Exhibit guides love the excitement of working on the front line while explaining and interpreting exhibits to visitors. After training, they are experts on the animals and their habitats, and they inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures.

Requirements

Exhibit guides are:

• Keenly interested in biology, animals and their habitats, and conservation
• Enthusiastic and eager to engage international and hometown visitors.

Training and Commitment

After successful completion of training sessions and a written test on Aquarium information, biology, and teaching techniques, exhibit guides commit to working at least one 3.5-hour shift each week for a year.

As front-line ambassadors to the public, information desk specialists welcome visitors and answer questions in the Aquarium and on the phone. They strive to engage and delight all visitors. They distribute route guides and answer questions about exhibits, show times, operating hours, membership privileges, Aquarium facilities, Inner Harbor shops and restaurants, and other Baltimore attractions. They enjoy meeting the public and are able to assist visitors with problems and concerns.

Requirements

Information specialists are:

• Friendly, energetic, enthusiastic, and patient
• Interested in the Aquarium, the Inner Harbor, and the Baltimore area
• Enthusiastic and interested in making every visitor's experience exceed expectations.

Training and Commitment

After successful completion of training sessions, apprenticeships, and a written test, information specialists commit to working at least one 3.5-hour shift each week for a year.

Please note- we are not recruiting volunteer divers at this time.

If you love fish and are looking to get wet and just a little bit dirty, aquarist assistant is the volunteer position for you!

Aquarist assistants work behind the scenes, handling insects, fish, shrimp, and squid for the feeding of the Aquarium’s animals; recording dietary data; maintaining freshwater and saltwater exhibits; using power filters; and joining in on occasional special projects.

Requirements

Applicants with previous animal care experience, especially with fish and invertebrates, are preferred. Aquarist assistants are:

• Enthusiastic and committed
• Able to climb on top of tanks
• Capable of lifting a 35-pound bag of gravel.

Training and Commitment

After successful completion of training classes and a written test, volunteers commit to working at least one four-hour morning shift (8 a.m.–12 p.m.) every other week for a year.

Aviculture assistants care for the exotic birds in the Upland Tropical Rain Forest and Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes exhibits. While working, they sometimes speak with visitors about the animals.

Observing animals is an important service of aviculture assistants. They assist with the daily collection, preparation, and distribution of food for the birds, adhering to strict dietary guidelines. They also help to maintain exhibits and behind-the-scenes housing.

Requirements

A basic knowledge of bird nutrition and physiology and a willingness to learn how to identify individual species and assess their nutritional needs is indispensable. Aviculture assistants are:

• Able to follow recipes and handle bugs
• Able to climb on rock ledges in a hot, humid environment
• Capable of lifting a 35-pound bag of grain.

Training and Commitment

After successful completion of training classes and a written test, aviculture assistants commit to working one four-hour morning shift (7:30–11:30 a.m.) every other week for a year.

Herpetology assistants have the rare opportunity to work with neo-tropical frogs and lizards in the Upland Tropical Rain Forest and Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes exhibits.

Herpetology assistants design and create live terrariums, feed frogs and lizards, and maintain food colonies. Additional responsibilities include animal observation and maintenance of exhibit and off-exhibit animal rooms.

Requirements

A basic knowledge of the care of reptiles and amphibians is valuable. Similarly, shop skills are desirable but not essential. Herpetology assistants are:

• Willing to work in a hot, humid environment
• Able to handle small, delicate frogs; lizards; and live food
• Enthusiastic about caring for reptiles and amphibians
• Capable of lifting 35-pound terrariums.

Training and Commitment

After successful completion of training classes and a written test, herpetology assistants commit to working at least one four-hour morning shift (8 a.m.–12 p.m.) every other week for a year.

Horticulture assistants get wet and occasionally dirty, but they work when the Upland Tropical Rain Forest and Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes exhibits are at their liveliest—before they open to the public.

Watering, fertilizing, inspecting plants, caring for seedlings, controlling pests, and cleaning the exhibit and backup area are the most important jobs of a horticulture assistant.

Requirements

Horticulture assistants have a basic knowledge of plants and learn about daily needs of plant specimens. Volunteers are:

• Able to climb on rock ledges in a hot, humid environment
• Enthusiastic about caring for plants.

Training and Commitment

After successful completion of training classes and a written test, horticulture assistants commit to working at least one 2.5-hour shift (7:30–10 a.m.) in the Upland Tropical Rain Forest or one four-hour shift (8 a.m.–12 p.m.) in Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes every other week for a year.