New England Aquarium

AnimalsEducationEnvironment
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New England Aquarium

AnimalsEducationEnvironment
1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Phone (617) 973 - 5200
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Our mission

The New England Aquarium is a catalyst for global change through public engagement, commitment to marine animal conservation, leadership in education, innovative scientific research, and effective advocacy for vital and vibrant oceans.
Opportunities

Animal Husbandry Volunteer

Animal Husbandry Volunteers work directly with our animal population. These positions generally involve a lot of cleaning and diet preparation. Volunteers must be in good physical health and able to make quick decisions.
  • Weekly
  • 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Formal
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Turtle Emergency Response Volunteer

Our rescuers rehabilitate endangered sea turtles. In the past decade alone, our rescuers have treated and released hundreds of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles as well as many green and loggerhead sea turtles. These numbers are especially significant considering the Kemp’s ridley is the most endangered sea turtle in the world.

Each fall, staff and volunteer walkers from the Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary comb dozens of miles of beach trying to find stranded sea turtles. The turtles are transported to the rescuers and veterinarians at the New England Aquarium with extreme hypothermia, severe dehydration, pneumonia, and often shell or bone fractures. While 2014 was a record-smashing year when 733 turtles were treated at the Animal Care Center in Quincy, on average we treat about 300 turtles each year. Their treatment can last between two and eight months, sometimes longer. Most of the sea turtles that arrive alive at the Aquarium recover and are released back into the ocean.
  • Ongoing
  • Adults
  • In Person, Indoor
  • On-site, Formal
  • Anytime

Marine Mammal Education Volunteer

Marine Mammal Center Educators are ambassadors, representing the New England Aquarium by engaging visitors of all ages and backgrounds in one on one conversation about our fur seals and sea lions. Don’t know a lot about marine mammals or how to talk to visitors? Don’t worry! We provide training and mentorship to prepare volunteers with all the fun facts, information and teaching tips needed to become a highly engaging Visitor Educator.
  • Ongoing
  • 55+, Adults
  • In Person, Indoor
  • On-site, Formal
  • Anytime

live blue Service Leader

live blue Service Leaders volunteer on a more episodic basis. These individuals work within the greater live blue™ Service Initiative and the Volunteer Programs & Internships office to identify environmental and community needs that can be addressed by the program, reach out to potential partner organizations, and, after attending a series of workshops, lead their own service events with NEAq staff support.
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Formal
  • Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends

Animal Health Volunteer

Animal Health Volunteers aid the Aquarium’s Veterinarians, Vet Techs, Environmental Quality Team, Rescue Team, and Biologists in providing both preventative care and rapid response to the animals in our Central Wharf and Quincy locations. Animal Health volunteer tasking may include any of the following tasks: a lot of cleaning, diet preparation, data entry, lab work, data analysis, and administrative support.
  • Weekly
  • Adults
  • Individuals
  • Physical
  • Formal
  • Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends

Education Volunteer

Education Volunteers serve both onsite and throughout the Greater Boston Community by teaching the general public about marine science. Volunteers answer questions from the public, aid in programs, demonstrate appropriate animal handling at our touch tanks, and assist with general administrative projects.
  • Weekly
  • 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Formal
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Museum Operations and Conservation & Research Volunteer

Museum Operations and Conservation & Research Volunteers are involved in a variety of tasking including everything from designing written communications, special events, technology, database administration, and general administrative support. These positions are often more flexible regarding scheduling, which allows volunteers to work half days or shifting days each week.
  • Weekly
  • 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Formal
  • Weekdays, Weekends
How you help

Love penguins? Passionate about educating people about the environment? Whether you’re interested in a marine-related career or just want to get your feet—and hands—wet, the Aquarium is the perfect place to volunteer.
About us

The New England Aquarium is a global leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation. With more than 1.3 million visitors a year, the Aquarium is one of the premier visitor attractions in Boston and a major public education resource for the region. Through a variety of education and engagement opportunities for all ages—from teen internship career training to adult volunteer opportunities, inspiring outreach in schools to free ocean education programming in neighborhoods throughout the city—the Aquarium seeks to make a difference in our community. NEA also responds to calls about distressed whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea turtles.