Applications for Summer 2024 are now closed. Please use the below information to learn about the program for future years, but know that some information, such as session dates, change from year to year.

About The Program

Love kids, nature, and ZooCamp? We need your help! Join us as a ZooCamp Teen Assistant or Intern and spend part of your summer playing with kids, helping to lead activities, making crafts, dressing up in costumes and, of course, having fun. Teen Assistants & Interns are truly an integral part of the camp experience! Teen Assistants & Interns should be energetic and enjoy spending time with children. This program is designed for teens entering grades 9–12 in the Fall of 2024.

We have 3 different ZooCamp positions for high-school age youth, each with different roles and requirements. Find the different job descriptions, applications and other information below.

All Teen Assistant applications must be submitted by April 1st at 5pm in order to be considered. Applicants that submit their application early may be prioritized.

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Summer ZooCamp is broken into 9 different 1-week sessions and different teen positions have different required time commitments. The sessions for summer 2024 are as follows:

June 2-6, 2025 | June 9-13, 2025 | June 16-20, 2025 | June 23-27, 2025 | July 7-11, 2025 | July 14-18, 2025 | July 21-25, 2025 | July 28-August 1, 2025 | August 4-9, 2025

*Note: Camp will not be held during the week of July 4th (June 30-July 4)

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Info meetings to learn more about this program as well as our other summer teen opportunities will be held on both March 2nd & 3rd at 4:15pm over zoom:

Topic: Teen Programs Info Meeting

Time: March 2 & 3, 2025 04:15 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85892883106

Meeting ID: 858 9288 3106

Passcode: 2rwuBG

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ZooCamp Teen Assistant

Unpaid Volunteer Position — Hours volunteered count as community service hours

Overview

Love kids, nature, and ZooCamp? We need your help! Join us as a ZooCamp Teen Assistant and spend part of your summer playing with kids, helping to lead activities, making crafts, dressing up in costumes and, of course, having fun. Teen Assistants are truly an integral part of the camp experience!

Though no formal childcare experience is required, Teen Assistants should be energetic and enjoy spending time with children ages 5-10 years old.

This program is designed for teens entering grades 9–12 in the Fall of 2025.

Responsibilities, Requirements and How to Apply

If the ZooCamp Teen Assistant role seems like it would be fit for you, click HERE to learn a bit more about it, including how to apply!

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ZooCamp Teacher Intern

Paid Position — $400/week stipend, assuming full attendance

Overview

Love kids, nature, and ZooCamp? The ZooCamp Teacher Intern plays an integral part of the camp experience by supporting Teachers to create a kind, warm, and fun environment for all campers. The interns will spend their time helping to lead activities, learning leadership skills, and act as a peer mentor to the Teen Assistants.

We are looking for high school age teens ages 16+ who are energetic, responsible, creative, and interested in careers in education or childcare.

Responsibilities, Requirements and How to Apply

If the ZooCamp Teaching Intern role seems like it would be fit for you, click HERE to learn a bit more about it, including how to apply!

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ZooCamp Administrative Intern

Paid Position — $400/week stipend, assuming full attendance

Overview

Love kids, nature, and ZooCamp? We need your help! The ZooCamp Administrative Interns provide back-of-house support for the ZooCamp program, and will spend the majority of their time helping ZooCamp Leadership prepare for the daily and weekly activities of camp and will be responsible for media and communication material and content. The Administrative Interns will gain valuable management experience, learning the behind the scenes skills to run an efficient and fun summer camp program. Additionally, the interns will be managing a substantial communications project that runs the length of camp.

We are looking for teens (entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2025) who are detail oriented, creative, and interested in pursuing careers in education.

Responsibilities, Requirements and How to Apply

If the ZooCamp Administrative Intern role seems like it would be fit for you, click HERE to learn a bit more about it, including how to apply!

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Additional Information

• ZooCamp Teen Assistants & Interns work with a variety of camp classes, aged Kindergarten through 5th grade. Although we do our best to accommodate your preference for a specific age group, we cannot guarantee placement with any particular class. We also feel it is beneficial for TAs & Interns to experience a range of different age groups and teachers.
• The final number of TAs & Teaching Interns accepted is determined by the number of camp classes and enrollment. If you are not chosen, we recommend you try again next year and/or look into some of the other teen opportunities the Oakland Zoo has to offer.

Covid-19 Protocols

• Vaccination: All Zoo staff, including ZooCamp teachers and volunteers, are vaccinated against Covid-19. We encourage campers to be vaccinated, but we will not be checking vaccination status.
• Masks: We are no longer requiring masks at ZooCamp. Masking at the Zoo is always an option, especially as you may sometimes find yourself in indoor spaces where social distancing may not be possible.
• Exposure at camp: If you test positive for Covid-19 while attending camp, please let us know immediately. We will send out potential exposure emails to groups if known cases arise.
• If you test positive or have any symptoms of illness, please stay home from camp.
• Covid-19 Protocols are subject to change.

Note: All of these policies apply not just to TAs & Interns, but staff and campers as well.

Contact Information

Still have questions? Please contact our Internships & Teen Programs Coordinator.

Email »

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