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Our volunteers interpret marine life exhibits for more than 400,000 annual visitors.
Volunteer of the Month
Lauren Mewshaw: May 2013
This month we would like to highlight one of our newest additions
to the volunteer department; Lauren Mewshaw. Lauren herself has a history of
volunteering and working at UCSD, and we have been delighted that she has
expanded her horizons to include Birch Aquarium.
Lauren can commonly be found working alongside our
instructors and Education Specialists in hosting birthday parties for excited
young future scientists or orienting guests at the information center.
In the recent weeks since Lauren joined us, she has already
made herself known as someone who is always looking for and asking if there are
new ways to help or make things easier for staff and co-volunteers. We’d like
to personally thank Lauren for going above and beyond and for taking the
initiative to make sure programs and the information center run smoothly. Keep up the good work, Lauren!
Volunteer at Birch Aquarium
Please Note: Our next open house will be in June 2013. Applications are welcome and will be processed in April.
Help visitors from around the world discover the wonders of the ocean.
Inspire conservation and showcase the groundbreaking research at Scripps
Institution of Oceanography. Annually, more than 300 volunteers guide visitors through exhibits, answer
questions, and work behind the scenes. From students and working adults
to retired professionals, Birch Aquarium seeks a variety of expertise
from volunteers of all backgrounds.
Commitment
All positions require attendance at a new applicant Open House which is offered quarterly. Volunteers are asked to make a minimum six month commitment of one 4 hour shift per week and to purchase an annual Volunteer Membership at $30 upon successful completion of the applicant interview. Volunteer member benefits include free unlimited admission for the volunteer, free aquarium passes annually, informative special lectures, and other discounts and exclusive opportunities.
Volunteer Roles
Exhibits Interpreter (year-round)
Help make our simulated tide pool and adjacent interpretive station
come alive for our visitors by demonstrating coping
strategies for life in a harsh environment.
Training: Attend one 4-hour mandatory training course.
Information Center Volunteer (year-round)
Welcome visitors, provide an orientation to the facility, answer questions and distribute literature on aquarium programs.
Training: On-the-job training.
Aquarium Explorations Team Instructor (October through June)
Facilitate Aquarium Explorations (AX) using interpretive activities,
exploration, observation and worksheets. Work with chaperones,
teachers and fellow volunteers in a team environment to complete
educational tasks.
Training: Attend one 2-hour orientation course and/or on-the-job training.
Discovery Lab Assistant (October through June)
Assist aquarium instructors in the classroom with hands-on curriculum
covering a variety of marine topics including tide pools, fish
diversity and kelp forests. Volunteers must first clear a background check to participate in this program.
Training: Attend one 4-hour orientation course.
Education Assistant (year-round) POSITION FULL
Assist instructors with onsite and offsite educational activities,
including birthday parties, outreach classes and field programs.
Training: Attend one 4-hour orientation course.
Advanced Volunteer Jobs
* Volunteers must start in another area first.
Aquarist Assistant (year-round)
Assist aquarists by cleaning and maintaining tanks, monitoring water and air conditions, preparing food, feeding, and shore collecting. Due to the responsibilities involved in helping our husbandry staff care for our animals, aquarist assistants must work a consistent 4-hour shift on a weekly basis.
Training: Previous experience is preferred, but additional training is provided on the job.
Volunteers only available on the weekends will have a longer wait than those available on the weekdays.
Docent Ambassador (year-round)
Serve in a lead capacity for interpretive volunteers and interns through mentoring, training, and serving as Shift Captains as requested by staff; develop and present interpretive talks and tours; be highly visible to the public in order to answer questions and convey information in an interpretive manner throughout the facility; give interpretive presentations during feedings including Kelp Tank Dive shows; and assist with evening special events.
Training: Attend mandatory 32-hour training course and regular meetings.
Volunteers must work as an Exhibits Interpreter for 4-6 months prior to docent training. Docent training is offered periodically.
Whale Watching Volunteer (December through March)
Assist with interpretation of whale artifacts and sightings on naturalist-guided whale-watching tours leaving twice daily from downtown San Diego.
Training: Attend mandatory training course the first week of December.
Who can I contact?
Volunteer Department
858-822-4934
Email us!
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