- Teens Excited About Marinelife Ocean is a summer internship program for high school students who are at least 15 years old. Interns apply to specific program areas and work under the direction of Florida Oceanographic's staff. Program areas include: Aquariums (described above), Education (exhibits & programs as described above) and Research. Interns must commit to working 2-3 shifts per week and fulfill 5 out of 7 service learning projects. This program is FULL. Youth volunteers interested in volunteering throughout the summer are still eligible to participate in project specific activities as listed below. Please complete the online application and visit this page frequently for upcoming opportunities.
- Are you passionate about the environment? Do you enjoy working with children and adults? If you are a people person and aren't squeamish around sea creatures, then consider joining the team of volunteers helping to inspire environmental stewardship among the 50,000 guests that visit Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center each year. Initial training will help you get started, additional training opportunities are available and independent study is encouraged. Shifts range from 3.5 - 4 hours per week and volunteers must make a minimum commitment of 4 consecutive months. Exhibit guides must be at least 15 years old. Youth volunteers applying to work with exhibits and programs must submit a 500 word essay on the volunteer application and submit 2
teacher recommendations.
- Program presenters are exhibit guides who specialize in delivering one or more of the daily programs that take place at the Coastal Center. They have the ability to captivate an audience with roughly scripted information and are extremely knowledgeable about their specific subject. Daily programs include the Rays on the Reef Presentation, Game Fish Lagoon Presentation, Sea Turtle Presentation and the Guided Nature Walk. Shifts and age restrictions are the same as Exhibit Guides.
- Are you comfortable operating a computer in a fun & bustling atmosphere? Do you have exceptional customer service skills? If you are looking to volunteer but prefer to keep your fingers dry, this might be a good fit for you. Volunteers cover the admissions desk and the gift shop during staff lunch breaks or when staff are sick or on vacation. A weekly commitment is not required unless covering a regular lunch shift. Must be at least 18 years old and proficient on the computer.
- Do you have a background in marine biology or previous experience working with saltwater aquariums? Are you a degree seeking student looking to gain college credit in an internship program? This is a volunteer position which requires a 1-2 full day commitment every week. Interns will help staff care for the animals, monitor diet, behavior and health, prepare daily food rations and assist with feedings, documentation and upkeep of aquariums and quarantine. College credit is not guaranteed and must be applied for with your educational institution. Must be able to lift 50 pounds and be at least 16 years old. Youth volunteers applying to work with the aquariums department must submit a 500 word essay on the volunteer application and submit 2
teacher recommendations.
- Do you have a knack for working with kids? Are you interested in helping to make a child's birthday extra special? Our birthday party hosts/hostesses meet and greet the birthday group and help to transition the group from one program to the next. They provide that extra attention all kids crave to make a birthday party at Florida Oceanographic a most memorable experience. Must be at least 15 years old and a current exhibit guide.
- Water quality is a much talked about subject on the Treasure Coast and something very important to area residents and our quality of life. With the help of dedicated volunteers, Florida Oceanographic has been closely monitoring water quality in our area since 1998. Collected data is reported and published in the newspaper and on our website on a weekly basis. We are currently looking for volunteer water quality testers in these areas of the St. Lucie River: 1) the North Fork of the St. Lucie River including River Park Marina and 2) between the Roosevelt and Evans Crary Bridges.
If you are interested in volunteering for this program contact Vincent Encomio (vencomio@floridaocean.org) or Pam Hopkins (phopkins@floridaocean.org). - Improving the health of the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon is an important endeavor. Did you know a single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day? That is why Florida Oceanographic is committed to restoring oyster reefs to our estuarine waterways. With the help of volunteers in our community, we're cleaning up our waterways by creating restored oyster reefs and monitoring their success using various techniques including the use of underwater microphones called hydrophones. To get involved with our research projects, fill out the application to begin receiving project updates and notification of volunteer opportunities or keep an eye on the research page of the website. Project specific research opportunities are also promoted through Facebook.
- The Ocean DREAM Project provides the opportunity for families, individuals and groups to participate in beach clean-ups and report data back to Florida Oceanographic which will be forwarded to the county and to the state. Every one of us can do something to help our environment. Ocean Debris Removal Eliminates Accidental Mortality. Take action today and everyday by removing trash and manmade debris from areas where it doesn't belong. Please download & print the
Ocean DREAM data card and when your clean-up is done, return the completed card to Florida Oceanographic attn: Megan Roberts. Please note: All minors must be accompanied by an adult during beach/waterway clean-ups. Thank you for participating!
- If you have ever taken a stroll through the butterfly garden, you have no doubt seen skippers and other butterflies flittering about and sipping sweet nectar from the many flowers adorning an abundance of green foliage. Each week, volunteers and staff work together to create harmony and balance in the garden. They prune, transplant, propogate, nurture and remove invasive weeds that could otherwise choke out our beautiful garden. It's a labor of love! If you are interested in joining our Friday morning garden crew, please contact Pam Hopkins at 225-0505 x114 or e-mail
phopkins@floridaocean.org.
For more information contact Megan Roberts,
Coordinator of Volunteer Services at 772-225-0505 x106 or
