NOTICE: The Exploration Center & Aquarium is now opening and we look forward to relaunching our volunteer program. Please check back for updates.
Do you love aquariums, and enjoy working with kids and families? Then come volunteer at Save The Bay’s Exploration Center & Aquarium! Our Aquarium is home to Dogfish Sharks, Octopus, Skates, and more. As a volunteer you will welcome visitors, help them interact with our hands-on exhibits, and teach them about the amazing animals that live in Narragansett Bay. Volunteers who complete their first 26 hours and commit to a weekly schedule can be trained to lead educational or outreach programs, or participate in animal feedings and water changes. Please read the information below about the training process, and then hit Respond to sign up for one of our upcoming orientations!
PLEASE NOTE: This posting is for the orientation on becoming an Exploration Center & Aquarium volunteer. YOU ONLY NEED TO SIGN UP FOR ONE ORIENTATION, so please select just one date. Once you are a trained volunteer, you will be shown how to sign up for volunteer shifts.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS:
- A strong interest in marine and environmental education.
- Willing to handle a variety of live animals.
- Commitment to volunteering a minimum total of 26 hours for seasonal volunteering, at a frequency of at least once a month.
- Must be friendly, outgoing, reliable, and ready to learn!
- Must be 16+. Volunteer applicants who are 18+ will undergo a background check.
- Aquarium volunteer shifts are available 7 days a week during the summer, and on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and public school vacations from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Shift times are 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 12:45-4.
- Volunteers who complete their first 26 hours and commit to a weekly shift will have the option for specialized training in education, outreach, or aquarium care and animal feedings.
TRAINING:
- STEP ONE: Sign up here for a one-hour orientation. (you only need to sign up for one!)
- STEP TWO: Attend orientation. Aquarium staff will introduce the applicant to all aquarium stations and go over the volunteer role. The applicant will receive the Docent Training Manual and fill out a waiver. NOTE: Volunteers who are under 18 do not need to undergo a background check, but they must have their waiver signed by a parent. PRINT WAIVER HERE.
- STEP THREE: Complete a background check. You will be emailed a link to complete the process online.
- STEP FOUR: Complete a “shadow shift” – observe a trained volunteer for a full shift.
- STEP FIVE: If you are a good fit for the program, then you can join the team! You will be added to our email list and asked to sign up for shifts according to your schedule.
- STEP SIX (optional): Volunteers who complete their first 26 hours and commit to a weekly shift are eligible for specialized training in education, outreach, or aquarium care and animal feedings.
BENEFITS FOR REGULAR VOLUNTEERS:
- Free Save The Bay t-shirt to wear during Aquarium shifts
- Free admission for two to Newport Mansions
- 25% off admission to Mystic Aquarium
- 10% off Aquidneck Pizza in Middletown with Save The Bay volunteer ID card
- 10% off Coastal Roasters in Tiverton with Save The Bay volunteer ID card
- Experience in environmental education, marine biology and visitor outreach
PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is not appropriate for short term or court-ordered community service.
INTERNSHIPS are also available! Our interns commit to 2-5 full days a week for a semester. In addition to visitor education and outreach, interns are responsible for animal care and feeding. See our internship posting for more information.
