKE ZONE:
