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: Programs titled in red are open to new volunteers and require minimal amounts of training. The blue programs require a longer commitment and more detailed training, but offer hands-on opportunities to work within our programs and exhibits.

Admissions
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 and credit/debit card processing and require reconciliation with the Floor Manager at the end of each scheduled shift. You will gain experience in properly and effectively communicating basic program information, special programs and events.

Gift Shop
What’s a day out at the Ocean Explorium without a t-shirt, field guide or inflatable Earth? Volunteer staff are responsible for stocking and selling products in the gift shop. Specific duties involve cash and check handling and credit/debit card processing and require reconciliation with the Floor Manager at the end of each scheduled shift.

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.

Non-Living Exhibits
From discussion of the commercial fishing industry to bird watching in an estuary, we can engage our visitors without water. Volunteer staff in the non-living exhibit areas will be trained to discuss the murals and non-living exhibits within the Ocean Explorium. Training with the Educational Coordinator is required for this program. A minimum of three months in any of the red programs is required to enter this program.

Living Exhibits
Want to roll up your sleeves 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. Training with the Educational Coordinator is required for this program. You will be expected to handle the organisms. A minimum of three months in any of the red programs is required to enter this program.

Aquarist
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. A minimum of three months in the Living Exhibits Volunteer Program is required to enter this program.

Outreach
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. A minimum of three months in the Education Volunteer Program is required to enter this program and preference is given to qualified volunteers on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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