How to Join
You can be a force for wildlife conservation. Join the ACE for Wildlife™ Network to share knowledge, build professional skills, and work in coordination with a highly collaborative zoo and aquarium community to foster empathy for animals and people.
Why join the Network?
Joining us gives you complimentary access to the resources we’ve developed over the past decade to support empathy practices at accredited zoos and aquariums.
Network participants build community with hundreds of other zoo, aquarium, and conservation professionals interested in helping people connect with animals, nature, and each other. Through the Network, you can also receive resources and training for your professional growth – from networking and relationship building to public speaking and program development.
HOW TO JOIN
Both organizations and individuals can participate in the Network. If your zoo or aquarium is not already a Partner Organization (see list here), we encourage you to start your journey by applying to be an individual Affiliate.
Affiliates and Members
Members are individuals who work or volunteer at a Network Partner Organization (see list of those organizations here), while Affiliates are individuals who are interested in learning about empathy work but don’t work at a Partner. Both types of participants can:
- Access resources
- Access events
- Access our discussion board
- Participate in committees and working groups
Members are also eligible for travel scholarships to present on empathy projects at conferences (look for announcements each spring about these).
Click “join now” to get started and create your account using your work issued email address! Most individuals will gain access to our full website and resources within a week of account creation. Please note that processing time for Affiliate applications from individuals at non-AZA accredited organizations typically takes 3-4 weeks.
Partner Organizations
A Partner Organization is a US-based zoo or aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that is committed to empathy as a strategy for conservation and has joined the ACE for Wildlife Network.
In order to apply to be a part of the ACE for Wildlife Network as an Partner Organization, a zoo or aquarium:
- Must be accredited by the AZA,
- Must be located within the United States,
- Must have had at least two individuals at the organization engaged in the Network as Affiliates for at least six months before applying, and
- Must reach out to empathy@zoo.org expressing their interest in joining as a Partner Organization. If the organization meets the above requirements, the Advancing Empathy Team will send the application for the organization to complete.
Applications are currently being accepted! All applications must be received by March 31st for acceptance in April and by September 30th for acceptance in October. Please read our Network bylaws and expansion plan before applying. Applicants will be informed of the decision within 6 weeks of the deadline. Applicants accepted in the 2026 fall round (October) will not be eligible to receive the travel benefits available to Partner Organizations to attend the 2027 Empathy Summit.
Please note: Participation as a Partner Organization is separate and distinct from eligibility for Woodland Park Zoo’s Advancing Empathy Grant Program. The grant program has additional eligibility requirements, which you can review at https://www.zoo.org/empathy.
Member Testimonials
Hear from our current Members and Affiliates about the positive impact of the Network on their work.