Description
VOLUNTEER for the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Do you love the ocean? Are you interested in teaching others about the amazing creatures that live along the North Carolina Coast? If so, then volunteer at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher!
Volunteers are vital to the operation of all of the Aquarium's programs. From helping to teach the public to assisting with plant or animal care to diving in to clean an exhibit, we simply could not do it without them.
We look for volunteers who are reliable, enthusiastic, and eager to learn and teach others about marine habitats. Please note: volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. A junior volunteer program is available for teens aged 15-17.
In addition, the Aquarium also occasionally offers internships for highly motivated students and career changers who are of college age and above.
Opportunities
Volunteers commit to at least four hours per week for four months, or one semester (with the training involved, volunteers in some areas are encouraged to stay on for a full year), helping in one of the following capacities:
Education Volunteers assist the education staff with a variety of programs for the public. Opportunities may include: Exhibit Interpreters for the Touch Tank and Let's Talk Turtle Exhibit, small group tour guides, smart carts and presentations, classroom crafts, off site festivals and special events. Must be willing and able to relate to the public, including large school and tour groups. Excellent customer service skills are a must.
HorticultureVolunteers assist the staff Horticulturist with plant care among a variety of different habitats. These opportunities may include: planting, watering plants, mulching, fertilizing, inspecting plants, identifying and labeling of a diversity of plant species, caring for seedlings, controlling pests, and cleaning exhibits and back-up areas. Volunteer applicants should have a basic knowledge of plants and their care and be willing to read and learn about daily needs of plant specimens. Must be willing to get wet and occasionally dirty. Must be physically able to work and lift some heavy materials.
Certified Dive Volunteers assist the Dive Safety Coordinator and Volunteer Lead Dive Staff with routine cleaning procedures and maintenance of the Cape Fear Shoals exhibit. Trained volunteers have the opportunity to present popular education programs to audiences at our daily Dive Shows. Volunteer applicants must be scuba-certified and in good health, and proof of a recent physical is mandatory. Potential divers must be at least 18 years of age and must successfully complete a swim test, an underwater skills test and a husbandry practicum.
Volunteer Aquarists assist in the general maintenance of filtration systems as well as both freshwater and saltwater exhibits. Volunteers assist aquarists with tasks such as diet preparation, feeding animals, cleaning tanks, and monitoring water conditions. Other duties may include performing routine water changes, maintenance of back-up areas, record keeping and data entry. Applicants for this position must be prepared to get wet and dirty.
Application and Orientation
Those interested in volunteering at the Aquarium must first complete a Volunteer Application Form and submit it to the Volunteer Coordinator. A list of orientation dates will then be forwarded to each applicant. All potential volunteers must attend one orientation. Orientations are the perfect time to find out what the aquarium is all about, meet aquarium staff, and learn more about our volunteer opportunities.
If you have any additional questions please contact the Volunteer Coordinator.
