Mystic Aquarium

The Aquarium is looking for volunteers in a variety of areas. In addition to making a difference, you’ll meet new friends and enjoy numerous benefits, such as free admission and discounts.

What you need to know about our volunteer program

At Mystic Aquarium, our mission is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration. No one plays a bigger part in achieving that mission than our valued volunteers. In fact, there are entire programs that would not be possible without the support of our volunteers!

If you're thinking about applying for our volunteer program, we encourage you to take a look at the following information before submitting your application. You'll find volunteers from all walks of life at the Aquarium — students, retirees, homemakers, even full-time workers. If you choose to apply, placement will occur after your interview and will be based on your interests, availability, experience and our areas of need.

Requirements

What are the requirements for becoming a volunteer?

First, you'll have to complete an application and be successfully reviewed by our staff. Applicants must be at least 15 years old.

Our scheduled volunteers need to commit to at least six months of service or a full summer of service. These volunteers give a minimum of a half day weekly, or a full day every other week. Their involvement begins with our docent training, which typically involves six training sessions — five evenings and one Saturday. Our volunteer office will inform you about the next training class when you apply.

If a weekly or bi-weekly commitment isn’t possible, we also have special events volunteers who periodically assist with activities at the Aquarium, including overnight trips, summer camp programs, seasonal events, administrative projects and more.

We ask that all volunteers come appropriately dressed for their location, comply with our staff policies and procedures and, above all, bring their enthusiasm!

Benefits

What kind of benefits can I expect as a volunteer?

You'll find that there a quite a number of benefits to becoming a volunteer. These include:

• Free Aquarium admission for yourself
• Discount on most items in the gift shop and Penguins Cafe
• Staff rates on programs and tickets
• Continuing education and training
• Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night
• Invitations to all staff events
• Worker's Compensation benefits
• An opportunity to be part of our community
• Unparalleled experiences learning and developing unique skills

In addition to these benefits, your work as a volunteer will pay you back in other ways. You'll gain experience in an exciting field. You'll receive on-the-job training in a friendly work environment. You'll have the satisfaction of helping others and spreading environmental awareness. Best of all, you'll contribute to our mission of research, education and conservation.

Roles & Departments

Where can I expect to work?

Volunteers are involved in a wide variety of functions at the Aquarium. Following initial training, volunteers assist in several roles, including exhibit education, classroom assistance, the stranding team and husbandry in animal care areas. We also have specialized SCUBA volunteers who dive our tanks, as well as special events volunteers who assist with individual events and projects.

Join Us!

Ready to apply?

You can apply by completing our online form or by contacting the volunteer office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please note that an application typically takes two to four weeks for processing.