"The Park is my happy place to volunteer!"

In the eight years that Kathy Pennell has volunteered with Assiniboine Park Conservancy, she has spent a lot of time in her happy place - 3,634 hours and counting! For context, that's over a year and a half working full-time.

She says it all started with a newspaper ad.

"I was retired for less than a year when I saw the volunteer ad in the newspaper. When I saw it, I thought it would be a great fit because I wanted to get outside, talk to people, and get some exercise."

Kathy originally started as a Zoo ambassador and helped navigate school groups visiting the Zoo. Fast forward to today, she has worked in 95 different volunteering positions across 12 departments in the Zoo, Park, and The Leaf. Plus, her husband Barry now volunteers for the Conservancy - when they volunteer at evening events like Boo at the Zoo and Zoo Lights, they align their schedules so they can leave and come home together.

She's volunteered for nearly every position available, but her preference is working anything Zoo-related, especially when she can connect with guests.

"I'm always so surprised where people come from – I had a conversation one time with someone who was visiting from Denmark!  I always leave every shift learning something new."

Her latest educational endeavor? Learning American Sign Language! Her current position involves hosting a group of students from the Manitoba School for the Deaf volunteering at the Zoo. The students are currently teaching her, and other volunteer staff interested, in learning sign language to better understand the group and guests who are hard of hearing.

"I want to be able to communicate with the students I'm helping host here. I can now sign to the students what tasks they’ll be doing that day. While it's taking me a while to learn, I'm slowly getting there!"

For Kathy, there are so many benefits to volunteering with the Conservancy, including the flexibility and social engagement.

"They are very flexible here with scheduling your shifts, which was important because I don't want to be tied down to specific days. Your time is your own, and there are so many positions to choose from. There's something here for everyone."

She noted how much she and all the volunteers feel appreciated in their roles.

"The volunteer staff are amazing here; they’re always thanking you and making you feel appreciated. From day one, all the volunteers have been so nice to me, and I try to project that to other volunteers to help them feel as included as I do."

For her, though, the people and the movement keep bringing her back to volunteer.

"It's so fun here, it barely feels like I’m working. I love to talk and connect with others, so if you also enjoy that, this is a great place for you to come volunteer."

Volunteer recruitment is now open for registration! Visit assiniboinepark.ca/volunteer to learn more. Adult volunteers must be able to commit 60 hours per year, and teen volunteers must be able to commit 40 hours per year.

Please note that while Kathy enjoys walking around the Zoo during her volunteering shifts, accommodations can be made for interested volunteers. The Zoo and Park are mobility aid friendly.