Each year, more than 500 volunteers support the mission, animal welfare goals and daily operations of the National Aquarium as we connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our planet. In fact, volunteers participate in nearly every facet of life at the Aquarium. You need not be an oceanographer or animal expert; if you are a high school graduate age 18 or older and can commit to one year of regular volunteer service, the Aquarium's expert staff will train you to do the rest!
Please note: We do not arrange shadow experiences. However, our college internships offer hands-on opportunities to gain valuable skills and experience.
Becoming a Volunteer
Most National Aquarium volunteer opportunities have limited availability, and we are fortunate that many volunteer positions are at capacity. We don't offer in-building group volunteer opportunities, but groups can sign up to volunteer for conservation events hosted throughout the year. We encourage you to check back periodically if you are interested in a volunteer position that is not currently available.
All applicants are subject to a standard National Aquarium background check. Minimum participation expectations, prior experience and necessary program training vary by volunteer role. Success in some roles may depend on specific physical requirements. Please see individual program descriptions for position-specific information and requirements.
Application Schedule
We recruit volunteers twice a year in spring and fall.
| Recruitment Season | Applications Open | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | January 1 | February 20 |
| Fall | July 1 | September 1 |
Age Requirements
All volunteer positions, except the Youth Exhibit Guide, are for people 18 years of age and older. In addition to the Youth Exhibit Guide program, younger guests can participate in our education programs. Children 8 years of age and older can accompany a parent or guardian to volunteer for conservation events held throughout the year.
Volunteer Benefits
In exchange for their time, talents, enthusiasm and energy, Aquarium volunteers enjoy the following:
- Professional training for your role
- Annual membership privileges, including free admission
- Free garage parking for regular volunteers during volunteer shifts
- Gift shop and cafe discounts
- Social opportunities and official volunteer appreciation events
- Smiles, engagement and appreciation from Aquarium guests
Questions?
If you have questions, please contact the National Aquarium volunteer office at volunteer@aqua.org or 410-576-3886.
Volunteer Opportunities Guest Services, Outreach and Administrative Opportunities
Education outreach volunteers serve as ambassadors for the Aquarium, sharing our mission, programs and resources. Work with Aquarium staff to identify opportunities, respond to inquiries and coordinate/attend outreach events and activities. These include fairs, community events, networking meetings, school functions and more.
Requirements:
- A one-year commitment to volunteer for at least three hours per month
- A keen interest in biology or aquatic science, animals and their habitats, and ocean conservation
- Previous participation in a National Aquarium youth program
- Successful completion of National Aquarium training
- An outgoing personality and professional, team-oriented demeanor
- Conscientious work habits
Exhibit guides serve as our Guest Services team's front line, explaining and interpreting exhibits to visitors. After training, they can confidently share the science and wonder of Aquarium animals and their habitats.
Requirements:
- A one-year commitment to volunteer for at least one 4.5-hour shift per week
- A keen interest in biology or aquatic science, animals and their habitats, and ocean conservation
- Successful completion of Aquarium training sessions, including a written test
- A willingness to enthusiastically assist and patiently interact with guests from around the world
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Information specialists help Aquarium guests from around the world and around the corner make the most of their Aquarium visit by providing timely wayfinding and programming information with the exceptional level of service the Aquarium strives to deliver every day.
Requirements:
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one three-and-a-half-hour shift per week
- A willingness to enthusiastically assist and patiently interact with guests from around the world
- Successful completion of Aquarium training sessions, including a written test and ongoing training updates
- A strong working knowledge of the National Aquarium's operating hours, amenities, physical layout, exhibit locations and membership privileges
- Familiarity with other destinations and amenities throughout downtown Baltimore
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Office assistants are invaluable in helping Aquarium staff with administrative duties. From filing, answering phones, mailing and scanning to completing tasks on the computer and other special projects, office assistants work in the main Aquarium buildings and our administrative offices one block away.
