Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The CMA Rescue Team has volunteer positions available in both Stranding Administration and Stranding Rescue Response.

Stranding Administrative Volunteer:
Support the mission of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s and the work of the Rescue Department through attending, teaching, and developing department trainings as assigned, representing the aquarium at outreach events, and promoting stewardship of the marine environment. Administrative volunteers will assist with day-to-day department functions including equipment management, monitoring the emergency Rescue Response Hotline, responding to distressed and injured marine life, and data entry.

Rescue Response Volunteer:

Obtain knowledge of rescue policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and day-to-day functions.
Provide exceptional guest and public interaction for all stranding-related responses.
Learn and perform behavioral observations on resident animals in conjuncture with Marine Mammal Department.
Learn diet preparation and habitat maintenance of resident animals in conjuncture with Marine Mammal Department.
Assist with maintenance of equipment through inspection and inventory.
Assist with public outreach to promote conservation within the community.
Assist the Rescue Team in response to stranding events when contacted.
Assist other Animal Care departments as needed and requested by other departments.
Learn and be able to present the Stranding Demonstration.
Assist with habitat maintenance.
*For Rescue Response, a swim test is required within 90 days.

Our Rescue Team volunteers are on a flexible schedule with 4 hour minimum monthly commitment to remain active members of the Rescue Team.

Guest Experience volunteers are ambassadors to CMA, providing first impressions and enhancing the visitor experience! Volunteers in the Guest Experience department should possess a positive, outgoing personality, enjoy interacting with people, and be excited about the Aquarium’s mission.

Guest Experience volunteers engage CMA guests and attend to their needs. Tasks include: greeting guests in the ticketing line, facilitating their entry into CMA, manning the glitter tattoo station, and roaming throughout the building engaging guests about our work and mission. Volunteers must be comfortable with standing and walking on cement, going up and down stairs, and moving quickly from one task to another.

The Guest Experience volunteer position requires a minimum 4-month commitment to a weekly reoccurring shift, same day and time each week. Shifts in this department are 4 hours long, AM and PM volunteer shifts are available in this department 7 days a week; new volunteers are assigned their weekly shift based on their availability and our current shift openings.

Our Culinary Team will guide the volunteer in the daily operation of our food court, assisting with cart organization, guest interaction, cash handling, and cleanliness standards. Our Culinary Team will instruct the volunteer on the basic principles of food handling, preparation, proper storage and service. The culinary manager will conduct weekly training classes, sharing culinary skills and beginner recipes. The volunteer will take an online training class to become certified in Basic Food Handling. This certification will assist the volunteer with any future endeavors within the culinary workplace.

Volunteers should be comfortable working and interacting with guests and other staff at CMA.

Culinary volunteers commit to at least 1 weekly reoccurring 4 hour shift.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers a unique experience for our guests while providing music, food and a fun atmosphere with an outstanding marine facility as an overlay. HERE’S THE BEST PART – All proceeds from events stay with us here at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to assist in our mission to rescue, rehabilitation, and release.

Our Special Events volunteers are on a flexible schedule with a minimum commitment of 1 event per month to remain active volunteers.

In the Mammals Division, some of your responsibilities as a volunteer may include the following:

Learning and assisting in food preparation – a large majority of the day is spent sorting and inspecting fish, processing fish, and washing dishes.
Conducting behavioral observations, maintaining behavioral logs – records of feeding and observation sessions are maintained daily.
Participating in the daily maintenance of animal exhibits – more cleaning!
Narrating presentations for visitors of the aquarium
Interacting with encounter participants and guests of the aquarium
The Marine Mammal volunteer program is tailored to meet your personal abilities, experience level, and educational background. Marine Mammal volunteers should have no expectation of animal contact / handling.

The Marine Mammal volunteer position requires a minimum 4 month commitment to a weekly reoccurring shift, same day and time each week. Shifts in this department are 5 hours, several shift times are available each day and volunteers are needed 7 days a week; new volunteers are assigned their weekly shift based on their availability and our current shift openings.

This department oversees and maintains the water environment of all animals at CMA. It all starts with having an environment in which our resident and rehab animals can flourish! This department is also responsible for aquarist duties.

Responsibilities Include:

Water chemistry of all animals at CMA
Logging of Data
Data entry
Assist with some fish feedings
Filter pressure/heater/chiller data recording * Must be able walk throughout the facility for sample collection and climb ladders for equipment inspection.
The Water Quality volunteer position requires a minimum 4 month commitment to a weekly reoccurring shift, same day and time each week. Shifts in this department are 4 hours long, AM and PM volunteer shifts are available in this department 7 days a week; new volunteers are assigned their weekly shift based on their availability and our current shift openings.

Join our Environmental Operations Team and be part of our Facilities Maintenance Department! Environmental Operations oversees the custodial needs of Clearwater Marine Aquarium. As an E/O Volunteer, you will be making a huge difference for our guests and the animals by performing routine maintenance around the aquarium.

Volunteer Responsibilities Include:

Maintain a clean appearance to glass/acrylic fixtures and aquariums.
Keeping the floors clear of debris and water.
Taking out trash when needed.
Sanitize touchpoints.
Stocking guest areas.
Responding to requests from any department.
Specialized tasks as needed.
Inventory management.
Ability to positively communicate with guests, staff and other volunteers.
Yes, we won’t lie — it can be a dirty job. But, believe it or not, it is very rewarding and pretty fun!

The E/O volunteer position is a weekly reoccurring shift, same day and time each week. Shifts are 5 hours long, with the choice of a morning or afternoon and are available 7 days a week.

Education volunteers work two Sea Life Safari boat tours during their shift. Volunteers act as boat mates and participate in other educational activities. Duties include assisting guests from the queue line to the boat, helping passengers to embark and disembark the boat, pulling a trawl net, assisting with marine life data collection, helping with the “show and tell” of marine organisms by passing around plastic containers while onboard. You must be able to lift a bucket with water, and have reasonable balance on a moving boat. In addition to working on our sea life safari boats, volunteers in Education assist the Education Department with other educational activities, such as off-site visits and tabling events.

The Education volunteer position requires a minimum 4 month commitment to a weekly reoccurring shift, same day and time each week. Shifts in this department are 4 hours long, AM and PM volunteer shifts are available in this department 7 days a week; new volunteers are assigned their weekly shift based on their availability and our current shift openings.

Maintaining water quality and appearance of our pools is the top priority for the CMA Dive Team. Many pools are in direct sunlight which increases algae growth. Therefore, we need to enlist committed volunteer SCUBA divers to assist with our pool cleaning challenge. Air tanks and some basic equipment are provided. Applicants to become a CMA Volunteer Diver must be certified as an Open Water Diver from an internationally recognized agency (PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc) and hold a current CPR/AED certification. Dive volunteer applicants will be asked to provide a copy of their SCUBA certification card and their CPR/AED certification.

The Dive volunteer position allows a flexible schedule with AM and PM shifts available for sign up and a minimum commitment of 2 dives per month.

Volunteers ages 15 to 17 can volunteer for things like:
Culinary
Education
Summer Camps
Dive Team
Guest Experience
Retail
Positions are seasonal (Spring, Summer and Fall)

There are front and back of house volunteer positions in the retail department.

Front of House Location – CMA Retail Store: Assist guests, clean and replenish, recover merchandise.
Suggested Skills: Comfortable with the public and enjoy guest interaction

Back of House Location – Retail Warehouse: Preparing and shipping online orders, counting, pricing, labeling, sorting, and organizing merchandise.
Suggested Skills: Task oriented attention to details, good at taking direction and following instructions.