Volunteer

The Center is a part of your community and we need your help!

Show your support for the MSC through your Membership or Volunteering!

Additionally, donations can be made directly to the Poulsbo Marine Science Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, at any Bank of America branch or at the center.

The Center depends upon volunteers to help with a range of tasks. Volunteer orientation classes are held each month. Training is available for feeding fish, docenting, helping with educational programs, and many other tasks.

Have you been waiting for the perfect place to put your energy and enthusiasm? Sign up today!

The Poulsbo Marine Science Center is kept open and running by the Aquarium Director and the Volunteers. It is a chance for people to support their local community and the Marine Science Center, learn about marine life, while working with the public. There are at least two volunteers are on duty whenever the Center is open and there are two three-hour shifts per day (10:45-1:45 and 1:15-4:15, Thursday – Sunday.) Volunteering at the MSC is fun, you get to learn more about the marine animals by observation or reading the available books, and you get to meet some great people.

For our current volunteer schedule, view our calendar:

Volunteers are currently needed for the following tasks:

Docent – Stands or sits by the front door, answers questions and explains the Center layout, watches and demonstrates marine life in the tide-pool tank. Other tasks MAY include preparing food for marine life (defrosting and cutting squid and brine shrimp), feeding animals, cleaning plexiglass and glass surfaces, talking with visitors, tracking visitor counts, cleaning restrooms and vacuuming carpets, operating the DVD player, working with preschool groups, and other miscellaneous tasks around the MSC.

Diver and animal collector – all divers must be certified and work at the discretion of the Aquarium Director. Marine life at the MSC is collected and recorded under a State permit, and must follow strict guidelines. There is no diving instructions is given at the Center.

Clerical work – various clerical work comes up from time to time (data entry, etc.) but there is no specific task or timing. If you are interested in only this type of work, please indicate thus and you will be called when something arises.

Facility maintenance and/or gardening – General Volunteers currently handle these tasks on an ad hoc basis. If you would specifically like to volunteer for only these tasks, please indicate so.

Volunteer Overview Class
Classes are held monthly for new and prospective volunteers. These classes provide an overview of marine life and the volunteer activities, and generally lasts 1-1/2 hours. All Volunteers are required to take the class. If you are interested in the next class, please contact Michele Hutchison <link to contact form>.

Age : All volunteers are required to be 16 years of age or older. A younger person may volunteer if an adult accompanies them to supervise. In these cases, the adult should also be interested in volunteering. The minimum age for volunteering is 10 with exceptions made on a case-to-case basis.

Background : No specific background is required to volunteer at the Marine Science Center. Please let us know your background because we will try and use your prior skills as much as possible – knowledge of marine life, teaching, familiarity with the area, mechanical skills, etc. are all helpful.