Volunteer Updates & Opportunities
Bowyer Farm NEEDS Volunteer Help for BROWSE – Help Feed the Zoo While Enjoying One of Cincinnati Zoo’s Hidden Gems!
Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity where you can make a direct impact on animal care while spending time outdoors on the beautiful and peaceful Bowyer Farm property? If so, we have an exciting opportunity—and we could really use your help!
Our Horticulture and Animal Care teams rely on a steady supply of browse (fresh branches and vegetation) to provide enrichment and nutrition for many of the animals at the Zoo. To make that happen, we’re looking for dedicated volunteers to assist with this important work at Bowyer Farm.
Tuesday Morning Volunteers Needed
Help cut, sort, and bundle browse so it can be prepared for animal use. You’ll get to see firsthand how browse moves from the field to the animals that enjoy it at the Zoo.
Wednesday Morning Volunteers Needed
Help pack and prepare browse for freezer storage, ensuring animals have access to fresh browse throughout the week.
This volunteer role is active and hands-on, with a physical activity level of approximately 6 out of 10. Volunteers should be comfortable working outdoors, standing for extended periods, lifting and carrying bundles or boxes, and performing light-to-moderate physical labor.
This is a significant ongoing need, and we are hoping to build a dependable team of volunteers who can help support this effort throughout the season. Whether you’re looking for a regular volunteer opportunity or simply want to give it a try and see if it’s a good fit, we’d love to hear from you.
If you’re interested, please contact Brittany directly at [email protected] to get connected with the team. Volunteers are needed as soon as possible.
And if you know a friend or family member who isn’t currently volunteering with the Zoo but might enjoy this opportunity, we are happy to welcome recommended community members as well.
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PUTT FOR A PURPOSE!
Come one, come all to AAZK’s fundraiser in support of conservation for the Japanese Giant Salamander! There will be:
- Mini Golf
- Original Art
- Animal Prints
- Stickers
- Plus more to help support these gentle giants!
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Bird & Cheetah Show Volunteer *Sign Ups AVAILABLE*
Wings of Wonder Bird Show and Cheetah Encounter Shows NEED YOU! Volunteers will assist with welcoming guests, guiding seating, and creating a positive, organized experience for visitors. All information you need to know can be found in the position description.
Show Schedules:
- Cheetah Encounter: Friday–Tuesday at 10:30 AM & 12:00 PM
- Wings of Wonder: Wednesday–Sunday at 11:30 AM & 1:00 PM
Shifts are now open in Better Impact. If you are NOT yet on the roster and would like to sign up, please email [email protected] to get added.
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ZooLaLa Volunteer Sign Ups
If you are interested in volunteering at ZooLaLa, please sign up in Better Impact! It is a WILDLY FUN event and we still have openings for help!
If you do not see the opportunity on your calendar, or have not previously volunteered for events, please email [email protected] to be added to the Event Communication email list.
Zoo News
CONGRATULATIONS ALICIA!
We are excited to announce that Alicia Sampson has taken on the role of Lead Trainer of Cat Ambassador Program, a 45+ year old program that is still going strong today. Alicia started her Zoo career at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in 2004, working alongside Cat Ambassador Program founder, Cathryn Hilker and colleague Linda Castañeda.
Please join us in congratulating Alicia Sampson on her incredible leadership and dedication to the Cat Ambassador Program at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden!
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Zoo Academy is officially out for the summer!
“Woohoooo! HUGE shoutout to everyone who made the Zoo a welcoming, amazing, safe place for our juniors and seniors throughout the school year.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE POST
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Zoo News & Stories
Click Here to see all the News & Stories shared from the Zoo over the past 2 weeks
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Father’s Day Special Offer – Sunday, June 21
On Sunday, June 21, celebrate Father’s Day at the Zoo from 10am-5pm! Every dad that comes to the Zoo on Father’s Day will get in for FREE!
Make the dads in your life feel extra special this year at the Cincinnati Zoo. When you arrive at the Zoo, please let our employees at the turnstiles know that you are a father in order to receive free admission for the day.
