Blue Corps

Program Description & Opportunities

Blue Corps offers opportunities similar to those available to Team Blue, but the programs have been tailored to suit students 10-17 years of age.  Volunteers in the Blue Corps program learn important skills while demonstrating their strength of character through volunteerism.  The program is competitive and limited to 35 participants per six month period.  Preference for re-enrollment is given to current program participants in good standing.  New participants will be brought into the program in order of application.  
 
Volunteers are rewarded with great benefits! Successful Blue Corps candidates may be advanced/promoted into paid internships once they are of age and have demonstrated their knowledge and commitment to the Ocean Explorium and meet the qualifications of the intern position.
 
While in the program, participants act as “Assistants”, working alongside Team Blue members, interns and staff. 
 
Parents are encouraged to participate and share in the service experience and can apply as Team Blue members to work in tandem with their child(ren).
 
Programs available within Blue Corps:
 
Admissions and Gift Shop Assistants
Help be the face of the organization! Volunteer staff in the admissions area will greet visitors, collect admission fees, verify and sell memberships and issue passes.  You will gain experience in properly and effectively communicating basic program information, special programs and events.  You will also assist stocking and selling products in the gift shop.

Education Assistants
Get out on the floor and interact with kids and adults alike!  Learn our weekly education programs and activities and get involved bringing science education to our local community at the Explorer’s Table and within Discovery Bay, our hands-on activity center.

Science on a Sphere® Assistants
Can’t get enough of the Sphere?  Volunteers in this program assist the Stewards by alerting visitors to presentation times and programs.  You will also ensure safe passage in and out of the Science on a Sphere® cube and will direct visitors to deposit food, drink and strollers in designated areas.  During presentations, you will be at the ready to assist steward and visitors as needed.

Exhibit Assistants
From discussion of the commercial fishing industry to bird watching in an estuary, we can engage our visitors with and without water.  Volunteering with the exhibits allows you to learn the non-living exhibit areas, such as the murals, kiosk presentations and humans and the oceans exhibits.  Still want to roll your sleeves up and interact with the animals?  Learn about the organisms and exhibits and be able to engage visitors in brief, yet informative interactive sessions.   This program involves learning about and working with the touch tanks and closed aquaria.  You will be expected to handle the organisms when working at the touch tanks.
 
Aquarist Assistants
Here’s your chance to learn how these exhibits run and what is needed for daily care and maintenance.  Blue Corps staff in the Aquarist program will train with the Curator and will learn how to feed, interact with and monitor the animals, assist in the daily routine and gain a detailed understanding of what goes on behind the scenes.   A minimum of three months in the Exhibits Assistant Program is required to enter this program.

Outreach Assistants
Enjoy festivals and community events?  Help represent the Ocean Explorium at various events that our WOW! Mobile visits.  This program runs on demand, most often during the summer months.  Outreach training is required.

Scheduling

Hours of operation at the Ocean Explorium are from 8 am to 5 pm daily.  We are open to the public every day from 10 am to 4 pm. 

Ocean Voice is Tuesday nights, and we are open for this speaker series from 6:30-8:30 pm.

The 2nd Thursday of each month is AHA! Night, and we are open from 5-8 pm.

Volunteer shifts are broken down into five segments (as below):

Morning:             9:45 am to 12 pm
Mid-Day:            11 am to 3 pm
Afternoon:          12 pm to 4 pm
Ocean Voice:     6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
AHA!                    4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Outreach:           As needed

Program Guidelines and Commitment