top of page

Current Volunteer Opportunities

To apply for open volunteer opportunities,
please email application to volunteer@shellmuseum.org
or call 239-395-2233 with questions.

ADOPT-A-CLASS DOCENT

  • Purpose: To educate Lee County 4th Graders about mollusks and create lifelong learners.

  • Location: Various locations throughout the Shell Museum

  • Responsibilities:

- Supervise students
- Educate students based on outlines
- Make each student feel empowered by acknowledging their ideas and observations

  • Available shifts: 10am-12pm on field trip days. Monday through Friday.

  • Minimum Time Commitment: 5 field trips per school year

  • Qualifications:

- Must enjoy working with kids
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to follow lesson plan
- Experience teaching is a plus

AQUARIUM DOCENT

  • Purpose: To interpret the Beyond Shells: Living Gallery for guests, answer questions, and facilitate learning. Help create a fantastic guest experience.

  • Location: Ground floor, Museum 

  • Responsibilities:

- Answer guest questions

- Enhance guest experience with positive interactions and enthusiasm

  • Available shifts:  Usually 10 AM – 1 PM or 1 – 4 PM. Every day.

  • Minimum Time Commitment: 2 shifts per month for 3 months

  • Qualifications:

- Must be friendly, accommodating, respectful, understanding, and helpful when dealing with the public

- Must enjoy working with the public

- Must enjoy working with both children and adults

- Must have excellent communication skills and a passion for learning

AQUARIUM HUSBANDRY VOLUNTEER

  • Purpose: Displaying live mollusks requires a high level of care. Help our expert aquarium husbandry staff care for these unique animals.

  • Location: Ground floor of the Museum

  • Responsibilities:

- Clean aquariums and associated life support system components

- Prepare a variety of animal foods

- Assist husbandry staff in other tasks and projects as needed

  • Available shifts: 

- Usually 8 AM – 12PM. Every day.

  • Minimum Time Commitment: 1 shift per week, for 6 months

  • Qualifications:

- Must have completed at least 6 months as an Aquarium Docent 

- Must be able to follow detailed direction and safety protocols

- Must be able to lift 15 pounds

- Must be able to stand, bend, stoop, squat, reach, climb a ladder, work safely around water, work in hot or cold environments

- Excellent attention to detail and communication skills

GREAT HALL DOCENT

  • Purpose: To educate visitors about shells and the mollusks that create them. Engage with guests and enhance guest experience while in the Museum.

  • Location: Great Hall of Shells in Museum

  • Responsibilities:

- Engage with guests

- Educate guests about exhibits and answer questions

- Answer general Museum questions (restroom/vending location, hours, daily programs, etc.)

- Assist guests in finding the answers to scavenger hunt questions throughout the Hall

  • Available shifts: Usually 10 AM – 1 PM or 1 – 4 PM. Every day.

  • Minimum Time Commitment: Two shifts per month, for 3 months.

  • Qualifications:

- Must be friendly, accommodating, respectful, understanding, and helpful when dealing with the public

- Excellent communication skills

- Knowledge of mollusks or ability to learn

- Speaking a second language is a plus

GROUP TOUR DOCENT

  • Purpose: To educate groups of adults or children in the Museum, creating a memorable experience and molding life-long learners.

  • Location: Various locations throughout the Museum

  • Responsibilities:

- Supervise guests while in the Museum

- Educate group guests

- Answer guest questions and facilitate engagement 

  • Available shifts: Variable. Usually 2.5 hours.

  • Minimum Time Commitment: 5 group tours per year

  • Qualifications:

- Must enjoy working with kids and/or adults

- Excellent communication skills

- Ability to follow lesson plan

- Experience teaching is a plus

MOLLUSKS ON THE MOVE VOLUNTEER

  • Purpose: To educate the students of Lee & Collier Counties about local mollusks, their identification, and their habitats. To inspire each student to get outside and explore the natural world.

  • Location: Various schools throughout Lee & Collier Counties. May meet at the Museum to ride with a staff member or meet staff member at the school.

  • Responsibilities:

- Assist students with shell identification

- Distribute shell identification guides to students

- Assist trip leader with logistics

- Answer general mollusk biology questions

  • Available shifts: Variable, usually 5+ hours per day, but some days more than 8 hours. Usually begin before 8am. Monday through Friday

  • Minimum Time Commitment: 4 per school year

  • Qualifications:

- Must enjoy working with kids

- Excellent communication skills

- Fluent in Spanish a plus

- May be required to pass a background check per school district guidelines

MUSEUM STORE VOLUNTEER

  • Purpose: To assist the Retail Manager with tasks as assigned in order to provide a special and enjoyable shopping experience for guests.

  • Location: Museum Store at the Shell Museum.

  • Responsibilities:

- Restock shelves

- Arrange items to look neat/attractive

- Greet customers and help them find merchandise

- Answer general Museum questions (restroom/vending location, hours, daily programs, etc.)

- Other miscellaneous retail store needs

  • Available shifts: 

- Flexible. Usually 10 AM – 1 PM or 1 – 4 PM. Every day.

  • Minimum Time Commitment: 2 shifts per month, for 3 months

  • Qualifications:

- Must be friendly, accommodating, respectful, understanding, and helpful when dealing with the public

- Must enjoy working with the public

- Must enjoy working with both children and adults

- Customer service experience is a plus

- Sales experience a plus

SHELL AMBASSADOR

  • Purpose: To educate interested beach goers about local mollusks and ecology. To share your enthusiasm with others and help create other life-long learners.

  • Location: Sanibel beaches.

  • Responsibilities:

- Follow all local, state, and federal laws

- Follow all Museum policies at all time

- Responsible for your own safety 

- Educate general public only after they approach you (you are not allowed to initiate engagement with anyone)​

  • Qualifications:

- Enthusiasm for mollusks

- Ability to learn shell identification, local beach ecology, and local laws

  • Dress Code:

- Shell Ambassador shirt

  • Special Notes:

- The Museum does not reimburse for beach parking fees, but does reimburse the Sanibel Causeway toll.

- Trainings are offered periodically through season (Dec – April) depending on need.

TOUCH POOL DOCENT

  • Purpose: To facilitate guest engagement, educate, and supervise guests touching mollusks at the Touch Pools. Create a unique and memorable experience for guests and help foster lifelong learning.

  • Location: Touch Pools in Museum

  • Responsibilities:

- Supervise guests 

- Ensure all guests wash hands 

- Educate guests about mollusks

- Engage with all guests

- Public speaking to individuals and small groups

  • Available shifts: 

- Usually 10 AM – 1:30 PM or 1:30 – 5 PM (with 30 minute break). Every day.

  • Minimum Time Commitment: 1 shift per week, for 3 months

  • Qualifications:

- Must have completed at least 3 months as an Aquarium Docent 

- Must enjoy working with both children and adults

- Excellent communication skills and a passion for learning

- Previous educating experience a plus

bottom of page