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Monday, July 6: REDS DAY at the ZOO
Celebrate The Cincinnati Reds at Reds Day at the Zoo on Monday, July 6, 2026!
11am – 12pm: Exclusive Q&A session with Reds players @ Wings of Wonder Theater*
- Reds Giveaways at the *WOW entrance
- Appearances from Rosie Red, Gapper, and Mr. Redlegs
The Zoo opens at 9:00am for members and 10:00 AM to the public. Doors to the Ameritas Wings of Wonder Theater open at 10:30am. Seats are first come first serve. Q&A starts at 11:00am.
Tuesday, July 7: ZOO NIGHT at the ballpark
Have a wild time with the Cincinnati Zoo on July 7, 2026! Visit us in the Fan Zone before the game to meet special animals and watch from the stands as animals from the CZBG parade around the field!
This special package includes:
- an exclusive Rico bobblehead
- ticket to the July 7 game
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What’s New at the Cincinnati Zoo
LEARN MORE AT CINCYZOOGUIDE.COM
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Celebrate CZBG Pride Month 2026!
| Fri June 19th Trivia Night w/ Queer Birders of Cinci & the Zoo @ Urban Artifact Sat June 27th Marching in the Cincinnati Pride Parade @ Downtown |
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Cincinnati Zoo Featured in Common Grounds Video
Through “Common Grounds”, the Christ Hospital Health Network is celebrating the Cinci & NKY organizations who help make our region healthier, more connected and more vibrant every day.
This episode highlights our very own Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden!
Please click the image above to watch the full story!
Plant & Animal Updates
ZooTales: Otterly Adorable Pup Update!
In celebration of World Otter Day on May 27, keepers Wendy and Carli introduce the playful family of Asian small-clawed otters, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of mom, dad, their older brothers, and the newest addition, a litter of energetic baby pups.
The keepers share each otter’s unique personality, how the family works together to care for the pups, and what it’s like raising one of the world’s smallest and most social otter species.
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CZBG Garden Gazette – Spring 2006 Edition
Please click the above picture for the entire publication!
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Video of the Week
Come see all your favorite animals at the Cincinnati Zoo this summer. Summer Adventure is presented by Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers.
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HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY, TUCKER! (May 18)
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Happy 3rd Birthday, Zuko, the Red Panda! (May 26)
Zuko arrived from the Greensboro Science Center a couple of years ago and he lives with a female red panda named Marcy. Marcy arrived from the Pittsburgh Zoo last year. We hope Zuko and Marcy will breed; the zoo’s last red panda cub was born in 2021. Red panda tend to live around 10 years in captivity and 5 to 8 years in the wild.
Red pandas are endangered, facing threats like habitat loss and fragmentation in the forests of the Himalayas. The Cincinnati Zoo supports conservation efforts through our partnership with the Red Panda Network, which works to protect forest habitat, establish wildlife corridors, and empower local communities to coexist with wildlife.
Through programs like Forest Guardians, local people are employed to monitor and protect red panda habitat, helping ensure a future for this species in the wild.
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Happy 12th Birthday to Sassafras, the Eastern Screech Owl (May 28)
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FRITZ WEIGHS IN BIG!
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Box Turtles Released at Bowyer Farm
CZBG’s vets, reptile keepers, and conservation team members released Eastern box turtles at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm as part of a collaborative effort with the Ohio Division of Wildlife to give turtles who have been confiscated, or need to be rehomed for other reasons, great homes.
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Did You Know?
Harambe’s blood line lives on…in his nephew: Mboka Jo.
Harambe’s sister is our ever-nurturing Gorilla Mum, Gladys…hence, baby MJ, is Harambe’s nephew.
MJ’s dad, Mbeli, just celebrated his own birthday on May 27th!
From Cincinnati Zoo Member HQ Fb Page (Christine Meyer): “This handsome fella is Mbeli, and today (May 27) is his 24th birthday! Originally born at Zoo Atlanta, Mbeli made his way to live the bachelor life in Denver before heading to Cincinnati in 2022 to lead a family group. While we know there’s a lot of attention on Mboka Jo, we’re sure this proud dad was surely spoiled by his favorite keeper and gorilla friends!”
