Volunteer at Boo at the Zoo!

Boo at the Zoo is Madison’s largest public trick-or-treating event! We regularly get over 12,000 guests and rely on volunteers to help us make this day so amazing for our community.

• You must be at least 18+ by the date of the event, OR, you must be at least 16+ and have completed a summer of volunteering with HVZ this year in an ongoing role (Teen Program participants count!)
• You must be able to receive text messages – as we use these to communicate with our volunteers during the event.

This event involves large crowds in a fast-paced and high-sensory environment, and may not be comfortable for those sensitive to light and sound. All volunteer roles are completely outdoors. Face painting is accessible by wheelchair (photographers may not be able to navigate through heavy crowds). Face painting works closely with children who may not be able to verbalize what they need; it requires the ability to read body language and other social cues.

*Roles in bold are only available to those currently volunteering at HVZ in an ongoing role.

• Face Painters – (9AM-12PM/11:30AM-2:30PM) Be the Pied Piper of the art world while flexing your creative bones. Children will come from all over the Zoo to get their faces painted by you and a small team of other talented artists. Be a small child’s hero by turning their face into spiderman. None of us are professionals of any kind. We have a premade menu designed to be beginner friendly. If you’re comfortable with a brush, then you should try this out.
• Gate Greeter – (9:30AM-12PM/12-2PM/2-4PM) For one day only our gate greeters can live their wildest dreams by answering the number one question: “Do you have a map?” For today only, yes. Give out maps, provide stamps, and shower hordes of children in compliments.
• Goat Yard – (10AM-1PM/1-4PM) Let us herd the kids, you herd the goats. 🙂 Hand out pellets, hay, browse and backscratchers, and make sure costume pieces stay on the guest side of the yard and out of our goats’ mouths!
• Henry the Lion – (8:45-10:30AM; Costume time: 9-10:15AM) Greet guests before the gates open! Take photos with the kids and be the first excitement of the day!
• Photographers (9-11:30AM) Please help the Zoo document the events that they spend months working on. By showing off your creative skills and photographing all our guests (and some animals) enjoying the day, you help us tell the Zoo story.
• Train/Carousel – (10AM-1PM/1-4PM) Manage lines, run attractions, and try not to drown in the seas of sugar-high children dressed as the same 12 cartoon characters and 1 really creative box.
• Vendor Check-in (7:45-9:30AM) Large event days are often chaotic. If you consider yourself to be the calm in the chaos, then this role is for you. This role jumps in to help with things as needed – including event set-up, additional volunteer check-in, go-fer tasks, etc. If you would describe yourself as a superhero or a human multi-tool, this role is for you.
• Wildlife Champions – Palm Oil Pros – (9:30AM-12PM/12-2PM) Help share the story of how we can help wildlife impacted by Palm Oil production like our Gibbons and Orangutans! Palm Oil Pros will be wildlife championing with a specific mission in mind.