Organization Policies
Docent, Junior Docent, Marine Science Educator, Whales on Wheels (WoW), Community Outreach, and Junior Outreach Volunteers.
Docent Description
As a PMMC Docent, you will be joining a team of dynamic individuals who are passionate about sharing our mission and knowledge about marine mammals and conservation. Docents greet our guests and take them on a tour to view the animals in our outdoor pools. Throughout the tour, PMMC Docents share information about how we rescue and rehabilitate the animals in our care and return them to their ocean home. More importantly, Docents share conservation issues that explain why these animals are stranding, ocean stewardship actions that help mitigate these problems, as well as how people can get involved in our mission. Docents are also welcome to share PMMC's mission through participating in various local outreach events.
Time Commitment
- Commitment of one year
- One day a week, on a specific shift:
- Morning shift: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
- Afternoon shift: 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Skills/Qualifications
- Age 18 or older
- Ability to work well on a team
- Prior docent or teaching experience a plus, but not required
Our visitor yard remains closed while our main center undergoes important enhancements. This position will not be available until we are able to reopen our doors to the public. We do have some open spots in our schedule, so we want to interview, train, and get people excited about joining our team. Our projected reopening is targeted for early to mid-September. Interested? Apply now!
Junior Docent Description
Junior Docents are tasked with warmly welcoming the public to PMMC and relaying accurate information about our mission to rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured marine mammals in Orange County. Additionally, they provide educational and conservation-based messaging to the general public. Junior Docents are primarily stationed at the Artifact Cart, which aside from the animals, is a main feature in PMMC’s Visitor Yard and garners much attention from visitors. This is a dynamic area that covers a wide variety of topics, guided by both the Jr. Docent and visitors’ interests. Other responsibilities include assisting Docents with opening/closing the Visitor Yard, sweeping visitor walkways, replenishing brochures, and restocking the visitor bathroom.
This role provides teens with the opportunity to be involved with a marine conservation organization and to gain skills in leadership, teamwork, and public speaking. This is a great way to earn service points while also gaining information about marine mammals, animal rescue, rehabilitation, research, and ocean stewardship. Please note that this program is highly competitive and spaces are limited. Anticipated onsite start date is November; required training will begin beforehand.
Time Commitment
- One 3.5-hour shift per week for a minimum period of 2 months/8 shifts. Our two shifts are outlined below.
- Morning shift: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
- Afternoon shift: 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Skills/Qualifications
- Age 15-17
- Comfortable speaking with people of all ages and backgrounds
- Reliable transportation to PMMC
- Ability to work well on a team
- A passion for marine mammal conservation
Community Outreach Description
Outreach volunteers are integral in raising awareness in the community about PMMC’s mission throughout Orange County. Outreach crew members set up and run informational and interactive booths at various events and locations to share our efforts in marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, and research as well as the many educational opportunities we offer both at PMMC and in the community. Outreach events are predominantly outdoors and span several hours at a time. This role requires an interest in engaging the general public of all ages in conversation. Outreaches can be physically rigorous and include transporting and setting up an EZ-up tent, table, and display items.
Time Commitment
- Commitment of one year, with a minimum of four outreaches within the year
- Outreach event times vary but shifts typically last between 2-4 hours
- Outreach events can occur on any day of the week but typically occur on weekends
Skills/Qualifications
- Age 18 or older
- Comfortable speaking with people of all ages and backgrounds
- Reliable transportation
- Ability to work well on a team
- A passion for marine mammal conservation
Junior Outreach Assistant Description
Junior Outreach Assistants support Community Outreach volunteers at various events and festivals. Main responsibilities include set-up and breakdown of PMMC’s outreach display, facilitating children’s activities, and sharing various marine mammal artifacts. Jr. Outreach Assistants also share about PMMC’s mission with the public and how they can get involved. Outreach events are predominantly outdoors and span several hours at a time. Outreaches can be physically rigorous and include transporting and setting up an EZ-up tent, table, and display items. Please note that outreach events occur sporadically, with some months busier than others.
This role provides teens with the opportunity to be involved with a marine conservation organization and to gain skills in leadership, teamwork, and public speaking. This is a great way to earn service points while also gaining information about marine mammals, animal rescue, rehabilitation, research, and ocean stewardship. Please note that this program is highly competitive and spaces are limited.
Time Commitment
- Commitment of one year, with a minimum of three outreaches within the year
- Outreach event times vary but shifts typically last between 2-4 hours
- Outreach events can occur on any day of the week but typically occur on weekends
Skills/Qualifications
- Age 15-17
- Comfortable speaking with people of all ages and backgrounds
- Reliable transportation
- Ability to work well on a team
- A passion for marine mammal conservation
Marine Science Educator Description
As a PMMC Marine Science Educator, you will be joining a team of creative and enthusiastic individuals who have a passion for sharing knowledge about marine mammals and the environment with children and other individuals through structured educational programs.
Our education programs include:
- Onsite interactive programs, which include a multi-media a presentation, a tour and hands on-activities that allow participants to learn the importance of conservation.
- Distance learning programs that include compelling presentation with live views of our current patients.
- PMMC’s free ‘give back’ programs, which serve children at risk, children in hospitals, as well as veterans transitioning into civilian life.
Join the team and help us make a difference in the lives of others!
Time Commitment
- Commitment of one year
- A minimum of three programs or more per month (as available). Programs run from 1 to 2 hours long. Most of our programs run in the morning Monday through Friday. However, we do have a few in the afternoon and on weekends. We work with your schedule when assigning you to teach programs.
- All instructors will be cross-trained to assist at outreach events
Skills/Qualifications
- Age 18 or older
- Ability to work well on a team
- Prior experience presenting to groups of children or adults
- Comfortable around children
- A passion for marine mammal conservation
Whales on Wheels (WoW) Description
Whales Need You!
Pacific Marine Mammal Center needs enthusiastic volunteers to help with its' Whales on Wheels education program. Whales on Wheels is an experiential school assembly program for K through 8th grade students at Title I schools in Orange County, that focuses on human impacts on the biggest living creatures on earth and how everyone can be a part of the solution. Our volunteer WoW Team introduces children to 'Winston', our life sized inflatable gray whale which students can go inside and view its' internal organs. Volunteers help inflate/deflate, set-up/breakdown of whale and teaching activities at local schools in Orange County, California. Volunteers should be physically fit and able to lift 50 lbs. This is a 3-hour program, which is typically scheduled during school days (Monday-Friday) as well as after school. Programs generally take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. We usually have to budget an hour before and after to allow for set-up or clean-up.
Time Commitment
- Commitment of one year
- Program is 3-hours long. Scheduled Monday through Friday typically during school hours
Skills/Qualifications
- Age 18 or older
- Ability to work well on a team
- Prior experience presenting to groups of children or adults
- Comfortable around children
- A passion for marine mammal conservation
