Seasonal Butterfly Keeper

Overview

Step into a world of color, curiosity, and connection as a Seasonal Butterfly Keeper with the Butterflies in Bloom exhibit at Zoo Boise. In this seasonal role, you’ll welcome guests into a vibrant, living exhibit, provide friendly and engaging customer service, and help create a magical experience for visitors of all ages. You’ll partner with animal care staff to support the daily care of butterfly pupae and adults, helping ensure their dietary, health, and environmental needs are met.

You’ll also help keep the butterfly house clean, organized, and ready to inspire each new wave of guests.

This seasonal position runs from May 17 through September 12, 2026, with a consistent Thursday through Monday schedule from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. (30-minute lunch). Tuesdays and Wednesdays are off. The position works up to 32 hours per week and is suitable for someone who enjoys connecting with people, appreciates nature, and wants to be part of something special where every day brings new wings, wonders, and smiles.

• Informs and educates the public regarding the butterfly exhibit. Provides information and guidance to volunteers and zoo teens.
• Ensures volunteers, zoo teens and customers adhere to exhibit rules and regulations.
• Maintains the butterfly house, waters plants, disposes of dead leaves per permitting requirements, disposes of trash or dead butterflies in the exhibit per permitting requirements, sweeps pathways, and cleans mirrors. Checks that fans, latches and mesh are in proper working order and reports maintenance issues.
• Checks to ensure the butterfly house mesh is secured daily.
• Mists and releases live butterflies daily. Processes shipments of new pupae, including checking order accuracy, cleaning the emergence case, and pinning pupae.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time.

• High school diploma or GED.

• Customer service techniques.

• Work in varying outdoor conditions including rain and extreme temperatures.
• Stand for long periods; pay attention to detail.
• Interact with the public and volunteers in a friendly and informative manner.
• Communicate effectively in English (written and verbal) at a level necessary for efficient job performance.
• Perform all essential and marginal functions as assigned, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Applicants must pass City of Boise background checks, which include criminal history and reference checks per the City of Boise Hiring Process Regulation.
• Drug Free Workplace: this position is designated as safety sensitive and subject to testing requirements including pre-employment drug screening.
• This position involves responsibilities that require working with minors or individuals with disabilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may lift/carry up to 20 pounds regularly and up to 75 pounds occasionally. The employee may push/pull up to 20 pounds regularly and up to 75 pounds occasionally. The noise level is frequently moderate. The role requires sensory abilities including talk, hear, smell, and touch; close and distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Responsibilities include standing, sitting, walking, running, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, grasping, climbing and balancing with hand/finger dexterity.

The work environment may include indoor conditions, outdoor weather conditions, wet and humid conditions, dust, odors, mist and gases or other airborne matter. Employees may be exposed to mechanical and electrical hazards, work at heights and in confined spaces, and may drive a vehicle as part of this position. Work includes protected exposure to infectious bacteria, bodily fluids and chemicals.