KEEPER EXHANGE
PROGRAM
Supporting professional development through shadowing
KEEPER EXCHANGE PROGRAM
The KEEP AAZK Committee supports keeper professional development by coordinating short-term shadowing opportunities at zoos and aquariums across North America, where facilities post placements and interested keepers apply through the committee.
Learn more about the K.E.E.P. Program
Keeper Exchange Educational Program, American Association of Zoo Keepers (KEEP AAZK)
The KEEP AAZK Committee is committed to the professional development of keepers through shadowing placements at zoos and aquariums across North America. Facilities interested in allowing keepers to shadow at their institution will send in a job style posting to the KEEP AAZK Committee that will be posted on the AAZK website. Interested keepers can then apply for positions by sending their application materials to the KEEP AAZK Committee. Placements will typically range from one to three days. Please see the frequently asked questions below for more information about how the program works. If you have any additional questions, or are interested in being a host facility, please reach out to keep@aazk.org
FAQs below for Hosting, Sending Insititutions & Interested Keepers
For Hosting Institutions:
Q: What are the minimum requirements to participate in hosting keepers?
A: Provide a one to three day placement at your facility in a designated animal care department.
Q: How many keepers can our institution host?
A: It is up to the discretion of the hosting institution how many keeper placements they want to take on per year and for which animal care sections. An institution may choose to take several keeper placements over the course of a year, or even at the same time, and rotate which animal care routines keepers are placed in.
Q: How far in advance does the position need to be posted before a participant arrives?
A: There is a two month minimum time to post the position before the placement takes place.
Q: Are set dates required or could it be a more generalized time frame? (i.e. April 3-5th vs the month of April)
A: It is at the discretion of the hosting facility if they want the dates to be specific for the placement or if there can be a more flexible generalized time, such as a specific month or week.
Q: How does our facility go about posting a position?
A: The position will be sent to the KEEP AAZK email at keep@aazk.org The position will be reviewed by the committee and will be sent to be posted to the AAZK website’s job board under KEEP Exchange.
Q: Do I need to provide insurance for participants that shadow at my facility?
A: While not required, it is preferred that the hosting facility provide insurance for keepers that are hosted at the facility. Institutions will often use the insurance they use to cover interns and volunteers at their facility.
Q: Can the hosting institution provide anything for the participants such as a stipend?
A: While hosting institutions cannot pay anyone they host, they can provide housing, if it is available onsite or nearby, onsite meal vouchers or discounts. While not required, it is preferred that hosting institutions provide insurance coverage for participants. All amenities, including insurance coverage should be indicated in the placement listing.
Q: What qualifies a keeper to participate?
A: Participants must be in a paid keeper position. Zoo interns and volunteers are not eligible to participate in the program. Keepers interested in shadowing at another facility will need to get their facility’s approval to participate in the program. Participating keepers must also be a member of national AAZK; being members of local chapters is optional.
Q: How does the vetting process work for participants?
A: Keepers that are interested in participating will need to submit their resume, a letter of interest and get approval from their institution. Their AAZK membership status will be checked as well. The keepers that are eligible to participate will then have their information sent by KEEP AAZK to the receiving institution which will make the decision on who will be accepted. KEEP AAZK will only vet and send the applicants to the host institution. The host institution will decide who is the right fit for the opportunity.
Q: Where will KEEP shadowing placements be listed?
A: KEEP AAZK will list the shadowing positions on the AAZK website’s job board under the ‘ KEEP Exchange category.
Q: Does this program involve a direct exchange between keepers?
A: No, each placement is specific to the individual participant and not a direct exchange between keepers at two different facilities.
Q: Are participating keepers simply observing or will they be assisting in daily husbandry routines?
A: It is up to the discretion of the hosting facility if participating keepers are allowed to assist in husbandry tasks or if they are simply observing the routines.
Q: Can I offer a job to a participating keeper?
A: No, the intention of this program is for facilities to provide a professional development shadowing opportunity for participating keepers. The placements are not intended to be a soft interview for a potential job position.
Q: Is there a waiver?
A: Yes, participating keepers will sign a waiver that will not hold AAZK or the hosting institution liable in the event there is an issue during the placement.
Q: Are there any grants available to participate in a placement?
A: KEEP AAZK has some grant opportunities that participants can apply for.
Sample Job Posting:
Facility: Animal Safari Park & Aquarium
Position: Ungulate Keeper
Deadline to apply: January 16, 2026
Job Detail
Dates: Monday March 9 – Friday March 11, 2026
Min hours per week: 3 eight hour days
Accommodation: None
Catering: discount food vouchers provided
Insurance: provided by the institution
Experience: All Keepers
Job Description
Ungulate Keeper
This 3 day placement (Monday 9th March – Wednesday 11th March 2026) will provide an opportunity to work with large ungulates in a safari setting at Animal Safari Park & Aquarium. Our ungulate keepers care for a collection of 28 species roaming in various mixed-species exhibits. By shadowing our team you will see a range of various species and have opportunities to observe many tasks that the keepers undertake.
