Volunteer Spotlight - Hayes Barber and Nancy Campbell

Hayes Barber began volunteering with the Natural Science Center during the Bodies Revealed exhibit in winter of 2010. He enjoyed working the exhibit, but was very excited to be involved in the docent training program and work with animals in the zoo. Having a masters in Field Biology, Hayes was enthusiastic about having the opportunity to spend time with his first love after he retired.

After college, Hayes started working at the Museum of Science and History in Little Rock, Arkansas. His favorite memories from there are of Prince, an alligator, and Selena, a rosy boa. He had ample opportunity there to personally interact with the reptiles and show them to guests, allowing Selena to rest around his shoulders while he spoke.

His favorite animals at the Science Center are as impressive, but not as interactive. He enjoys the wolves’ boardwalk and tiger exhibit stations the most when volunteering. He admires both animals because of their beauty and the respect they command as powerful hunters, but also recognizes that these two species are endangered. He feels that we are fortunate to have them at the zoo and that he is able to share his knowledge and admiration with our guests so they can appreciate these animals as well.

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Nancy Campbell has been a volunteer with the Natural Science Center since August of 2010. She had visited the Science Center with her children and grandchildren in the past. After retiring and moving to Greensboro, Nancy was looking for a way to meet like-minded people and to give back to the community.

Nancy decided to volunteer at the Science Center because she was drawn to the diversity of opportunities and impressed by the enthusiasm of the staff and volunteers. She began as a greeter, worked in the Bodies Revealed exhibit, and currently docents at the zoo. The zoo is her favorite area to work, with Discovery House being the most preferred station. She enjoys Discovery House because she loves the interaction between docents, animals, and guests.

She has enjoyed the time she's spent at the Science Center and feels that she has met many people whom she enjoys. In addition to the friends and experience she expected to gain, Nancy also was able to overcome her aversion to snakes during docent training and by handling the various snakes at the zoo and in the labs. While she doesn’t make a habit of handling snakes in her own time, she is glad she is comfortable enough to provide a fun and relaxing experience for the guests. She feels she has “accomplished the impossible.”