Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Help staff care for the Aquarium’s beloved animal ambassadors: birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. In addition to preparing meals and feeding the animals, volunteers assist with maintaining animal care areas and cleaning animal enclosures.

Requirements

Must be able to bend, reach, and lift up to 25 pounds, walk, or drive between the Aquarium’s North and South Buildings. Individuals who love animals with an interest in biology and the marine environment are ideal.

Shifts

Shifts are four hours, Sunday-Saturday, with a 7:30am or 8:00am start time.

Commitment

A minimum of one four-hour weekly shift for one year is required

Are you looking to develop or enhance your retail and customer service skills? Want to know more about what happens behind the scenes in a retail operation? Assist with engaging guests and responding to inquiries, pricing and displaying merchandise, annual inventory, maintaining the sales floor, and helping with crowd control. Customer service experience is a plus!

Requirements

Must be able to stand for an extended period and willing to develop knowledge of Aquarium Store products.

Commitment

Must be available to volunteer at least one four to four-and-a-half-hour shift a week for a minimum of six months.

Indulge your love of plants and gardening while assisting the Aquarium’s horticulturist and facilities team with groundskeeping and exhibit maintenance. Duties include planting, mulching, pruning, and weeding. Volunteers also clear limbs, leaves, and debris from nature trail, mow grassy areas, and water outside spaces and inside exhibits.

Requirements

Must be able to stand, bend, and walk for prolonged periods; use a backpack-style leaf blower, push mower, rake, and string trimmer. The ability to withstand varying outdoor conditions such as heat, humidity, cold, wind, insects, and wildlife is necessary. Must also be comfortable interacting with Aquarium guests pleasantly and professionally.

Shifts

Shifts are four hours, Monday-Friday, 7:30am – 11:30am. The option to volunteer on Saturday or Sunday is available following training.

Commitment

At least one four-hour weekly shift for six months is required.

Your outgoing personality is the perfect fit for this position! Work on the front lines greeting and directing Aquarium guests. Volunteer answers visitor questions, monitors assigned areas and shares details about special programs and experiences. The ideal candidate is friendly, patient, comfortable standing for an extended period and working with large crowds. Bilingual applicants are a plus! This position requires a weekly four-and-a-half-hour shift. Interested? Apply today!

Requirements

Must have excellent interpersonal and customer service skills with good judgment and the ability to remain calm when confronted with guest problems. Must also be comfortable with large crowds and able to stand for an extended period.

Commitment

A minimum commitment of one four-and-a-half hour shift a week for six months.

Training

Guest services training and guest engagement strategies training is arranged by supervisor.

Do you love learning and enjoy connecting with a diverse group? This can be the perfect position for you! As a guest engagement docent, you will share information about the aquarium’s exhibits and Virginia’s marine environment with visitors. Applicants with an interest in marine biology are ideal. This is also an excellent opportunity for retired educators or individuals involved in education.

Requirements

Must have good communication skills, be comfortable with public speaking, interacting with children, and be able to stand for an extended period. Candidates should also be comfortable with large crowds and varying noise levels.

Commitment

Following training, a minimum commitment of one four-and-a-half hour shift a week for one year is required.

Training

New guest engagement docents must attend a seven-session onsite training at the Virginia Aquarium. Click on Guest Engagement Docent Training Dates to view Winter 2024 training details.

Join the team that keeps everything at the Virginia Aquarium running and our campus looking good. We're seeking volunteers to assist with routine maintenance, special projects, and coordinating work orders and contractors. This is an excellent position to expand your skills and gain facilities management experience in a retail operation. Candidates with above-average computer knowledge and familiarity with Excel are a plus.

Requirements

Applicants must have experience making basic repairs, be able to bend, kneel, climb, lift up to 50 pounds, and use basic hand and power tools. Also, must be organized and comfortable working in various weather conditions and interacting with guests.

Shifts

Shifts are four hours, Sunday-Saturday, with a 7:30am or 8:00am start time.

Commitment

A minimum of one four-hour shift a week for four months is required.

Tap into your creative side to design floral arrangements for the lobby of the Aquarium’s Main Building!

Requirements

Must have an eye for floral designs and able to create appealing arrangements following flower guild guidelines.

Commitment

Design at least two arrangements a year and deliver the new arrangement on scheduled date.