The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is recruiting volunteers to work with the center's school programs and serve as exhibit guides. Volunteers attend training sessions to learn about marine science, then get to share their knowledge with students and other visitors to the Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab.
School volunteer training begins Wednesday, September 21. Exhibit guide training begins Friday, October 14. Advance registration is required for the training sessions.
School volunteer team
School volunteers help with Long Marine Lab's on-site school field trip programs. School groups from kindergarten through 12th grade visit the marine lab to learn about ocean science and research through activity-based lessons and short tours at the lab. Teams of staff and volunteer instructors lead hands-on learning activities for small groups in the seawater and teaching labs. Lab activities are followed by volunteer-led tours to observe and interpret UC Santa Cruz's research involving the lab's marine mammals and one of the world's largest whale skeletons.
The minimum commitment for a school volunteer is one three-hour shift every week during the school year (approximately October through May). The School Volunteer training series will take place at the Seymour Center on the following days:
- Wednesday, September 21, from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Friday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 28, from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Friday, September 30, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 5, from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Friday, October 7, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For more information, or to apply to become a school programs volunteer, contact Lucia MacLean at the Seymour Center at (831) 459-3854 or lmaclean@ucsc.edu. Information is also available on the Seymour Center website at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu.
Exhibit guides
Exhibit guides receive hands-on training to work with the public in marine science and conservation. They interpret the exhibits in the Seymour Center's visitor hall, work with the animals at the seawater table and shark touch-pool, interact with the Long Marine Lab community, and enjoy expanded and in-depth learning opportunities. The guides connect with both young and old about the role scientific research plays in the understanding and conservation of the world's oceans.
All Fall Apprentice Guide applicants must be 15 years or older, and commit to one 4-hour shift every other week for 6 months. No experience is necessary.
Exhibit guide training will take place on the following days:
- Friday, October 14, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, October 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saturday, October 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, October 23, from 8 a.m. to Noon
Applications and contact information can be found on the Seymour Center web site at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/volunteers.html. Interested applicants may also visit the Seymour Center and fill out an application available at the front desk. Applications for Fall Exhibit Guide Training must be received by Friday, October 1. All applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.
