Youth Ambassador

Our Youth Ambassador volunteer program is for high school students in 9th – 12th grade who want to complete volunteer hours for graduation, scholarships, courses, or club requirements at the Zoo. This program is approved for scholarships like the Florida Bright Futures scholarship.

Students will volunteer by interacting with Zoo guests at various activity stations using animal-related biofacts and activities. This is a fun opportunity for those who enjoy talking and interacting with people. This program is best suited for students who are looking to earn a minimum of 50 hours. It is a self-scheduled program with regular shifts starting at  2-hour increments.

• Educate about animal conservation during special events throughout the year.
• Educate the public at several different activity stations throughout the Zoo.
• Utilize bio-facts and activities to educate guests at the stations.
• All stations are in front of animal habitats, but there is no direct contact with animals.

We onboard new Youth Ambassador volunteers approximately every other month. We send out invites to attend an orientation and training session about one month before the scheduled date. These sessions occur on either Saturdays or Sundays.

If accepted as a Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens volunteer, an initial volunteer orientation training session is required before beginning volunteer service. Completing on-the-job training and an introductory period is also required before full acceptance into the Youth Ambassador volunteer position.

• Signed copy of the Youth Ambassador Paperwork packet (linked in the application)

Our teen programs are designed to foster independence, professionalism, and responsibility in teens. The program is designed to provide a healthy boost to teens’ self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. While parental support is important, it’s crucial that teens take the initiative in managing their volunteer commitments just as they would in a paid position. This means they should be the primary contact for communications and be proactive in handling their schedules and responsibilities.

Please encourage your teen to fill out the application themselves, have them use their own email and phone number in the application, and encourage them to communicate directly with Volunteer Services staff. This experience is not only about volunteering but also about growing into responsible, professional, and self-sufficient young adults.