Requirements:
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one three- to four-hour shift per week
- Successful completion of seven online training modules and quizzes
- Successful completion of Aquarium office orientation and one four-hour weekend training session
- Basic computer skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- An outgoing personality and professional, team-oriented demeanor
- Conscientious work habits
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Volunteer Opportunities Animal Rescue Opportunities
Animal Rescue stranding response volunteers assist with the National Aquarium's regional field response to emergency events involving live marine mammals and sea turtles. Volunteers will be expected to reside near Ocean City, Maryland. This position supports the National Aquarium Animal Rescue team's effort to provide exemplary care, ensure animal welfare and undertake the final disposition of stranded animals, which may include humane euthanasia of critically injured animals.
With continued training, volunteers gain advanced skills in appropriate response to stranded—and potentially sick or injured—whales, dolphins, seals and turtles; proper animal restraint and handling; preparing animals for transport; basic triage techniques; and monitoring resting animals. Opportunities for advancement will allow interested volunteers to assist with medical procedures, necropsies, animal transports and, potentially, animal releases.
Please note: Due to the potential for exposure to infectious diseases, this position is not recommended for individuals who are immunocompromised.
Requirements
- Ability to restrain a seal weighing up to 100 pounds (training provided)
- Ability to perform strenuous field activities in various weather conditions/terrains, including climbing over sea wall structures and walking long distances
- Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Successful completion of assigned training modules
- Established comfort level working with large, wild animals
- Ability and willingness to enthusiastically and patiently interact with members of the public in the field
- Ability to follow established rules, safety procedures and assigned tasks
- Availability to commit to a full year of volunteer service
- Availability to volunteer for a minimum of two to three two-hour shifts per month
Animal Rescue sea turtle husbandry volunteers work with endangered sea turtle patients and contribute to the conservation of their species. Volunteers work behind the scenes preparing food, feeding, cleaning, conducting daily observations, keeping records and assisting with local release events for sea turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the National Aquarium.
With continued training, volunteers will gain advanced skills in husbandry techniques, oral medication administration, animal enrichment and proper handling. Opportunities for advancement will allow interested volunteers to assist with on-site and off-site medical procedures, necropsies and animal transports. Animal Rescue husbandry volunteers work within the hospital pool area at the main Aquarium campus.* Previous experience in animal husbandry is helpful, but training is available.
* Quarantine protocol restrictions apply for those working or volunteering in other areas of the Aquarium.
Requirements
- A basic knowledge of animal husbandry and recordkeeping
- Previous animal care experience or related academic background (desirable)
- Established comfort level working in and around water, including the ability to swim
- Ability to climb in and out of a pool in chest waders without assistance
- Ability to lift and carry 25 pounds up and down stairs
- Successful completion of online training modules and corresponding quizzes
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one four-hour shift (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) per week
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Animal Rescue seal husbandry volunteers work behind the scenes with rescued seal patients, preparing food, feeding, cleaning, conducting daily observations, keeping records, and eventually assisting with local release events for seals undergoing rehabilitation at the National Aquarium.
With continued training, volunteers will gain advanced skills in husbandry techniques, oral medication administration, animal enrichment, proper restraint and handling, and tube feeding. Opportunities for advancement will allow interested volunteers to assist with on-site and off-site medical procedures, necropsies and animal transports. Animal Rescue seal husbandry volunteers will work at the National Aquarium Animal Care and Rescue Center in downtown Baltimore.*
* Quarantine protocol restrictions apply for those working or volunteering in other areas of the Aquarium.
