Animal Exhibits Department Volunteers

Julie Larsen Maher ©WCS

New York Aquarium Animal Exhibits Department
VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Behavioral Husbandry
The aquarium's Behavioral Husbandry Division works primarily with California sea lions and northern fur seals, as well as with several true seals. This division’s staff and volunteers are also often called upon to assist the Sea Cliffs staff, especially during feedings. Behind the scenes, trainers teach the animals behaviors that focus on monitoring their health. This division’s volunteers are a vital part of the training team. We are confident that our volunteers will leave with skills to prepare them for the highly competitive field of marine mammal care.

Please note: Due to construction projects at the New York Aquarium and a beluga whale breeding program at the Georgia Aquarium, we house neither bottle-nosed dolphins nor beluga whales.

Conservation Hall or Explore the Shore
Individuals interested in caring for fish and aquatic invertebrates will find the volunteer programs at Explore the Shore or Conservation Hall a practical and rewarding experience. In either division, volunteers work with a variety of fresh and saltwater marine organisms. Responsibilities include filter cleaning and maintenance, diet preparation and feeding, monitoring basic parameters such as temperature and salinity, new animal acclimation and quarantine, observation of breeding behaviors and general health, as well as the possibility of working with endangered species. Volunteers gain hands-on experience and a familiarity with the daily tasks of the professional aquarist.

Sea Cliffs
Sea Cliffs volunteers work with the widest variety of marine creatures, from aquatic mammals to birds, bony fish, invertebrates, and sharks. An attempt will be made to place volunteers with their first choices, but volunteers must be prepared to help out where assistance is most needed. It has been our experience that this flexibility is beneficial to the volunteer, both in terms of widening one's experience and in developing new interests.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be in good health and physical condition.
  • Have a full understanding of and be able to apply basic math skills.
  • Biology or psychology background is preferred.
  • Previous experience in animal care is helpful.
  • Public speaking experience is helpful.

COMMITMENT
The volunteer must commit to the agreed upon day(s) for a period of no less than six months. However, those candidates only able to volunteer during summer recess periods may be accommodated if deemed appropriate by division Volunteer Supervisors.

All volunteers must be dressed and ready to work beginning at 8:00 a.m. and will leave by 5:00 p.m. with at least half an hour for lunch.

To apply, submit the completed Volunteer Applicant Personal Information form with a resume and cover letter to Richard S. Blankfein, the Volunteer Coordinator, indicating the division(s) in which you are interested. You may apply to more than one division. You should also indicate your availability for working as well as your availability for interviews. If the first division of your choice is full, the Volunteer Coordinator may pass your application on to another division. If interested in your application, a division supervisor will contact you to arrange an interview. Please do not send your papers directly to any division of the Animal Exhibits Department.

The divisions of the Animal Exhibits Department are:

  • Behavioral Husbandry
  • Conservation Hall
  • Explore the Shore
  • Sea Cliffs

Send to:
Richard S. Blankfein, Volunteer Coordinator
New York Aquarium Animal Exhibits Department
Surf Avenue at West 8th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11224

Please Note:
No housing is provided to interns or volunteers.
Internships are unpaid and are arranged with colleges and universities on a case-by-case basis to meet the needs of their students. Internship requirements of colleges and universities do not replace volunteering duties but instead are the responsibility of interns to be accomplished as additional tasks.