You will join in with a range of keeping duties such as:
Cleaning holding areas
Observing giraffe hoof care
Browse collection
Preparing feeds
This placement is suited to someone who is passionate about hoofstock and looking to gain experience with larger species than they are used to and/or working in a safari park setting. Please apply by sending a letter of interest on how you would benefit from the position, an updated resume and facility approval form to keep@aazk.org
For Sending Institutions:
Q: Do we need to provide insurance for a keeper that is sent to shadow at another facility? A: It is not required, and is up to the discretion of the facility sending a keeper if they want to provide them with insurance. Institutions will sometimes pay the keeper they are sending to another institution, making them eligible for Workman’s Compensation from the sending institution. The hosting institution can also choose to provide the keeper with insurance typically used to cover interns and volunteers.
Q: Do we need to pay any keepers that are sent to another institution?
A: It is up to the discretion of your institution if you want keepers being sent on ‘work time’ and be provided their normal salary.
Q: How long will a keeper being sent be away from the workplace?
A: Placements typically will last 1 to 3 days which will be listed on each application form. The keeper being sent will need time to travel and participate in the number of days the hosting institution will be working with the keeper.
Q: Do we need to approve of any keepers from our institution that are applying to be sent to another institution?
A: Yes, any keeper interested in taking part in the program will need the facility’s approval.
Q: Can our institution decide the specific placements our keepers apply for?
A: Yes, it is up to the sending institution if they would prefer to approve for their keeper staff to apply to open ended positions, or if they would prefer to approve applying for specific placements. KEEP AAZK has two different approval forms that reflect this. One form provides open ended approval that allows a keeper to apply to any placements for one calendar year. The other approval form is for a specific placement if the sending institution wants to review the specific placements their keepers are applying for.
Q: What is involved in the selection process?
A: Interested keepers will send their resume, letter of interest and facility approval form to the KEEP AAZK Committee. Keepers must also be a national AAZK member in good standing to participate. All eligible keepers will have their information sent to the receiving institution who will then select the candidate they want to participate.
For interested keepers:
Q: What are the requirements to be able to apply for a placement?
A: All participants must be a professional member of AAZK in good standing and:
- be a keeper in a paid position
- submit a letter of interest
- provide an updated resume
- submit participation approval form filled out by their institution’s management
Q: Why do I need to get my facility’s approval to participate in advance of knowing whether or not I will actually be selected?
A: It is important for your facility to know that you will be applying for a position since you are representing your facility in a placement.. Having approval in advance will also facilitate a quicker turn around for participating should you be selected instead of having to seek approval after the selection.
Q: What is the difference between the two different facility approval forms?
A: KEEP AAZK has two different approval forms based on the preferences of the individual facility sending a keeper to a placement. Facilities can either choose to approve allowing their keeper staff to apply to open ended positions for one calendar year, or to review and approve a specific placement. Facilities have expressed interest in both options from the committee. Double check with your institution which they would prefer.
Q: What level of management should I seek approval from to participate in the KEEP AAZK program?
A: Be sure to get approval from the manager that would typically approve of taking part in a professional development opportunity. That could include the curator of a department, a scheduling supervisor. Each facility will have different expectations on the proper person to go through.
Q: How long are placements for?
A: Placements are at the discretion of the hosting institution, but can last from 1 to 3 days.
Q: How do I apply for a position?
A: KEEP AAZK positions are located on the AAZK job board under KEEP Exchange. – Please send a letter of interest on why you want to take part in the program, an updated resume and an institution approval form. The approval form can be found on the KEEP AAZK section of the AAZK website.
Q: What is the selection process like?
A: the KEEP AAZK Committee will vet all applicants and will send all eligible keepers that apply to the host institution. The host institution will select which candidate they want for the posted position.
Q: How does insurance work?
A: AAZK highly recommends that all participating keepers have insurance coverage during their shadowing position. Typically either the host institution will provide coverage similar to what they use for interns and volunteers or the sending institution will pay their keeper which provides them coverage through Workman’s Comp. It is up the the discretion of both institutions if they want to provide this coverage. If they do not, there are temporary insurance plans that can be purchased to provide coverage. Insurance is not required to participate, but it is recommended.
Q: Are there any grants available to take part in the program?
A: KEEP AAZK has a limited amount of grant money available to assist keepers in travel expenses. Participating keepers are eligible for up to $200. Keepers that apply can receive a partial grant or full grant depending on the need.
Q: Is there a stipend provided to participate?
A: No, the hosting facility is not allowed to provide a stipend. Some sending institutions may pay the keeper they send their normal salary if it is considered part of work time.
Q: Are there any benefits that can be provided to participate?
A: It is up to the hosting institution if they want to provide any additional benefits such as housing, discounted food vouchers, etc. Typically these benefits will be listed on the exchange listing.
Q: Can I apply to more than one position?
A: Yes, you can apply to any positions you are interested in. After you have been selected for a position, priority will then be given to keepers that have not been able to participate.
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