The Board of Directors volunteer their time and are active in sponsoring Friends core programs and committees to support the needs of the animals for the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary.

We are always on the lookout for passionate volunteers with skills in any of the following areas:

• Fund Development
• Accounting
• Web Development (WP)
• Grant Writing
• Communications
• Event Planning

If you have any questions about the Friends Board of Directors or would like to volunteer to assist us, please email information@folsomzoofriends.org or call 916-226-5445.

Docent Training Class

Please note: registration has closed for the 2024 class.

Consider joining the docent team! Volunteer docents help with the zoo sanctuary's outreach and educational mission, assisting with school tours, special events, and other ongoing activities.

The Docent Training class is held once each year. Registration opens in November, and the class typically begins mid-February and continues through mid-March. Classes are held Mondays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Register online and complete the volunteer application; for more information, call Sue Bean at 916-715-8610. 

About the class: you will receive training from docents and staff to assist with educating the public in the form of zoo sanctuary tours.

You will also have the option to participate in outreach presentations, classes and events, and serve as a Helpful Answer Person.

Basic Docent Requirements

• Age 21 and older.
• Have an active interest in animals and people.
• Complete docent training course.
• Pass background security check.
• Complete Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary volunteer application. Submit your completed application by email or drop it off at the zoo sanctuary ticket booth during business hours.

Volunteer Zookeeper Aides must submit an application, attend an orientation, and be at least 18 years of age. This role requires a minimum of 12 hours of service per month and volunteer shifts are a minimum of four hours.

All Volunteer Zookeeper Aides must fulfill a prerequisite of 50 hours of service as a Volunteer Commissary Aide or Volunteer Barn Attendant at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. This prerequisite may be substituted with prior volunteer experience from another facility on a case-by-case basis.

This volunteer position is physically demanding and works in all weather conditions around animals and allergens. Examples of general duties include:

• Preparing and feeding diets to animals.
• Preparing and delivering enrichment to animals.
• Cleaning animal exhibits and holding areas by raking, hosing, scrubbing, sweeping, wiping down surfaces, and changing substrates.
• Cleaning and refilling water sources and pools.
• Changing blankets and towels in animal enclosures. Washing and folding laundry.
• Cleaning food storage and food prep areas such as the animal commissary and bear kitchen by mopping, washing dishes, and wiping down surfaces.
• Removing cobwebs from exhibits and buildings.
• Cleaning enclosure glass.
• Trimming and watering plants and weeding in and around animal exhibits. 

Please email completed applications or drop off applications at the zoo sanctuary ticket booth during business hours.

Volunteer Commissary Aides must submit an application, attend an orientation, and be at least 18 years of age. This role requires a minimum of eight hours of service per month and volunteer shifts are a minimum of four hours.

This volunteer position assists zookeepers with the preparation of animal diets and enrichment. Volunteers should be comfortable around frozen animal food such meat and mice as well as feeder insects. Examples of general duties include:

• Following diet cards to make diets for animals. Cutting and measuring produce, meat, or frozen prey items.
• Preparing enrichment for animals as well as creating food enrichment items such as popsicles and baked foods.
• Organizing and cleaning the refrigerator and freezer. Rotating and stocking produce and frozen items.
• Washing and folding laundry.
• Collecting and delivering browse for animals.
• Cleaning food storage and food prep areas by mopping, washing dishes, and wiping down surfaces.
• Assisting with event enrichment for animals including special meals for Thanksgiving Feast for the Animals and Wild Nights and Holiday Lights.

Please emailcompleted applications or drop off applications at the zoo sanctuary ticket booth during business hours.

Volunteer Barn Attendants must submit an application, attend an orientation, and be at least 18 years of age. This role requires a minimum of 12 hours of service per month and volunteer shifts are a minimum of four hours.

This volunteer position is physically demanding and works in all weather conditions around animals and allergens. Examples of general duties include:

• Preparing and feeding hay diets to animals.
• Preparing and delivering enrichment to animals.
• Cleaning stalls and pastures by raking, hosing, scrubbing, sweeping, and wiping down surfaces.
• Sweeping guest areas in front of stalls.
• Raking DG areas at the barn.
• Cleaning and refilling water sources and pools.
• Weeding around the barn and pastures. Watering plants.
• Remove cobwebs from the barn.
• Grooming barnyard animals.
• Trimming and watering plants and weeding in and around animal exhibits.

Please email completed applications or drop off applications at the zoo sanctuary ticket booth during business hours.

Gift Shop Volunteers must submit an application, attend an orientation, and be at least 18 years of age. This role requires a minimum of eight hours of service per month.

This volunteer position requires a positive, guest-service oriented attitude and interacts with the members of the public. General duties may include:

• Selling merchandise using a POS system.
• Folding and hanging clothes.
• Restocking merchandise on shelves and racks.
• Affixing price tags to merchandise.
• Tidying up merchandise displays.
• Engaging guests in conversation, answering questions, and helping the find merchandise.
• Light cleaning of the Gift Shop such as dusting, sweeping, or wiping down surfaces.

Please email completed applications or drop off applications at the zoo sanctuary ticket booth during business hours.

Horticulture Volunteers must submit an application, attend an orientation, and be at least 18 years of age. This role requires a minimum of eight hours of service per month.

This volunteer position works outdoors in many weather conditions and near animals and allergens. Duties vary based on need, interest, and skill but may include:

• Weeding throughout the zoo in planters and occasionally inside exhibits.
• Trimming plants and cutting back grapevines.
• Hand watering planters at the barn.
• Watering sod in exhibits.
• Gathering browse for zookeepers to distribute to animals.
• Replacing plants as needed.
• Maintaining the enrichment garden at the barn.
• Maintaining planters for pollinators at the barn.
• Watering and maintaining exhibit planter boxes.

Please email completed applications or drop off applications at the zoo sanctuary ticket booth during business hours.

Grounds and Maintenance Volunteers must submit an application, attend an orientation, and be at least 18 years of age. This role requires a minimum of 8 hours of service per month.

This volunteer position works outdoors in many weather conditions and near animals and allergens. Duties vary based on need, interest, and skill but may include:

• Sweeping visitor walkways.
• Raking service paths and areas around exhibits.
• Repairing or painting visitor fencing.
• Painting exhibits or buildings.
• Building enrichment items.
• Replacing sod in exhibits.
• Remove cobwebs from buildings.
• Repairing or building exhibit furniture.
• Cleaning glass on exhibits.
• Cleaning out filter baskets and skimming pools in animal exhibits.
• Installing lights and décor for Wild Nights and Holiday Lights and other special events.

Please email completed applications or drop off applications at the zoo sanctuary ticket booth during business hours.