Conservation & Sustainability
Conservation Connection Newsletter
Click Here to Read the Conservation Connection Newsletter
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Oregon But Not Forgotten: How Sea Otters Once Protected the State’s Kelp Forests
Sea Otter Day (May 27) inspired an article on the National Museum of Natural History site – “learn how a suite of specimens featured in the museum’s upcoming “From These Lands” exhibition illustrate the intertwined nature of sea otters and giant kelp in the Pacific Northwest.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
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Thanks for Welcoming Our Songbirds Home
CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY by our very own MOLLIE O’NEIL, Director of Community Conservation!
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ROCKDALE URBAN GARDEN UPDATE
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In Case You Missed It
Kathleen M. Newton (April 16, 1961 – May 23, 2026)
Kathleen Marie Newton, affectionately known as Kathy, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026. Born on April 16, 1961, in Dayton, Ohio. Kathy lived a life marked by kindness, love, and a radiant spirit that touched all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A Celebration of Kathy’s Life will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3940 Kettering Blvd.
Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. Kathy also had SEVEN cats who are in need of a new home. For more details, please CLICK HERE.
The full obituary may be found HERE.
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The 28th Newport, KY Garden Walk & Flower Design Classes (June 6-7)
| For over 28 years, curiosity, a passion for gardening, and desire for unique ideas have enticed thousands of visitors to tour the captivating gardens showcased in Newport making it one of the most popular garden tours in the Greater Cincinnati area. A minimum of 8 selected private gardens will be open for your enjoyment as well as a Rest and Relaxation site. |
Join us Saturday and Sunday, June 6 & 7, 2026 (10am – 4pm)— for the 28th Newport Garden Walk sponsored by the East Row Garden Club in the East Row Historic District, the second largest local historic district in Kentucky.
For 2026, the Newport Garden Walk will be hosting a Flower Arrangement Design Class in conjunction with A New Leaf Florist. Join us while you enjoy the gardens of the East Row to explore and learn flower arranging 101 with A New Leaf Florist expert.
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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.
- Fri., June 12, 2026 – Ancient and Modern Elephants
- Fri., July 10, 2026 – Primates
- Tues., August 18, 2026 – Earthwatch: Natural History Volunteer Vacations
- Learn about Earthwatch, a nonprofit that works with field researchers who need low-skilled help. Volunteers travel within the USA or around the world to help collect data about wildlife and conservation efforts.
- Tues., September 8, 2026 – Freshwater Mussels by Dan Marsh, Director of Education
- Rivers and streams in Ohio host a huge variety of freshwater mussels, but they are threatened by water pollution and changes in aquatic vegetation. Come learn about the life cycles of these rarely-observed local invertebrates.
- Tues., October 20, 2026 – How Animals Walk
- Mammals all have the same basic skeletal structure, but they walk in a great variety of different ways: four feet, two feet, flat feet, knuckles, tiptoes. We will review how bones and muscles vary to accommodate these strategies, and look at the differences between walking, running, and other gaits. Then we’ll go out and observe zoo animals that walk in different ways.
- Tues., November 10, 2026 – Adaptations for Flight
- What does it take for an animal to be able to fly? We’ll consider various factors like size, shape, weight, muscles, bones, and feathers. Then we’ll go watch various zoo birds and bats move through the air.
- Fri., December 11, 2026 – Rainforests
- What defines a rainforest, and why do rainforests host so much biodiversity?We’ll discuss how plants and animals are adapted to these wet ecosystems, and the differences between layers of the forest that are different heights about the ground.
*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
- April 13 & 17, 2026 – Wildflower Walks at Gorman Heritage Farm
- No documents
- Tues. & Fri., May 5 & 8, 2026 – Bird Walks at Spring Grove
- No documents
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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2026 ZOO EVENTS:
| Date: | Event: | Time: |
| Friday, June 26, 2026 | Zoo La La | 6:30-11:00pm |
| Monday, July 6, 2026 | Reds Day at the Zoo | 11:00am-12:00pm |
| *DATE CHANGE* July 29th (Information coming soon) | Stuffed Animal Clinic | 8:00am-5:00pm |
| 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:
