The Seymour Center depends upon support from the community in many ways--and our wonderful volunteers contribute daily. From leading tours to cleaning tanks--from staffing the bookstore to assisting with school programs-- volunteers are the heart of the Seymour Center. Read below for descriptions of our volunteer positions and apply today! Volunteer Positions: Visitor Programs docents serve as our major contact with the public and enhance visitor's understanding of the world of a working research laboratory. After a comprehensive training course, docents serve as guides in the Seymour Center, give special presentations and lead tours of the lab's research and visitor areas including stops at the whale skeleton, and marine mammal overlook. Docents also help with community outreach events. The minimum commitment is one year after course completion. Docents work one, four-hour shift, every other week. Training is held each winter beginning in January. The docent training class for 2013 is now full. Exhibit guides are people who can't wait to get their hands wet. Exhibit guides come on board twice a year and assist visitors at the seawater table (touch tank) and interpret the aquarium and exhibit hall. Working alongside experienced docents, exhibit guides increase their knowledge of marine science, gain valuable public speaking skills, and provide important volunteer support. During the fall, winter and spring, exhibit guides work a minimum of one, four-hour shift every other week. Participants in our summer exhibit guide program generally work one, four-hour, shift every week. Teens (ages 15 and up) and adults may apply for this program. Now accepting applications for Spring 2013 exhibit guides. Click here for details. School program instructors teach the Seymour Center’s on-site school field trip programs. Teams of volunteers, interns, and staff work together to teach hands-on marine science activity stations as part of thematic Discovery Lab & Tours to visiting school groups (grades K-Community College). School programs instructors also lead interpretive tours of the marine lab (Reserved School Tours), giving students the opportunity to observe and learn about research involving Long Marine Lab’s dolphins, sea lions, seals, and “Ms. Blue”—one of the world's largest whale skeletons on display. The minimum commitment is one, three-hour shift, every week during the school year (mid-October through beginning of June). School Programs Instructor Training is held each fall beginning in late September. Training for 2012 is now complete. Working with the Aquarium Curator, volunteer aquarists prepare food and feed the aquarium animals, clean aquarium tanks, repair and maintain equipment, and monitor animal behavior. Volunteer aquarists are scheduled for one, 3.5-hour shift per week on either a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning. The minimum commitment is six months and training is on the job. Some heavy lifting (up to 40 pounds) and use of a stepladder is required. Garden volunteers help maintain the coastal native plant garden and landscaping that surrounds the Seymour Center. Tasks include weeding, mulching, planting, watering, pruning, and occasional landscape planning. Garden volunteers meet once a week during the growing season, early spring to late fall, and as needed during the fallow season, late fall through winter, typically Wednesday mornings. Garden training is on the job. The minimum commitment is eight hours per month for six months. Working with the Friends of Long Marine Lab Director, special event volunteers assist with a variety of tasks in support of fund raising efforts, special events, marketing programs, and facility rentals. Events vary and can include fundraising dinners or other fundraising events, weddings, conferences, meetings, and public lectures. Volunteers may assist with the development, planning, and implementation of events, which can include decorations, set-up/clean-up, event operations and logistics, food and beverage service, selling tickets and cash handling, taking photographs and operating audio-visual equipment. Most events involve weekend and evening hours with an occasional pre-event meeting. This position is episodic and training is specific to each event. Administrative volunteers perform a variety of office duties that may include data entry, library maintenance, filing, archival maintenance, interpretive materials research, correspondence with school children, and general computer support. Participants are asked to contribute eight hours per month, for a minimum of six months. Training is on the job. Volunteer Benefits Contribute to the community Explore the ocean and its life Learn about exciting research, firsthand from the experts Receive discounts in the Ocean Discovery Shop Attend special field trips, seminars and lectures Make new friends Share knowledge with children and visitors from around the world Enjoy social events and potlucks Earn courtesy guest passes Receive the volunteer newsletter, Tidelines Receive the Seymour Center newsletter, Discovery UCSC student interns can receive academic credit (up to 5 units) by assisting with visitor and school programs as well as helping to develop projects for public displays, programs, and exhibits. Seymour Center volunteers have the unique opportunity to get the inside scoop on marine science in the Monterey Bay. Become a Seymour Center volunteer. You'll have the time of your life! Please contact Lucia MacLean at (831) 459-3854 or e-mail lmaclean@ucsc.edu if you are interested in joining the volunteer team at the Seymour Center, part of Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz! Click here to download an application. Mail completed Applications to: Volunteer Program Seymour Center at Long Marine Laboratory 100 Shaffer Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060 All applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Student/Internship Opportunities There are many opportunities for students interested in marine science. For more information about internships with the Seymour Center click here. For information about other opportunities within the Institute of Marine Sciences go to: http://ims.ucsc.edu/news/resources.html