Job Details

Position Type:
Education

Date Posted:
12/18/2025

Location:
Zoo KnoxvilleJob Description

Job Title: Zoo Camp Inclusion Specialist - Seasonal

Department: Education Date Written / Updated: 12/15/25

Reports To: Zoo Camp Coordinator Status: Seasonal

Supervises: Volunteers

Pay rate: $14.00/hr

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Zoo Camp Inclusion Specialist is a seasonal position that will primarily be responsible for helping the Zoo Camp Coordinator with the equal inclusion of all campers participating in our Zoo Camp programs. Camps typically occur Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 3:00pm with occasional 3-day camps. 2026 camps occur March 9-13 (Spring Break), May 20 - July 29 (Summer Camp) and October 5-9 (Fall Break). Training days include working one day of spring break camp (March 9-13) and three training dates on May 2nd, May 9th, and May 23rd. The Inclusion Specialist will generally work 3-5 days per week scheduled, depending on the needs of campers. The position will support the Education Department's vision to create conservation leaders by creating opportunities for learning to inspire and empower action for wildlife and wild places.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As a team member, exemplify Zoo Knoxville's Core Values through interactions with guests and fellow team members.
• Support campers with differing abilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, or ADHD as they participate in camp activities.
• Pre-camp curriculum assessment and planning for inclusion.
• Assisting the Zoo Camp Coordinator with pre- and during-camp communication with camper families to determine support needs of campers.
• Social and emotional support for campers.
• Provide direct support to designated and/or identified campers within the camp program ensuring a safe, fun, and appropriate learning environment. This may include being out in the zoo during the day with specific campers or going to classrooms during activity time.
• Complete a daily log of camper interactions and detail any support given to individual campers.
• On weeks with less support needs, the Inclusion Specialist may serve as a camp assistant, assisting with general camp duties as needed or assigned
• Arrive by 8:30 am each day and stay until pick-up or any check-ins with camp instructors are complete, generally around 4:00pm.
• Attend zoo camp staff training days and staff orientation.
• Complete online safety trainings, including CPR certification and Epi-pen training.
• Monitor zoo camp behavior reports to ensure any needed camper support isn't being missed.
• Assist with supervising youth and adult camp volunteers, creating a positive volunteer experience while meeting the needs of the program.
• Act as a stand-in camp instructor, as needed.
• Schedule and weekly hours may vary.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed or in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, early childhood special education, psychology, or a related field.
• An individual who understands and respects children, recognizes that learning is a process not a product, is committed to positive behavior management, and makes the learning process engaging, fun, and driven by the individual camper.
• Experience teaching children in a classroom, camp, or professional informal learning setting.
• Comfortable interacting with children and adults of all ages.
• Comfortable speaking to large groups and diverse audiences.
• Available to work at least seven weeks of the eleven weeks of camp offered in 2026.
• Able to manage groups of children ages 4-17 while maintaining a positive environment.
• Able to supervise adults and youth volunteers while maintaining a positive environment.
• Able to research, understand and interpret science concepts in an engaging fashion.
• Comfortable being around and handling a wide variety of animals including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to work well with others in a team setting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Current knowledge of and ability to use modern electronic technology.
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Flexible and able to handle unexpected situations.
• Able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, text, 2-way radio and e-mail.

Don't meet every requirement? At Zoo Knoxville we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

As an employee of Zoo Knoxville, you must possess English communication skills as well as the ability to communicate using a 2-way radio, email, and telephone. The position hours vary depending on business needs and will require weekend and some holiday shifts. Depending on the specific tasks, this position will be required to work within close proximity of exotic and domestic animals and must be aware that there are dangers inherent in working under those conditions. Zoo Knoxville is committed to maintaining a drug free workplace and as such each employee must pass a pre-employment drug screen.