We are so grateful you have volunteered; your positive energy and support are essential for making Let’s Go Wild for Kids a memorable and fun event for all who attend!

Here are the details:
We are asking that all of you plan on arriving at Turtle Back Zoo,560 Northfield Ave. West Orange NJ 07052, by 4:30(the event/gates open to guests at 5:30) to go over detailed assignments/instructions and be part of our set-up crew alongside volunteers from CHSofNJ and Seton Hall University.  We will give each of you an event swag bag including a tee shirt (pick your size at the event) and you will also have an ID Badge with your name on it.
Plug the zoo address into your GPS however no matter where you live, your best bet is probably NJ Turnpike north to Exit 11, then Garden State Parkway north to Exit 145, then Route 280 toward the Oranges, exiting onto Northfield Ave, West Orange.
Important Event Contacts/Cell #s:
Lisa 609-273-7138
Ariana 609-358-1334
Sophie 609-960-6919
We will also have 6 hand-held radios for communicating and will coordinate channels that evening. 
CHS/Committee/Board Volunteer roles:
Cash/Credit Card transactions — Bruno, Ruth and Angela
Welcome/Check-in —  Valerie, Isaira, Na’Aisa, Rob and Emily Thibault
Polaroid Passport Photographers — Jim, Sheri (Levine) and Kayla Shea, Laura Belard
Help & Info Table — Jo Ann and Nicole
Picnic Pavilion — Deb and Isabelle Pavan
Set-up and break down — All
 
BMS/Bloomberg Volunteer roles:
Set-up and break down — All (if you need to arrive later or leave earlier, no worries just reply via this email to let me know)
Staffing the Help & Information Table
Greeting guests at Check-in
Picnic pavilions to help guests pick up their dinner boxes to sit down or grab and go
Stationed throughout Turtle Back Zoo to help with directions
Stationed at the TikTok stage (Zoo Amphitheater) to help guests produce their TT videos
Stationed at Face Painting to assist if lines are long
Greeting students, teachers, parents and CHS staff as they arrive on three charter buses
Seton Hall University roles:
Helping with set up and break down
Staffing the special animal exhibits and stamping passports (our event guides)
Reminder:After raising unrestricted funds to help our agency operate,the purpose of this event is for everyone, including volunteers and staff to have FUN!So while we will each have specific roles/responsibilities, we are planning to double up in order for volunteers to take turns grabbing dinner, snacks and to have the freedom to walk around and enjoy the zoo.🙂

Here are a few tips for making the most of your experience: 

IMPORTANT: These exhibits and features close at sunset, (approx. 7:45pm) so we encourage you to visit them early on:

Amazing Asia  

Australian Outback 

Petting Farm  

Big Cat Country  

African Adventures  

Train Rides  

Check-In: 

Drive into the main entrance and park in the open surface lot or in Parking Deck #2 or #3 which are immediately in front of or to the right of the main zoo pedestrian entrance. 

Walk through the gates at the Main Entrance to meet up with MCFD and other CHS staff and corporate volunteers at4:30pm. If you weren’t able to pick it up at the office, you will receive your Let’s Go Wild for Kids sport sack with a glow-in-the-dark wristband, Passport to Discoveryevent guide, re-usable hooded rain poncho and event tee shirt. 

MCFD will also take your photo and affix it to your Passport to Discovery book, which also includes a zoo map.

Dinner can be on-the-go or enjoyed in one of the following locations.

Boxed dinner meals are available in the first covered picnic pavilion on your left, just past the Savanna Café.  

Dining areas: 

Either of the two covered picnic pavilions, the uncovered hilly picnic area, the first floor of the Savanna Café or eat on the go. Please keep our zoo clean and dispose of all waste in the garbage receptacles.  

Snack Cart: 

A snack cart is set up by the amphitheater for enjoying ice cream, frozen treats and popcorn.  

Face Painting: 

Located between the amphitheater and train station, two professional face painters will be happy to turn you into your favorite animal!   

Go wild TikTok stage: 

A TikTok platform awaits your hidden talents at the amphitheater.  

This is us — Volunteers and Staff:

We are here to help! Our staff and volunteers are wearing ID badges and our volunteer docents are also wearing safari hats and will direct you to special animal exhibits as well as stamp your passports.  

Need help? 

Go to our Help & Information table, located outside the Savanna Café.  

Share your photos!

Use this hashtag to share your photos #letsgowildchs2023

Private Event

Just a reminder that this is a private event for our guests. The zoo will close at 4pm in order to allow time for us to set-up for Let’s Go Wild for Kids.