Volunteering with the Marine Science Center is a great way to get involved in your community, meet new people, and take action to help the Salish Sea. Whether you’re a retired professor or a novice to marine biology, there’s room for everyone! You don’t need a science background; just enthusiasm, passion, and a willingness to try new things.
Volunteers serve as interpretive guides, docents, in our Aquarium and Museum, help maintain aquaria and feed animals, assist with beach walks and education programs, participate in collecting scientific data in our Citizen Science research and monitoring programs, help with public outreach at festivals and events, and more. We also have volunteers that serve on the PTMSC board or committees, help with our annual fundraising auction, do photography and videography, and bring their own special skills to our mission.
Volunteers in action
Our volunteers are essential to the smooth operation of PTMSC – we couldn’t do the activities we do without their tremendous, dedicated support. Their enthusiasm and passion for our mission is what motivates our staff and our programs, and we can’t thank them enough!
Current volunteer opportunities
Aquarium & Museum greeters
Greeters are the first smiling faces visitors see as they come to the Marine Science Center. You’ll be welcoming and introducing them to our exhibits and PTMSC! You’ll use the Square point-of-sale system to charge admission. The Museum greeter also rings up gift shop sales.
Aquarium & Museum interpreters
As an exhibit interpreter, or docent, you’ll be engaging visitors with our exhibits, sharing things you find interesting, amazing, or inspiring, and encouraging visitors to observe, think, and question.
Marine Mammal Stranding Network monitors
Be part of a team helping monitor the MMSN hotline. This can be done from home, with a computer and a phone. On your assigned days you would be checking for incoming calls a few times during the day, calling volunteers to find someone able to respond to the stranding, and then entering information into the call log.
Museum cleaning team
Help keep the Museum looking great for visitors! This team meets on alternate Saturdays, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. We provide the equipment and supplies, you provide the elbow grease and enthusiasm.