Volunteer

Volunteers help further the mission of The Elephant Sanctuary. If you are interested in donating your time and energy to help, read below for details about volunteer opportunities.

EleAmbassador Program

Volunteer EleAmbassadors donate their time, energy, and enthusiasm to raise awareness of the needs of elephants in their communities and beyond.

EleAmbassadors staff exhibit booths, make presentations to local school and community groups, organize runs, host bake sales, and more!

For individuals seeking a meaningful way to take action for elephants, becoming an EleAmbassador is a great way to get started.

What you can expect from us:

Online training and other resources equipping you to be a model spokesperson
Invitation to an online community to share ideas and be inspired by other EleAmbassadors
Materials and merchandise to support your work
Recognition of your work in The Sanctuary's social media, online and print publications

Elephant Sanctuary Volunteers Giving a Presentation

If you are interested in becoming an EleAmbassador, please click the button below to fill out the form and The Sanctuary’s Volunteer and Outreach Manager will get back to you shortly!

On-Site Volunteer Opportunities

The Elephant Sanctuary’s onsite volunteer program serves two important purposes. It provides The Sanctuary with a devoted, short-term workforce helping complete a variety of work projects, and it gives The Sanctuary’s supporters an opportunity to donate time and energy to a cause they support while learning firsthand about the mission and work of The Elephant Sanctuary. Applications to participate in a 2024 Volunteer Day are now closed.

Make sure to sign up for our EleNews list for the latest info and email announcing registration each year.

Each Volunteer Day, a small group of individuals will spend the day working alongside staff at The Elephant Sanctuary. Volunteer work projects may include painting, raking, weeding, pruning, clearing brush, moving/organizing supplies, creating enrichment items, and much more. No matter what task you are assigned during your Volunteer Day, you can rest assured that your donation of time and energy will be well spent.

The Elephant Sanctuary does not offer volunteer experiences that include interaction with elephants, nor does The Sanctuary guarantee that elephants will be seen by volunteers during their Volunteer Day.

The Elephant Sanctuary is a pet and tobacco-free facility. Only volunteers who have registered and been approved by staff will be allowed on grounds. The Elephant Sanctuary reserves the right to discharge any volunteer at any time for any reason.

To be eligible for a Volunteer Day, applicants must:

Have made a one time or cumulative gift of $50 or more to The Sanctuary within the last calendar year* (Give Now)
Be 18 years of age at the time of your volunteer day OR 15 to 17 years of age, with parent/guardian’s written consent
In fair physical condition, able to walk on uneven terrain, bend and squat, and be on your feet for hours at a time
Be able to lift up to 15 lb
Be comfortable working outdoors in extreme heat, rain, and cold
Flexible and willing to have FUN with other volunteers from all over the country and world

* This requirement is waived for residents of Lewis County, TN

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get to see elephants? The Sanctuary does not guarantee any elephant sightings. The resident elephants have access to a wide range of habitat areas. Volunteers will NOT be working in the elephant habitats.

What is the schedule? 

8:00 - Welcome and Orientation
10:00 – Work Projects
12:00 – Break for Lunch
1:00 – Resume Work Projects
4:00 – Conclude Volunteer Day

How many people will be in my Volunteer Day group? Each day will have eight to ten volunteers plus at least one staff member.

May I bring a guest with me? Each accepted volunteer has the option to bring a guest along with them. If you are not planning on bringing a guest, please note that on your application form. It is not necessary for your guest to be a donor to The Sanctuary.

If I volunteered last year, can I volunteer again this year? In order to allow more people the opportunity to participate, The Sanctuary doesn’t allow individuals to volunteer onsite two years in a row. If you volunteered in 2023, you are ineligible for 2024. Please do not apply.

Where do I stay? Volunteers are responsible for their own accommodations. The Sanctuary will happily provide recommendations. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION EMAIL FROM THE SANCTUARY.

What dates are available for 2024? 

April 6
April 20
May 18
June 15
June 29
July 13
July 27
August 10
August 24
September 7
September 21
October 5
October 19
November 2
November 16

No Opportunities Currently Available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to commonly raised questions about The Sanctuary, The Elephant Discovery Center, and The Sanctuary's Shop.

Read Our FAQs

EleAmbassador Program Application

Personal Information

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Postal Code

Country

I would be interested in (check all that apply):

Staffing info/exhibit booths

Giving presentations to adults

Giving presentations to youth

Leading children's activities

Administrative work (stuffing envelopes, filing, data entry, etc.)

I prefer to be contacted by:

Email Phone

* The Elephant Sanctuary does not provide lodging, meals, mileage reimbursements or stipends for EleAmbassadors.

By completing this form, you consent that you have read, understood, and agree to all policies contained in the Privacy Policy.

2024 Volunteer Day Application Form

Volunteer applications will be accepted from 8:00 a.m. CST on Wednesday, January 24th until 5:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, February 7th.
The following week, The Sanctuary will use lottery to randomly select names from the applicant pool to be invited to participate in one 2024 Volunteer Day.
Preference in dates will be given in chronological order of names selected.
All applicants will be notified VIA EMAIL regarding their acceptance status.
Please do not call The Sanctuary with inquiries, and please regularly check your email (including junk folders) for messages from The Elephant Sanctuary and elephant@elephants.com, so you don’t miss a communication regarding your application status.

Applicants will NOT be considered if they:

Participated in a Volunteer Day in 2023.
Have not contributed $50 or more via one-time or cumulative gifts to The Sanctuary’s Feed, Adopt, or Membership programs in the past year (since January 1, 2023).
Are under the age of 15.

Personal Information

First Name

Last Name

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

Postal Code

Home Phone

Work Phone

Age

15-17 * 18+

* Must have parent/guardian written consent if age 15-17

Volunteer Date

If your application is selected, we will contact you about the dates you've selected below. Preference in dates will be determined by the order of the lottery selection. If your name is the 9th name drawn and 8 other people have already been selected for the day you listed as your first choice, you will be offered your second choice, and so on.

Please select up to FOUR dates below that you will be available to volunteer. You will only be selected for one day, but having four to choose from allows for more flexibility. You may also write 'any' if you are available for any of the below dates.

Dates

April 6
April 20
May 18
June 15
June 29
July 13
July 27
August 10
August 24
September 7
September 21
October 5
October 19
November 2
November 16

Preferred Volunteer Dates (in order of preference) *

Additional Volunteer

You may bring one guest with you. If you are signing up for two people (yourself and one other), please complete the following boxes regarding the other person in your party.

First Name

Last Name

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

Postal Code

Phone

Additional Volunteer's Age

15-17 * 18+

* Must have parent/guardian written consent if age 15-17

I have read and understand the volunteer liability waiver. Liability Waiver

I understand that The Elephant Sanctuary reserves the right to cancel and/or postpone any Volunteer Day if that is deemed best course of action for safety of The Sanctuary's residents, staff, volunteers, and community.

By completing this form, you consent that you have read, understood, and agree to all policies contained in the Privacy Policy.

To stay engaged, sign up for email updates from The Elephant Sanctuary!

Volunteer

EleAmbassador Program

What you can expect from us:

On-Site Volunteer Opportunities

To be eligible for a Volunteer Day, applicants must:

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

About

Learn

Get Involved

Visit the Discovery Center

Volunteer

EleAmbassador Program

﻿﻿What you can expect from us:

On-Site Volunteer Opportunities

To be eligible for a Volunteer Day, applicants must:

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

About

Learn

Get Involved

What you can expect from us: