Team Blue

Program Description & Opportunities

Team Blue is a service-based program designed to offer participants hands-on learning and experience within all aspects of the Explorium. Volunteering is a great way to get involved and learn about marine science, education, earth science and nonprofit operations. It is also the volunteer program that the Ocean Explorium looks to first to fill staff vacancies.

Volunteers are a special breed. You are giving your own time and energy to a project you believe in and that is a wonderful and positive contribution to our organization.

The Ocean Explorium could not be successful without a solid core of dedicated and talented volunteers. Every volunteer brings his or her own unique history, skill set and personal contribution to the project.

Training is provided upon acceptance to the volunteer program, and we ask for a minimum six-month commitment. Volunteers are rewarded with great benefits!

We are flexible and offer university community-service rotations as well as short-term obligations, and the Volunteer Coordinator can assist you in crafting a program that is mutually beneficial.

There are many programs available within the Team Blue program:

Front Operations and Gift Shop
Be the face of the organization! Volunteer staff in the admissions area greet visitors, collect admission fees, verify and sell memberships and issue passes. Specific duties involve cash and check handling. You also sell products in our Gift Shop. You will gain experience in properly and effectively communicating basic program information, special programs and events.

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 stewards and visitors as needed.

Education
Get out on the floor and interact with kids and adults alike! Learn our weekly education programs and activities and bring science education to the community at the Explorer’s Table and within Discovery Bay, our children’s activity center. Education volunteers may also be asked to assist with field trips on an as-needed basis. Training with the Education Coordinator is required for this program.

Office
If you prefer to work high and dry, we can accommodate you. Duties vary depending on need but can include assisting with mailings, assembling curriculum materials for our education programs and photocopying. You may also be asked to help inventory and stock our gift shop during times when we are closed to the public.

Husbandry
Here’s your chance to learn how the exhibits run and what is needed for their daily care and maintenance. Volunteer staff in the Aquarist program will train with the Curator and will learn how to feed, interact with and monitor the animals, maintain the tanks and related systems and gain a detailed understanding of what goes on behind the scenes.

Scheduling

Click on the link for our schedule >>

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: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
AHA! 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Outreach: As needed

Program Guidelines and Commitment
Both Team Blue and Blue Corps have program guidelines in place to ensure quality and consistency in each program.