Volunteer with Us!
SSC was built on a strong foundation of volunteerism, and the tradition continues. As educators and ambassadors, volunteers play an essential role in advancing our mission to inspire conservation of our Blue Planet. Come engage, get energized, and have a blast with us!
All volunteer candidates will be asked to meet with our Volunteer Coordinator to discuss their goals. Once we learn a little more about you, we can offer opportunities that best align with your interests. Before you begin volunteering, you will be asked to attend a training session for new volunteers. Time commitments vary per opportunity, and schedules are often flexible.
Here are some of the roles our volunteers assist with:
Environmental Educator
Share your passion for the natural environment and help us create a community of ocean stewards. Environmental educators assist with programs for tots, school groups, and families throughout the year and are mentored before leading programs on their own.
Exhibit Interpreter
Enjoy a great sense of pride when you help a visitor have an “ah-ha” moment as they learn something new about the amazing creatures in our tanks or how their daily life is connected to the ocean.
Administrative Assistance
Is behind-the-scenes your thing? When you help us with tasks like mailings, data entry, and preparing training and teaching resources, you are helping us expand our reach.
Special Events
Whether you like being on the front line at a high-energy event—like our Rescue Run: Race for Marine Mammals, Atlantic Grill Music by the Sea Concert Series, or BioBlitz—or prefer to help plan, set up, or break down, join our fun crew. We cannot do it without you!
Special Projects
Many special projects take place throughout the year, driven by a volunteer’s interest, knowledge, and skill. Volunteers garden, work on trail maintenance, sew, construct things, paint, and more. We’d love to talk to you about how your special talents can help move SSC forward.
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Groups seeking volunteer opportunities require a minimum of two-weeks advance notice. Youths must be accompanied by an adult who is willing to supervise and work alongside them.
Community Service Volunteers
For those seeking a short-term volunteer opportunity to fulfill a non-educational community service requirement, we require a minimum of two weeks prior notice.
Youth Volunteers
Our Youth Volunteer Program is designed to give 13-17 year old students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skill in a hands-on work environment and have fun doing it! Youth volunteers assist with camp (see CIT Program below) and preschool programs, teach visitors about the animals in our tanks, and more.
Counselor-in-Training Program
(for ages 13-17, unpaid)
Our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program is a unique volunteer opportunity for Seacoast Science Center member* teens to acquire leadership and informal teaching skills while learning about the marine environment in a camp setting. CIT’s assist our camp counselors in providing a safe, fun, and meaningful educational experience for our campers. Prospective CIT’s are interviewed to ensure that the program is a good fit, and are required to participate in training.
Biology and Environmental Volunteer Opportunities for School Credit
For those seeking a biology or environmental volunteer opportunity to fulfill hours for school credit, please plan ahead. You must attend one of our monthly New Volunteer Classes before you will be allowed to begin volunteering.
To Apply
All adults interested in volunteering are required to complete an Adult Volunteer Application.
All youth (ages 13-17) interested in volunteering are required to complete a Youth Volunteer Application.
Groups should contact Laura Bahl, Volunteer Coordinator, at 603-436-8043, ext. 21 or l.bahl@sscnh.org to discuss potential projects.
Questions
Please contact Laura Bahl, Volunteer Coordinator, at 603-436-8043, ext. 21 or l.bahl@sscnh.org.
