Aquatics - Fish and Invertebrates Volunteer - Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium

Fish and Invertebrates Volunteer 

Aquatics Volunteer Opportunities

What we need: 

Our Volunteers learn valuable hands-on skills, taught by our Aquatics team, including water quality, fish identification, disease management, animal nutrition, live food preparation, culturing jellies and much

more. While volunteering you may perform a variety of tasks for aquatic animals including daily husbandry tasks, supporting animal training and welfare practices, and ensuring tanks/habitats are in optimal condition.

While animal care volunteers work near our animals, applicants for these positions should not expect

direct animal contact, handling, or training.

What you may do: 

While volunteering with the team, you may be trained and may interact with large predatory sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus, saltwater and freshwater fish, seahorses, invertebrates, live corals, and jellies.

• Actively observe animals’ behavior.
• Prepare daily diets and maintain accurate records of assigned animals.
• Gain knowledge of fish identifications.
• Assist with maintaining back-of-house areas.

The Aquatics department is comprised of 5 specialized teams. You’ll be placed on a team based on availability, skill, and preference.

• Aquatic Holding: As an aquatic holding volunteer, you’ll assist in the care of a wide variety of aquatic animals who may be housed in this special area (sometimes referred to as our “animal hospital) for additional observation, medical care, or are new to the facility. Volunteers on this team will gain a diverse knowledge of quarantine methods, biosecurity protocols, and safety procedures for feedings and water quality adjustments.
• Jellies: As a volunteer on the jellyfish and live food organism team, you’ll learn about jellyfish biology, development, and captive care, develop aquarium and aquaculture skills, and become familiar with the inner workings of public aquariums.
• Natives and Amazon: While volunteering with the Natives and Amazon team, you’ll work with a diverse range of freshwater fish such as sturgeon, alligator gar, giant Amazon arapaima, freshwater stingrays, giant catfish, and coastal invertebrates such as horseshoe crabs, southern spider crabs, and left-handed whelks. Volunteers will gain a vast knowledge of fish identification, aquatic exhibit basics, animal training for feeding and procedures, and life support systems to prepare themselves for future careers.
• Marvels of the Deep: While volunteering with “Marvels”, you will be trained and may interact with large predatory sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus, Spider crabs, seahorses, and live corals. Several valuable hands-on skills will be taught including water quality, fish identification, disease management, animal nutrition, and live food preparation.
• Shipwreck/Connector: As a volunteer on the Shipwreck team, you’ll assist in the care of a wide variety of tropical saltwater animals including sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays. You’ll learn how to prepare animal diets, understand target feeding, how to collect and track water quality data, and assist in cleaning the exhibits.

How this will help: 

Us: 

The aquatics team is constantly evolving and welcoming new species and opportunities to enhance our animals’ lives and the guest experience. Having dynamic and driven interns, or volunteers, join our team will ensure and promote effective and efficient care of the department’s animal collection.

You:

One-on-one mentoring is a daily part of this position and possible opportunities for special projects are typically available. An aquatics volunteer position provides exposure to diverse fields of wildlife, aquaculture, fisheries, and private aquaria and will help prepare you for a career in aquatic animal husbandry, biology, wildlife management, and many related scientific fields.

Skills & Experience Needed: 

• Volunteer must be 18 years or older
• Self-starter
• Detail-Oriented
• Must be willing to take direction and ask questions
• Requires walking/standing approximately 75% of the time, sitting 10% of the time, forward bending and crouching 15% of the time, lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Requires walking/standing approximately 75% of the time, sitting 10% of the time, forward bending and crouching 15% of the time, lifting up to 50 lbs.

Availability/Time Commitment

• Animal Care volunteers are required to work at least one 4-hour shift per week. There are daily opportunities between 6 am and 3 pm.
• Not all applicants will be accepted into animal care opportunities with additional screenings required.

Fun Fact about the Department: 

The Marvel's gallery includes the largest predatory sharks displayed in Missouri.

Learn more and apply today at: wondersofwildlife.org/volunteer