Kid Territory: Jobs: Helping Visitors

Bus operator/guides have as much fun watching animal antics as the visitors do!

Photo Caravan Safari truck drivers take visitors right into the Wild Animal Park’s huge field exhibits for up-close looks at herds of giraffes, rhinos, and more.

An educator introduces a school group to a scarlet macaw. Educators offer specialized tours for school and convention groups, and often include an animal presentation.

Ticket sellers at the Wild Animal Park often work at the Park’s giraffe feeding station, where visitors buy nutritious biscuits to feed these gentle giants.

What we do

We’re the first employees our guests meet, and they’ll spend anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours with us. If guests are part of a group that has reserved a behind-the-scenes tour, an educator meets them as they arrive at the San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park. Otherwise, guests proceed to a ticket booth, the Guest Relations window, or the Membership window and purchase their admissions. Our visitor assistance officers (VAOs) simultaneously greet our guests, scan tickets, hand out maps, and answer questions. Once inside, guests meet us when they take a guided bus, caravan truck, or Journey into Africa tour, or visit exhibits like the pandas at the Zoo and Heart of Africa at the Wild Animal Park. Exhibit attendants deliver talks about the animals and assist VAOs with traffic flow.

What’s cool about this job

It’s fun to meet guests from all over the world and help them have a great experience. It’s rewarding when you see how a positive encounter with a friendly employee really makes an impact. The educators, tour guides, and exhibit attendants enjoy teaching our guests about the animals and plants at our beautiful facilities.

Job challenges

Many of these front-line positions involve standing on your feet all day. Some of us stay in a small booth or at a turnstile, while some of us walk miles (kilometers) in the course of a day, in all kinds of weather. All of our jobs involve doing several activities simultaneously. If you are driving a group of visitors on a tour vehicle, you have to talk, keep an eye on what’s happening in the exhibits, monitor radios, and watch out for traffic at the same time. Many of our jobs depend on attendance, so the hours are variable, both in how much you work, and the times and days of the week, so you must be flexible.

How this job helps animals

We make the visit a positive experience for our guests, who are the people who keep our conservation organization running. Often, we are able to inspire guests to get involved in conservation efforts when they leave us and return to their homes.

How to get a job like this

If you work in the admissions or membership departments, you’ll need math and computer skills. Bus and other tour vehicle drivers need a good driving record, and the VAOs have to be able to climb a 25-foot (8-meter) tower out in the parking lot! The educators work with small, exotic animals during their programs, so animal experience is optimal, as is prior public speaking experience. It is always helpful to know a second language. Most importantly, have a good attitude and GREAT customer skills, because we provide world-class service!