Our volunteers...

Black Pine's volunteer program provides opportunities in animal care, housekeeping, maintenance, public relations, fundraising, and more.  Those who make a routine contribution to these efforts contribute an average of 200 hours of service each week to help carry out the mission!  They include:

Level 4-5 "Senior" Animal Keepers and Managing Staff

These staff members bring nearly 100 years of combined experience from a variety of professional backgrounds to Black Pine.  Their tenures on the staff range from less than one year to 20 years, having contributed thousands of combined hours of service to the mission.  Their long-term commitment has earned them the privilege of fulfilling the roles of senior management at this organization.  They support and back up the paid staff routinely to keep things running smoothly.

Level 3-4 "Assistant" Animal Keepers

Assistant Keepers are those authorized to shift and work in close proximity to many of the big cats, primates, bears, large reptiles, and other potentially dangerous animals.  These keepers complete hundreds of hours of training before assuming such responsibility and have proven safety records that qualify them to carry out core animal care needs, under the supervision of paid staff and senior animal keepers.  All have a minimum of 500 hours of on-the-job experience in their roles at Black Pine, and many have several thousand hours of experience and service.

Level 1-2 "Junior" Animal Keepers

Junior Keepers carry out animal care for resident birds, grazing animals, small reptiles, and other non-dangerous animals, and assist level 3-5 keepers with other animal care needs. They often interact with guests and help at fund raising events and other outreach programs.

Other volunteers include community service workers, the offender crew from Chain O Lakes Department of Corrections, area civic organizations, and more!  Black Pine simply could not exist without the generosity and talents of volunteers.  We thank them all!