Instead of playing video game marathons, 16-year-old Ben Workinger chooses to spend his free time caring for the wild creatures who call the Chattanooga Zoo home. But that isn’t much of a stretch for the rising Baylor School junior, whose own home is a farm.
“I like being outdoors, playing with the animals on my farm, hanging out with the chickens,” he says.
When he’s volunteering at the zoo, he prefers the kinkajou, known to some as the honey bear and every bit as cute as the name implies.
How did you get started volunteering with the zoo?
Well, I like animals. And as a Boy Scout you sort of need to be volunteering, and I thought the zoo was a good opportunity for me to get involved with my community and just help around where it’s needed.