Requirements
- A basic knowledge of animal husbandry and recordkeeping
- Previous animal care experience or related academic background (desirable)
- Established comfort level working with large wild animals
- Ability to restrain a seal weighing up to 100 pounds (training provided)
- Ability to climb in and out of elevated enclosures without assistance
- Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Successful completion of online training modules and corresponding quizzes
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one three-and-a-half-hour shift per week
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Animal Rescue seal steward volunteers serve in on-call field positions along the Atlantic Coast of Maryland to support National Aquarium Animal Rescue. Volunteers will be expected to reside near Ocean City, Maryland. As a seal steward, volunteers will need to interact with the public. Therefore, volunteers must be service-oriented, possess excellent judgment and follow instructions. They must also feel comfortable keeping the public and their pets at a safe distance from seals hauled out on ocean beaches while providing educational information about seals and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This position supports exemplary animal welfare for wild seals in Maryland.
As a seal steward volunteer and representative of the National Aquarium, responsibilities include monitoring resting seals, establishing and maintaining safe perimeters around resting seals to ensure distance between seals and the public, providing educational information to the public, and representing the Animal Rescue team at outreach events.
Please note: Due to the potential for exposure to infectious diseases, this position is not recommended for individuals who are immunocompromised.
Requirements
- Ability to perform strenuous field activities in various weather conditions/terrains, including climbing over sea wall structures and walking long distances
- Ability to lift and carry 20 pounds
- Successful completion of assigned training modules
- Ability and willingness to enthusiastically and patiently interact with members of the public in the field
- Ability and willingness to follow established rules, safety procedures and assigned tasks
- Availability to commit to a full year of volunteer service
- Availability to volunteer for a minimum of two to three two-hour shifts per month
Volunteer Opportunities Marine Mammal Opportunities
Dolphin enrichment specialist volunteers assist the Aquarium's Marine Mammal staff with designing, building, implementing and interpreting enrichment toys and devices provided to our dolphin colony for educational play. Volunteers also sometimes interact with guests and tour groups to demonstrate and explain enrichment activities.
Please note: While volunteers in this position interact closely with our dolphin population, they are not permitted to touch or feed the animals directly.
Requirements
- A basic understanding of the theory and application of environmental enrichment, animal physiology, animal behavior and operant conditioning
- Successful completion of online training modules and quizzes
- Successful completion of three apprenticeship sessions and three four-hour general training sessions
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one four-hour shift per week
- Established comfort level around deep water, including the ability to swim
- Established comfort level working with and around large animals
- Ability to follow schedules and maintain enrichment record spreadsheets and calendars
- Ability to patiently and enthusiastically interact with Aquarium guests
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Each of the National Aquarium's Atlantic bottlenose dolphins receives daily observation from our Marine Mammal staff. Dolphin observation volunteers assist the staff in making specific behavioral observations from the poolside or the observation pit and during medical procedures as necessary.
Please note: While volunteers in this position interact closely with our dolphin population, they are not permitted to touch or feed the animals directly.
Requirements
- Successful completion of online training modules and quizzes
- Successful completion of three apprenticeship sessions and three four-hour general training sessions
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one two- to four-hour shift per week
- Established comfort level around deep water, including the ability to swim
- Established comfort level working around large animals
- Established comfortable in a small, enclosed space and the ability to climb up and down a 6-foot ladder
- Excellent visual acuity
- Ability to lift and carry 25 or more pounds
- Ability to keep and maintain records and logs on a hand-held device
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Volunteers assisting the Aquarium's Marine Mammal team will be paired with a mentor/trainer. They will assist in all aspects of daily care for the Aquarium's Atlantic bottlenose dolphin colony, including feeding and enrichment. They will also interact with Aquarium guests. Volunteers should be reliable, team-oriented individuals who can become comfortable speaking in front of marine mammal presentation audiences.
