Job Details

Position Type:
Education

Date Posted:
12/18/2025

Location:
Zoo Knoxville Job Description

Job Title: Zoo Camp Assistant

Department: Education DateUpdated: 12/15/2025

Reports To: Zoo Camp Coordinator Status: Seasonal

Supervises: Volunteers

Pay rate: $14.00/hr

SUMMARY OF POSITION:
The Zoo Camp Assistant is a seasonal position that will primarily be responsible for helping the Zoo Camp Coordinator with the implementation of Zoo Camp programs and stepping in for camp instructors as needed. 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 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.
• Arrive by 8:30am each day and stay until clean-up and the next day's preparations are complete. Typically, the day ends 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 inform the Zoo Camp Coordinator and Education Staff about any camper behavior concerns, daily.
• Assist with supervising youth and adult camp volunteers, creating a positive volunteer experience while meeting the needs of the program.
• Inventory, purchase, and organize camp snacks to be delivered to each classroom weekly.
• Maintain all equipment and facilities to keep them clean, safe, and professional in appearance.
• Inventory materials and create camp field journals based on each camp's theme or age group.
• Organize and load camp carts with all necessary materials for the following week's camps.
• Check and stock first-aid bags with required medical materials weekly.
• Assist with general zoo camp duties as needed or assigned.
• Be prepared to act as a stand-in camp instructor, as needed.
• Schedule and weekly hours may vary.

QUALIFICATIONS:
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• Minimum high school diploma.
• 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 summer 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 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.
• Knowledge and understanding of general science concepts, especially biological concepts.
• Familiarity with current conservation issues.
• 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 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 these conditions. Zoo Knoxville is committed to maintaining a drug free workplace and as such each employee must pass a pre-employment drug screen.