Volunteer Role: Zoo Club Leader A fantastic volunteering opportunity has arisen within the Education Department at Drayton Manor! This year we are launching a new zoo club, which is designed for local children who have a passion for animals. The club will run for six themed sessions between 9.30am – 12.30pm on several dates across the year (please see below). We will be offering exciting experiences during each of these mornings such as animal encounters, mucking out enclosures, chopping up the zoo diets and creating enrichment for the animals. In order to run this club, we need two additional staff members. You will each become a voluntary Club Leader and will assist the Education Officers with delivering each session. Please note that the role is unpaid. This is an amazing chance to work directly with children and animals in a fun and supportive environment. You will be helping to run each zoo session to the highest quality and ensure that our club members have a truly memorable and unique experience! It will also enable you to see how the education department works and what our role is at Drayton Manor. Reporting to: Education Officer(s) Provisional dates: Saturdays from 30th May to 4th July, and potentially other dates across the year Times: approximately 8.30am arrival and 1.30pm finish Responsibilities        Register the children on arrival and ensure all paperwork is in order by liaising with parents. Lead the children in group activities, sometimes unaccompanied by the Education Officer Interact with and assist the children during activities led by the Education Officer Hold a range of animals including reptiles (e.g. snakes & lizards) and bugs (e.g. hissing cockroaches) as part of the animal encounters Supervise the children in a range of tasks, such as mucking out enclosures and chopping up animal foods, ensuring they are safe at all times Assist the education officer to prepare resources for the session, and also help with tidying up afterwards Perform all other necessary duties reasonably asked of you by the Education Officer Personal Attributes        Confidence in addressing and leading a group of children Excellent and clear communication skills Professional manner Group control and behaviour management skills Calm under pressure and able to deal with rapidly changing situations Able to show initiative where applicable A basic knowledge of exotic animals & zoos in order to answer children’s questions We need you to fully commit to the zoo club days and attend each session on time in order for them to go ahead. Training will be given. In order to gain this experience before starting the clubs, you will be required to attend days to observe and assist the Education Officers with teaching, meet the animals you will be working with, and participate in other practice activities. This position is subject to passing a DBS check. Please apply for this role by emailing your CV to [email protected], or handing it in to Jeanette personally. Deadline: 17th April