Pursue your interest in marine animals — and share your knowledge and enthusiasm with others — by becoming a member of the volunteer staff at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.
— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
Interviews for potential volunteers will be held on Tues., Sept. 17 and Thurs., Sept. 19, on both days at 5:30 p.m. (You need attend only one.)
“Volunteering here is fun and personally rewarding, and it’s also vital to fulfilling the Maritime Aquarium’s mission of educating and inspiring guests about Long Island Sound,” said Lisa Slinsky, assistant director of Volunteers and Community Service.
“If you’re retired, the Aquarium offers a great way to stay active and connected. A weekday-morning shift could be perfect for stay-at-home parents after they get their kids off to school. And serving as a weekend volunteer is a great experience for high-school students thinking about a career in marine biology.”
Is the volunteer or the kid having more fun here? Hard to tell. Registration is open now for an upcoming training course to become a volunteer at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Anyone over age 15 can sign up to learn how to interpret exhibits — such as the Intertidal Touch Tank (shown here) — for guests
Prior knowledge about marine animals isn’t necessary to be a Maritime Aquarium volunteer. That’s what will be taught in a five-week training course, which will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Tuesday, Oct. 1 to Tuesday, Oct. 29.
You must be at least 15 years old to sign up.
Adults are especially needed for weekday time slots.
Most volunteers serve as Gallery Ambassadors, helping visitors learn more about the represented animals of Long Island Sound, from crabs and sea stars to seals and sharks. There are also needs for behind-the-scenes office and special-event volunteers.
The minimum time commitment required from volunteers is 100 hours, at four hours per week for weekday volunteers and four hours per month for weekend staff. Letters of recommendation and other service-award forms will be signed by our staff at the completion of 100 hours of service.
A $40 fee covers the costs of training materials and uniforms. Volunteers receive discounts in the Gift Shop, Cascade Café and on many programs.
Advance registration is required for the interview sessions and volunteer training course.
For more details and to sign up, call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2225, or go online, here.
About the Maritime Aquarium
The Maritime Aquarium is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to educate visitors about — and to create stewards for — Long Island Sound.
It accomplishes this by allowing visitors to get close to more than 300 species native to the Sound and its watershed, including sharks, seals, sea turtles, river otters, jellyfish and other animals.
One of the top places for family fun in Connecticut, the Aquarium also features hands-on educational programs and displays, public study cruises out onto the Sound, and Connecticut’s largest IMAX movie theater, with a screen that’s six stories high.
TripAdvisor.com reviewers rate the Maritime Aquarium as one of the Top 20 aquariums in the U.S. and No. 1 in New England.