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Hattiesburg Zoo

Hattiesburg Zoo

Contact Information:

Krissy Hamilton - Educational Director

601-545-4576

khamilton@hattiesburgms.com

http://www.hattiesburgms.com/przoo.html

Additional Link: http://luckydayprogram.blogspot.com/2008/07/zoo-daze-volunteering-gone-wild.html


Description:

The Hattiesburg Zoo is located on 40 acres in Kamper Park just off Hardy St. and cares for all kinds of animals as well as offering special community events (like ZooBoo for Halloween) and educational programs and demonstrations.


Volunteer Opportunities:

There are a lot of different things students can volunteer with at the zoo, but much of it is based on consistency and commitment. Volunteers who want to work with animals may start out doing general labor at the zoo, then move on to working in the 'kitchen' creating the animals' diets, then start working with the education/demonstration animals (which happens to include a baby crocodile!), and eventually working directly under a keeper with the larger animals in the zoo. Opportunities aren't limited to this type of work however, students may volunteer with the educational programs working with kids, helping teach them about the zoo animals and a variety of related subjects. Hamilton urges education majors to get as involved as they want, even helping work with the lesson plans, etc. and says this opportunity is good to put on that type of resume.


Requirements:

There is a 16 hour per month minimum and a volunteer application, the volunteer will also have a chance to sit down with Hamilton to determine the best fit.


Special Notes:

Hamilton is very excited about the Luckyday Citizenship Program Volunteers and cited some volunteer experiences in the past as having been very positive and influential, she said that often, students who volunteer at a zoo (including herself), end up deciding that this is the field they want to work in. One student who started volunteering at the Hattiesburg Zoo later worked for them after graduating, and recently moved on to work with the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee.