Welcome to Volunteering at
Lindsay Wildlife Experience!
Welcome to the Education Department!
This page is for those new to volunteering in the Education department, known as Wildlife Educators. If you haven't yet visited our Wildlife Educator Volunteer Opportunities website, please view it first. There you will find information regarding the various volunteer positions currently available in our Education department, including position descriptions, requested commitment, qualifications, basic duties, and more. For information on volunteer opportunities across all departments at Lindsay Wildlife, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.
For all Wildlife Educator - Education Volunteer communication, please email the Education Volunteer Coordinator, Erica D. at edeluca@lindsaywildlife.org
The Wildlife Educator Commitment
As a Wildlife Educator you are agreeing to:
Commit to Lindsay Wildlife Experience and its Animal Ambassadors for at least one year of service.
Maintain a minimum of ~9 hours per month of Volunteer service through various opportunities including:
Attending one 3.5 hour Exhibit Hall or Natural History shift* each week
Attending 3+ School Programs per month
Additional opportunities including Special Events (hikes, camps, & more)
Wildlife Educator Volunteer Opportunities
Click through the images below to find more information about our Education Volunteer opportunities as outlined in the Wildlife Educator Training Manual.
Exhibit Hall
School Programs
Outreach & Special Events
Natural History
Orientation Day: Wildlife Educator Orientation
Please do not start the onboarding process unless you were directed to do so by a Volunteer Coordinator
Wildlife Educators_ New Volunteer Orientation (5).pdfWildlife Educator Orientation consists of a slide-show presentation, facilities tour, general introductions, as well as an opportunity for Q&A with the Education Volunteer Coordinator. This event will be held onsite at Lindsay Wildlife Experience, and requires in-person attendance.
Orientation dates are scheduled with the Education Volunteer Coordinator. We typically schedule a new orientation every few months, with most dates falling on weekend mornings. this may be subject to change
You are not required to preview the 'New Volunteer Orientation' slideshow prior to your orientation day. We recommend referencing the slideshow prior to your first day or first couple of shifts, or as needed.
After - Orientation: Paperwork
Prior to starting volunteer service at Lindsay Wildlife Experience, you are required to complete the following (linked below):
Sign & submit Volunteer Agreement through email to the Ed. Volunteer Coordinator
Fill out the Volunteer & Intern Application Form, this is what sets up your account on our volunteer system
Review COVID-19 Policies & Lindsay's HPAI policies and information
Complete the online background check form sent to your email by Ed. Volunteer Coordinator through VerfiedFirst software
Review & Complete Required Reading and Quizzes (listed below)
Schedule 1st Day with Ed. Volunteer Coordinator
Required Reading and Quizzes
As a new Wildlife Educator, you will need to do some reading and pass a few quizzes before you can begin hands-on learning. We recommend that you complete all readings and quizzes before your first day to be fully prepared. You must pass ALL quizzes prior to beginning animal handling training.
All quizzes are open book and have to ability to be taken multiple times.
Volunteer Handbook
Read the Volunteer Handbook to prepare for the quiz.
Animal Handling Basics
Read Animal Handling Training & Protocols on pages 20-32 of the Wildlife Educator Training Manual to prepare for the quiz.
Natural History Training
Read Natural History Training & Protocols on pages 33-38 of the Wildlife Educator Training Manual to prepare for the quiz.
First Day Checklist
Get ready for your first day!
After your New Volunteer Orientation, it is time to prepare for your first day. If you haven't already scheduled your first shift, please reach out to the Education Volunteer Coordinator.
Please take a look at the Wildlife Educator First Day checklist (to the right) to view what's in store for you during your first day at Lindsay Wildlife. Depending on a multitude of factors, it may take 1-3 shifts to complete the checklist in it's entirety.
Wildlife Educator First Day Checklists (1).pdfHands-On Training
Following the 'First Day Checklist', the typical progression of hands-on training is as follows:
Natural History training & practice with Natural History Collections Specialist
Animal Handling training & practice with keepers in the Animal Encounters department
Training Manual
Wildlife Educators Training Manual.pdfLearn how to become a Wildlife Educator!
This training manual gives a how-to overview (with screenshots) on how to do all volunteer things as a Wildlife Educator!
This will be your life line if you ever get stuck or are unsure of how to do something. Be sure to reference the manual and ask questions as needed.
Quick Reference:
Animal Handling training & protocols : pages 20-32
Natural History training & protocols: pages 33-38
Additional Information
Dress Code for Wildlife Educators
Tops: Shirts with sleeves that extend to the shoulders, no offensive graphics. Plain or Lindsay logo shirts preferred. LWE aprons will be provided (at no cost) to be worn while on shift. LWE logo shirts, vests, or jackets may be purchased through the museum store. Provided name tags should be worn and visible at all times while on shift.
Bottoms: Pants or knee-length shorts. No leggings or soft materials. Shorts must be khaki or earth tones (no jean shorts).
Shoes: Comfortable, close-toed shoes. You may be on your feet for extended periods of time, as well as working directly with animals and occasionally entering animal enclosures.
Hats: No logos or sports team hats. Any hat purchased in the gift shop is acceptable.
Face coverings: CDC-approved face coverings are optional.
Please note that this dress code is for the Education Department only and may not apply to other departments at Lindsay Wildlife Experience.
Background Checks
As an Wildlife Education Intern, a background check is required. There is no fee associated with completing the background check, the process is done completely online. Your background check must be approved before beginning volunteer service.
COVID-19 policy
We require all staff, interns and volunteers to provide proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or exemption. For up-to-date information on Lindsay Wildlife Experience's COVID-19 policies please click HERE.
HPAI policy
We require all staff, interns and volunteers to review and abide by our Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) policies in order to participate in any Lindsay Wildlife activities and opportunities. For up-to-date information on Lindsay Wildlife Experience's HPAI policies please click HERE.
Lindsay Wildlife Experience Membership
After your initial 6 months of regular volunteer service, you are eligible for a free, 12-month Lindsay Wildlife Experience - Individual membership. We encourage you to continue your support of Lindsay by renewing your membership after the first year. Please see your volunteer coordinator for more details.