The Marine Mammal Center - San Luis Obispo Operations

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The Marine Mammal Center is looking for volunteers to fill several key volunteer roles in our San Luis Obispo Operations Facility in Morro Bay, CA.
Applications Due by January 7, 2019

Animal Care and Rescue - Day Crew Volunteer

Day crew volunteers directly impact our mission by assessing and rescuing injured marine mammals and providing care for the patients at our triage facility. The day crew volunteers are responsible for fielding calls from the public about ill or injured marine mammals, assessing stranded animals, and rescuing the animal as directed. Additionally, these volunteers are responsible for basic triage care of patients on site, cleaning pens, maintaining clean equipment and facility and preparing patient charts.

A crew volunteer must be dedicated, a team player, alert, and physically capable. These volunteers join one-day crew (crews are offered each day, 7 days a week) for a 6-hour shift, and commit to coming for the full shift each week for at least 6 months. Shifts generally run from 7:30am-1:30pm, and 1:30pm-7:30pm. Day crew volunteers report directly to their crew supervisor(s). Shift times will vary throughout the year depending on the number and species of animals on site, and daylight hours. This is an incredible opportunity to help save patients’ lives in a fun environment with a close team.

Animal Care - Night Crew Volunteer

Night Crew volunteers directly impact our mission by providing care for the patients at our triage facility. These volunteers are responsible for feeding and administering basic medication to patients on-site, cleaning pens and the patient kitchen, updating patient charts, and maintaining clean equipment, vehicles and facility.

A Night Crew volunteer must be dedicated, alert and physically capable of working with fast, wild animals and be a team player who is able to work with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. These volunteers are expected to commit to one crew (crews are available each day of the week) and volunteer for the full evening shift each week for at least 6 months. Night Crew volunteers report directly to volunteer crew supervisor(s). Shift times vary throughout the year, typically busier in the spring and slower in the fall. Shifts include some weeks of being on call, depending on the number and species of animals on site but an approximate shift is 7:30pm-9:30pm. This volunteer position is only expected to volunteer on-site if there are animals on-site that night. This is an incredible opportunity to help save patients’ lives in a fun environment with a close team.

Conservation Education Volunteer

Conservation Education volunteers interact with the public at events to help promote awareness of marine wildlife, the work of The Marine Mammal Center, and to further community engagement around ocean stewardship. The Marine Mammal Center will provide Outreach & Education volunteers comprehensive training in natural history of marine mammals, the Center’s work in rehabilitation, rescue, and research of our patients, as well as techniques on how to effectively communicate and engage with the public.

Patient Transport Driver

The Patient Transport Driver volunteer fills a vital role in continuing our mission of global ocean conservation. Patient Transport Driver’s help transport our patients from San Luis Obispo County to our main hospital for their full rehabilitation! These volunteers are able to sign up for shifts to be on call for transportation needs either on a regular weekly basis or to be called on an as needed basis. If a transport is needed on the day of their shift, the volunteer picks up a TMMC vehicle from Morro Bay to drive to a meetup point in King City. Most transports are planned the evening before the day of the transport. The person in this role will need to be a safe driver, pass a Motor Vehicle Report, and be at least 21 years of age. This position reports to the crew supervisor of the day that the transport is taking place. This volunteer will benefit from the experience of working around the animals without the physical demands of on-call responder shifts.

If interested in any of these opportunities or to learn more about volunteering with The Marine Mammal Center, visit our website at

http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/Get-Involved/volunteer/satellite-facilities/slo.html