ROLES - APPLY HERE!

We are now accepting applications for:

• June 1 - September 30 (all roles): last day to apply May 12

Accommodations are available for student semester lengths. Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years old, otherwise all ages are welcome.  Email volunteer@savebay.org with questions!

• Volunteer Educator: Educate visitors and help them interact with our live exhibits! Must be friendly, willing to learn, interested in marine biology, and able to commit to one regular 1/2 day shift per week.
• Front Desk Volunteer: Welcome guests, process admission, membership, and gift shop sales, and restock and organize the gift shop. Must be friendly, willing to learn, and able to commit to one regular 1/2 day shift per week.
• Aquarist Volunteer: Work with our aquarist team to care for the aquarium animals. Must have a strong interest in or experience with aquarium tanks and systems, be willing to get wet, and be able to commit to two full-day shifts per week.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Who can volunteer? All ages 16+ are welcome! Volunteers should be enthusiastic about engaging with the public, able to commit to a schedule, and interested in marine life and Narragansett Bay. We do not accept court-ordered community service volunteers at the Aquarium.

What kind of time commitment is required? 

• Education & Front Desk Volunteers: 1 half-day shift per week for a period of 4 months. Multiple or full-day shifts are welcome.
• Aquarist Volunteers: 2 full-day shifts per week for a period of 4 months. Occasionally, half-day morning shift opportunities may open; they will be clearly posted in the aquarist listing if available.
• We can accommodate student semester schedules.
• See our Docent Guide for more information.

Can I use this program as an internship? Yes! If you are a student, you will give us your school and program information in the application. When giving us your schedule preferences, please keep in mind the hour requirements for your program. Click here for a full list of our internships and more information about our internship program.

Can I participate in multiple roles? We ask that new volunteers start in one role. After your first cycle, there may be opportunities to add additional roles. Each role has its own shift/time requirement.

When do you accept applications?  

• Cycles are 4 months long and typically run from Feb 1 - May 31, June 1 - Sept 30, and Oct 1 - Jan 31. We may post intermittent cycles based on staffing needs. Applications open 2-4 months in advance, and close ~2.5 weeks prior to the start.
• Roles are posted based on need. If you don't see the role listed in the application, we are not accepting volunteers for that role at that time.
• Interested in a future volunteer cycle or a role not currently available? Complete this form to be notified when a new need or cycle is posted.

How can I become a volunteer?

1. Create an account in our volunteer portal if you don't have one already. See youth volunteering for setting up an account as a minor.
2. Fill out the aquarium volunteer application. Note, there is a separate application for our non-aquarium internships.
3. Attend a Zoom interview with our aquarium staff.
4. Attend an orientation at the aquarium where our staff will walk you through a typical volunteer shift, give you an overview of the space, and introduce the touch tanks/back of house/front desk duties, depending on your role.

Questions? Contact us at volunteer@savebay.org!