GLAZA Offers Volunteer Opportunities for High-School Students January 10, 2010

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS
OFFERED BY
GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION
PROSPECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION MEETING
(Grades 9 - 11)
Sunday, January 10, 2010, 10:30 am to 4 pm
Volunteer opportunities for high school students entering grades 9, 10, or 11 are offered by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), announces Kirin Daugharty, manager of volunteer programs. To explore the possibilities, prospective student volunteers and their parents are invited to an information meeting on Sunday, January 10, 2010, 10:30 am to 4 pm, at the Los Angeles Zoo's Witherbee Auditorium. Check-in tables will be set up at the Zoo entrance, and pre-registration is not required.
"Volunteers are an essential part of the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, creating a better environment for our animals and our visitors," says Daugharty. "We offer comprehensive training, and no previous experience is necessary. We're looking for students with a willingness to learn and a commitment to the welfare of our animals."
Students entering grades 9, 10, or 11 in the fall are eligible for GLAZA's High School Student Volunteer program, an academically challenging opportunity to help at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens in a variety of ways ranging from assisting at special events and the Children's Zoo to supporting public education programs. Members complete a 10-week training course to learn about the world's biomes, animal adaptations, conservation, ecology, and education, and they are then required to volunteer a minimum of 60 hours per year for two years. The training course is offered on Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm beginning February 21. Applicants must attend the day-long January 10 meeting (parents are requested to attend the morning session only), which includes a presentation about the program, group activities and interviews. Applications are accepted through January 10. Reservations ARE NOT required for the meeting, but please contact the Docent Chair at (323) 644-4702 or docents@lazoo.org with questions.
More than 750 individuals participate in GLAZA's docent and volunteer programs, many of whom have provided over 40 years and more of service. In 2008, GLAZA docents alone contributed more than 66,726 hours to the Zoo.
The Zoo's volunteer programs are among many programs presented by the private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, founded in 1963. This year marks more than 45 years of GLAZA's success in supporting the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden's work as an educational resource for the citizens of Los Angeles, and as an international center for the conservation of endangered wildlife. GLAZA provides support for Los Angeles Zoo exhibits, conservation, capital projects, education programs, community outreach, research, and more through fund-raising and an endowment, membership, special events and more. GLAZA currently has 65,000 member households, the second largest membership base of a cultural organization in Los Angeles. Many of its nearly 300,000 individual members have sustained their GLAZA support for more than 20 years. The Los Angeles Zoo is an international leader in the conservation of endangered species and one of the city's major cultural and entertainment resources.
The Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Free parking is available. Full descriptions of volunteer and docent opportunities and requirements are available at www.lazoo.org in the "Volunteers" section, and general information is available by calling (323) 644-4703 or emailing volunteers@lazoo.org

Official Website: http://www.lazoo.org