Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Mystic Aquarium!
All volunteer candidates must fill out an application, interview with a member of the Human Resources team, submit a criminal back ground check (age 18 & over), and complete the required onboarding documentation and orientation. Currently, all interviews are being conducted over Zoom and orientation is through our online learning portal. We are also requiring documentation of a COVID vaccine & wearing masks in all indoor spaces. (If you are unable to get a vaccination, there may be an exemption granted. This is solely at the discretion of the organization.)
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING:
- Free Aquarium admission for yourself
- Discount on purchases in the Aquarium Gift Shop and Saltwater Cafe
- Staff rates on programs and tickets
- Continuing education and training
- Invitations to events
- An opportunity to be part of our community
- Unparalleled experiences learning and developing unique skills
In addition to these benefits, your work as a volunteer will pay you back in other ways. As a volunteer, you will:
- Gain experience in an exciting field.
- Receive on-the-job training in a friendly work environment.
- Have the satisfaction of helping others and spreading the environmental awareness.
Best of all, you'll contribute to our mission of conservation, education, and research!
Have any questions? Email volunteer@mysticaquarium.org for more information.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Docent - Outdoor Exhibits
Our Docent - Outdoor Exhibits provide information on our animals and their habitats to our guests. Exhibits include our sea lions, beluga whales, and penguins.
Minimum Age: 15
Duties:
- Relay accurate, consistent, quality information about Mystic Aquarium and its collection to guests of all ages, either in groups or one-on-one.
- Initiate contact with guests, providing a positive experience through being helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable.
- Monitor the safety of our visitors and animals.
Qualifications:
- Be willing and able work one half day shift per week for at least 6 months.
- Enjoy working with public.
- Enthusiastic and outgoing personality.
- Comfortable speaking in a microphone to our guests.
- Must be willing to participate in education sessions by staff.
- Some biology and public speaking experience is helpful.
- Computer skills.
Youth Conservation Corps
Come and join an amazing group of high school students who work together to explore and conserve local and threatened environments as well as to get fellow high school students and the public involved in community programs.
The members of this group regularly participate in beach clean-ups, amphibian monitoring, hosts workshops and summits and development of conservation based activities fellow students and the public.
Husbandry Volunteers
Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment while learning about caring for our collection of mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates? Volunteers in these areas get the opportunity to do some hands on work in our various departments.
Minimum Age: 18
Duties:
- Care and maintenance of animals & exhibits (cleaning, food preparation, operation of life support systems).
- Assist with the presentations and classes.
- Assist with routine husbandry procedures.
- Record keeping.
- Participate in animal training procedures, as needed.
- Participate in development of husbandry techniques and practices.
- Work with other staff to fulfill areas and facility programming needs.
- Perform all other assigned duties.
Qualifications:
- Capable of lifting 50 pounds.
- Comfort with handling raw fish and other food.
- Able to work a full 8 hour shift on your feet.
- Physically able to execute the duties of the position.
- Ability to swim.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
Hosts - Guest Services
Hosts assist Mystic Aquarium's visitors with providing wayfinding and basic information about the Aquarium such as where the restrooms are located or what times the Sea Lions' Show starts. Hosts will be assigned to one of 8 zones around the campus.
Gardening
Gardening volunteers assist with maintaining the grounds and planters across the campus. The season for this volunteer role is from April to October.
Mission Statement
Mystic Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education, and research.
Sea Research seeks to achieve this mission by:
- Creating thought-provoking encounters with marine life
- Conducting research that advances aquatic animal husbandry and health
- Serving as an interpreter of marine science discoveries and conservation issues
- Sharing resources and expertise with the scientific and education communities
- Pursuing these endeavors with a commitment to excellence and innovation.
