VOLUNTEER

Volunteering will take place on various days throughout the school year, 4-5 hours a weekday.
Learning is an ongoing process and all volunteers are required to attend annual training.

After a training session, volunteers will have the opportunity to work directly with students doing scientific investigations of the estuary. Students will do a variety of activities. Here are just a few: take water quality samples, learn about plankton, identify organisms that live within Oyster beds and the role they play in the oyster reef and use microscopes to view plankton samples. Activities are in the ELC, outside, and in the lab.

A weekly commitment of two hours in off-season, three hours in-season, for at least 3 months is required.

The necessary training is provided prior to commencement of assignment. Learning is an ongoing process and all volunteers are required to attend annual refresher orientation.

Volunteer will be responsible for assisting guests in understanding the animals within our Estuary Encounter Marine Life Exhibit.

Individuals must meet these qualifications and interview with the Volunteer Specialist and the Aquarist before being considered for shadowing/training.

A weekly commitment of 4 hours on a specific day; from 10 am to 2 pm, Monday through Friday (Saturday during season).
Description of Duties: Volunteer greets visitors as they enter our Learning Center.

*Learning is an ongoing process and all volunteers are required to attend annual training.*

Tasks include:

Making guests feel welcome
Inquiring how they heard about the Center
Letting the visitor know what programs are going on that day or week
Orienting guests to the Learning Center and Rookery Bay Reserve
Interpreting the map of Rookery Bay Reserve for guests

Biweekly, flexible days & hours. 2 – 3 hours shift any day Monday – Friday, between 8:00 and 4:00 pm
Description of Duties:
Volunteer is responsible for minor maintenance of the grounds around the Environmental Learning Center and parking area.

Tasks include:

• Leaf blow walkways, bridges and around buildings
• Trim and prune shrubs along walks
• Pick-up downed fronds and tree branches, dispose of properly
• Exotic removal

Help our fisheries biologist collect samples with a trawl net each month in Naples Bay, Rookery Bay or the Ten Thousand Islands. Volunteers will help sort, identify, count and measure relevant fish and shellfish before returning them to the estuary.
Interested persons are expected to complete a volunteer application and attend a new volunteer orientation. Entering volunteer hours is required as per instructions from the Volunteer Coordinator. Once this is completed you will be placed on the fisheries research volunteer list and will receive emails with available dates that are set months in advance. Volunteers must respond to requests for assistance quickly in order to secure a seat on the boat.

More information coming soon!