Requirements
- Academic background or practical experience working with cetaceans or other marine or terrestrial mammals (preferred)
- Successful completion of online training modules and quizzes, three apprenticeship sessions, and three four-hour general training sessions
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one eight-hour shift per week
- Established comfort level around deep water, including the ability to swim
- Established comfort level working with and around large animals
- Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Ability to prepare feed buckets, including counting, checking and thawing fish, and icing and transporting buckets poolside
- Ability to assist in the cleaning and maintenance of exhibit and back-up areas
- Ability to assist with recordkeeping
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Volunteer Opportunities Animal Welfare and Exhibit Opportunities
Animal Programs assistants enjoy the best of two worlds—caring for exotic birds and reptiles and interacting with Aquarium guests. Animal Programs volunteers work behind the scenes cleaning enclosures, preparing food, and feeding reptiles and birds of varying sizes. They also help with bathing, exercise and environment enrichment. Volunteers may also assist staff with the public presentation of these animals during scheduled daily encounters.
Requirements
- Previous animal care experience, especially with birds and/or reptiles (preferred)
- Established comfort working around large birds and reptiles
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for at least one three- or four-hour shift per week
- Successful completion of volunteer training program, orientation and ongoing on-the-job training
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Ability to follow established rules, safety procedures and assigned tasks
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Aquarist assistants work behind the scenes preparing food for Aquarium animals, recording dietary data, maintaining freshwater and saltwater exhibits, using power filters and assisting in occasional special projects. Aquarist volunteers working in many of the exhibits in the main Aquarium as well as in our Animal Care and Rescue Center in downtown Baltimore.
Requirements
- Previous fish and invertebrate animal care experience or related academic background (required)
- Successful completion of all training classes and a written exam
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for one or more four-hour shifts (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.) at least every other week
- Ability to lift and carry at least 35 pounds
- Ability to climb ladders and work on top of exhibit tanks
- Enthusiasm and willingness to learn
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Aviculture assistants help staff care for exotic birds in the National Aquarium's Upland Tropical Rain Forest and Australia: Wild Extremes exhibits, including the daily collection, preparation and distribution of food for the birds, adhering to strict dietary guidelines. They also help to make observations, maintain exhibits and maintain behind-the-scenes animal housing. With training, aviculture assistants may sometimes interact with Aquarium guests interested in learning more about the free-flying birds in these exhibits.
Requirements
- Basic knowledge of bird nutrition and physiology (required)
- A willingness to learn how to identify individual species and assess nutritional needs
- Successful completion of all training classes and a written exam
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for one or more four-hour shifts (7:30 to 11:30 a.m.) at least every other week
- Ability to follow recipes and handle bugs
- Ability to climb on rock ledges
- Ability to lift and carry 35 or more pounds
- Established comfort level in a hot, humid environment
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Herpetology assistants have the rare opportunity to work with neo-tropical frogs and lizards in the National Aquarium's Upland Tropical Rain Forest and Australia: Wild Extremes exhibits and at our Animal Care and Rescue Center a few blocks away from the main Aquarium in downtown Baltimore. Herpetology assistants design and create live terrariums, maintain food colonies and feed frogs, turtles and lizards. Additional responsibilities include animal observation and maintenance of exhibits and off-exhibit animal rooms.
Requirements
- A basic knowledge of the care of reptiles and amphibians (preferred)
- Simple shop skills (preferred)
- Successful completion of all training classes and a written exam
- A one-year commitment (minimum) to volunteer for one or more four-hour shifts (7:30 to 11:30 a.m.) at least every other week
- Ability and willingness to work with small, delicate frogs and live food
- Ability to lift and carry 35 or more pounds
- Established comfort level in a hot, humid environment
- Enthusiasm for taking care of and learning about reptiles and amphibians
- Prompt, consistent attendance
Volunteer divers are recruited periodically based on the Aquarium's support needs—typically every other year. Please email volunteers@aqua.org if you would like to be notified when volunteer diver positions become available.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice
The National Aquarium is dedicated to creating an environment that is inclusive, equitable and accessible to people from all backgrounds. We cannot successfully change the way humanity cares for our ocean planet without connecting with and appreciating the broad diversity of identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that make our community unique.
Join Our Team
Interested in joining the National Aquarium team? Explore our available full-time, part-time and internship opportunities.