Junior Zookeepers

Junior Zookeepers at Wildlife Safari

The Junior Zookeeper program at Wildlife Safari allows children ages 11 to 17 the unique opportunity to learn about a variety of animals and to share their knowledge with the public. The newly developed Junior Zookeeper program was created with the goal of providing more opportunities for children to broaden their experiences, explore what it is like to work in a zoo and to develop an appreciation for the natural world. The Junior Zookeeper program has proven to be a great way for kids to learn responsibility, build leadership skills, gain self-confidence and get actual quality time with animals.

Registration for Summer 2025 Junior Zookeepers will open February 17th!  

Check out our new BONUS SESSIONS for Spring and Winter Breaks!

Junior Zookeeper Program Activities

Activities within the Junior Zookeeper program vary for each participant depending on their past involvement in the program, the amount of time they have spent at the park and their individual interests and abilities. In addition to animal handling practice, educational lessons, and encounters, participants will also be responsible for the tasks listed below.

Fledgling (1-4 months experience)

  • Flamingo Husbandry
  • Cavy Husbandary
  • Education Classroom Husbandry
  • Assist with Summer Camps
  • Maintaining AZA standards and practices

Raptor (5+ months experience)

  • Birds of Prey Husbandry
  • Village Horses and Australia Husbandry
  • Summer Camp Presentations
  • Preparing Diets
  • Maintaining AZA standards and practices

Day of a Junior Zookeeper

Working at a zoo, there is no typical day but generally a day in the life of a Junior Zookeeper will look like the following:

Mornings will begin with opening husbandry which may be with a variety of Education Ambassadors and Safari Village animals. You will continue the day doing dishes and preparing diets, and then will go over an education lesson.
 
Your afternoons as a Junior Zookeeper will include closing husbandry tasks with some of our education animals, various animal encounters, and animal handling practice under the watch of our Education Keepers.

Junior Zookeepers 2025

Registration for Summer 2025 Junior Zookeepers will open February 17th!

Please read and complete this application carefully. Children must be 11-17 years old by June 1st 2025. Shifts are from 9:00am-3:00pm. Participants will choose to either work Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays as their schedule for the session they register for. Due to the popularity of this program, please sign up for the two days that best fit your schedule as switching the participant's shifts cannot always be guaranteed.

Shifts are subject to change and are at the discretion of Wildlife Safari staff. 2025 sessions run through June, July and August. Children may register for one or more sessions. Program fee is $275 per session for members, $295 for non-members.*

*Fees remain the same regardless of how many days per session your child is registered for.

If you will be attending the June session, applications will be due no later than Thursday, May 15th, 2025. Please get your application in for subsequent months at least 3 weeks prior to your start date. We must have received a copy of your child’s negative TB test before they will be scheduled.

To enroll your child in the Junior Zookeeper Program, you must fully complete the online application:

For more information call 541-679-6761 ext 3221 or education@wildlifesafari.net

Bonus Sessions for Spring and Winter Breaks!

Shifts will be from 9:00am to 3:00pm, with a maximum of 5 shifts for each participant.  

$70 per week for members, $75 for non-members. *Fees remain the same regardless of how many days per session your child is registered for.

Spring Break: March 24th - 28th

Registration will open January 1st!

Spend your spring break with us exploring animal care and conservation!

*This bonus week is separate from summer juniors, registration will not carry over and participants interested in summer juniors must fill out summer registration opening on 2/17. However, a TB test for spring break 2025 juniors will be valid for summer 2025 juniors.

 

Winter Break: December 29th - January 2nd

 

Summer Sessions

Session 1: Food and Fun!

June 2nd - June 26th 

Food and Fun are a huge part of anyone's day, come learn all about how we decide diets and enrichment for our animals, and how they play an important role in their daily husbandry and care.

Session 2: Ethogram Elements

July 7th - July 31st

Explore how animals spend their time and how biologists study animals in the field. Come get a better understanding of animal behavior and how humans can use this information to help those species thrive, all while learning proper animal care and husbandry.  

Session 3: How Zoos Help

August 11th - September 4th

Do you know just how valuable zoo's conservation efforts are? If species in the wild ever go extinct, we have a species reservoir to help! Discover other ways that wildlife institutions keep our animals advancing while getting a closer look at the husbandry and care that goes into the operations.