Orientation

Youth Volunteer orientation will take place on Saturday, April 4th from 10am-12pm at Northern Colorado Wildlife Center (map). This orientation is required to volunteer. Guardians and volunteers must be able to attend.

Volunteer Requirements

• 6-month minimum commitment: April-September 2026. After that, you have the option to continue volunteering. We hope you stay longer!
• 4-8 hours per month
  • A scheduled, 1 or 2-hour shift per week is required. We will work with your schedule.
  • Must be between 10-17 years old. 
    
    • 10-14 year olds are required to commit to a regularly scheduled, 1-hour shift each week. They also must have a guardian (18yrs+) present with them for the duration of each shift.
    • 15-17 year olds are required to commit to a regularly scheduled, 2-hour shift each week. This age group is able to volunteer without a guardian present with a required consent form.
  • There is a $25 registration fee per child (does not apply to supervising guardians)
    • You may register up to 2 volunteers at once, provided that they have the same guardian and will be attending shifts together.
  • No previous experience is required to volunteer.

  Volunteering Tasks

  Youth volunteers will be responsible for animal husbandry, assisting in routine medical care, and facility upkeep. They are able to work with a wide range of Colorado species, including small birds, waterfowl, mammals, snakes, and turtles. 

  Animal Husbandry	Medical Care	Facility Upkeep
  Day-to-day care Feeding* Cleaning enclosures Weighing	Help give medications Observe basic medical procedures & treatments	Sweeping Mopping Dishes Laundry

  *In addition to preparing & feeding solid diet items, Youth Volunteers may be permitted to syringe feed baby mammals and birds. This task will be delegated based on the volunteer’s demonstrated patience, attentiveness, ability to follow instructions, and overall readiness.

  Benefits of Volunteering

  • Training and experience working with live animals.
  • Experience working in a professional setting growing skills in responsibility, time management, and leadership.
  • The joy and fulfillment of helping Colorado wildlife.
  • Join a knowledgeable, fun, and dedicated team of volunteers and staff.

  Important Considerations

  Working with wildlife carries inherent risks, including bites, scratches, exposure to chemicals, and zoonotic diseases.

  Due to the heightened risk of disease transmission, Youth Volunteers will not be permitted to work hands on with the following species:

  Bats Raccoons Foxes

  Coyotes Skunks

  The nature of our work means that volunteers may occasionally encounter situations where an animal passes away or must be humanely euthanized to prevent suffering. We highly encourage parents & guardians to discuss these topics with their children prior to volunteering.

Registering More Than One Youth Volunteer?

Families may register up to 2 volunteers at once, provided that they have the same guardian and will be attending shifts together. Each youth volunteer must be 10 years of age or older. Please note that an additional $25 registration fee will apply.

Please select ALL times which you'd be available! Selecting multiple blocks just gives us more scheduling flexibility, it does not mean you'll need to commit to all of the shifts you select!

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and voluntarily agree to the terms and conditions outlined in this waiver on behalf of the Youth Volunteer.