BY COOPER HAYES

The Cincinnati Zoo is graced by 1.2 million visitors annually. After opening in 1875 it soon became a refuge for exotic animals and plants of many species. Now it is home to over five-hundred animals. Including lions, tigers, giraffes, and Mariemont’s own Katie Robinson.

Like many young children Robinson made frequent trips to the aquarium and zoo. “As kids get older they grow out of their zoo phase and I guess I never did,” said Robinson. “I used to play vet with all my animals and draw pictures of them, it was about three years ago when I asked for a zoo membership for Christmas when I realized that I really loved the zoo and wanted to get more involved so I applied to volunteer”.

The VolunTeen program is offered to kids age 13-17 and comes in different tier levels. White tier volunteers work with the Childrens’ Zoo and play on the playground as well as talk to guests about animals in the barnyard (Jacobs sheep, mini cows, goats, donkeys, and bull cattle). They also talk about the penguins.

Yellow tier student volunteers work with lorikeets, goats, the Galapagos tortoises and John the African lion.

“Because I was 17 going into it, I was a white tier and then I was promoted to a yellow tier,” said Robinson

Robinson said the more mature yellow-tier jobs “were more about educating the guests on the animals and their conservation.”

 Volunteers got first-hand experience working with animals which helped in their understanding of animal instincts and behavior.

“One of my favorite things was when the new African lion John arrived because he was very young and shy, and he had some wild instincts,” said Robinson. “He once pounced at the glass wall in an attempt to get a little girl was dressed like a panda; it was neat to see him grow more comfortable to his exhibit.”

Robinson’s instagram is well known for its many pictures of animals including the occasional selfie.

“If I take a trip to the zoo and don’t Instagram an animal, did I really go?” asked Robinson. She found that her Instagram provided an outlet for expressing herself and her interests.

“I got to see the giraffes everyday so that was great, it really is one of my favorite places in the world, so getting to spend almost every day there was amazing, said Robinson. 

“I aged out of the program so I couldn’t be in the year-round group with all my friends, but I’m currently in the process of trying to become an adult volunteer,” said Robinson. “Someday I hope to double major in business and zoology.”