The Dickens Project

I have been a volunteer exhibit guide at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center since Oct of 2014. I never thought of myself as a volunteering type of person, usually shy in social situations. However, from the first training class I realized this was going to be FUN. My class contained the full gambit of people and age ranges. High school students to retired teachers and professionals. Everyone there for a common purpose, to learn about our Monterey Bay and the world's oceans and to share that knowledge with our community. The training is low key, informative and not time intensive. Center staff work hard to accommodate your time needs and personnel schedule. Spending a few hours a week with the Monterey Bay stretching out 50 yards away is not really work. It is very rewarding to interface with the Center visitors from our area, around the USA and the world. The greatest satisfaction are the children who truly love the touch pools. Come on over and join the fun.

I've been volunteering at the Seymour Center for 6 years, and there are many who have been volunteering many years longer! There's just something about being in view of the ocean, sharing my enthusiasm about the ocean inhabitants and knowledge of the Seymour Center that keeps me coming back. And with the variety of exhibits, ocean critters, and scientific research - as well as variety of visitors, school groups, and other groups - each day is interesting and different. Plus there always something new to learn and opportunities to keep learning. All the Seymour Center staff are welcoming and continually grateful for our help - and there is a nice comaraderie with fellow volunteers (from high schoolers to senior citizens).