Frequently asked questions
How do I get started? Can anyone apply? Is there a matching gifts program for volunteers? Find answers to these questions and more.
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Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the California Academy of Sciences! Please scroll down to view currently available opportunities and role descriptions.
The California Academy of Sciences welcomes people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs to join us in achieving our mission to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. We place diversity, equity, and inclusion at the heart of our recruiting efforts and strive to build a culture centered on mutual respect, equal treatment, and the opportunity to succeed. We look for volunteers with a collaborative spirit who work well and respectfully with others.
All Academy staff and volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving a booster shot when eligible as a condition of their service, absent qualifying exemptions in accordance with applicable laws. Volunteer applicants who are selected to enter the program will be provided the full text of the vaccination policy.
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Volunteering at the Academy
To view current volunteer role openings, shift requirements, and to apply, please visit our Volunteer Application Form.
*Due to high level of interest, we are pausing recruitment on some roles at this time. Please check back in the next few months for additional openings.
If your preferred role is not listed, please fill out this form to be notified when the role becomes available. All detailed volunteer role descriptions can be found at the lower half of this page.
Our team strives to review every application promptly. However, due to the evolving needs of the Academy, we may prioritize review for certain roles. Please allow up to two months for our team to process your application. We are accepting applications from anyone 18 years of age and over.
Feel free to reach out to us at volunteers@calacademy.org if you have any questions.
Upcoming Training Dates
- Docent Volunteer — next training sessions is scheduled for February 2025, exact dates TBD. Candidates must be available to attend all training dates in-person.
- Special Engagement Volunteer (SEV) — next one-day training class will be held in January 2025, exact dates TBD. Candidates must be available to attend the training in-person.
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Volunteering in the Community
Volunteers for Nature is an all-new program from the California Academy of Sciences that connects college students and early career professionals with nature-based volunteer opportunities across the Bay Area. Whether you’re aiming for a career in conservation or just eager to get your hands dirty, participants can look forward to:
- Building community with peers in a local chapter
- Volunteering together at a partner site once a month
- Gaining hands-on experience in the field of conservation
Are you ready to make meaningful connections while making a difference for the planet? Learn more about our program today!
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Teen Volunteer Opportunity
Thank you for your interest in our teen volunteer opportunity! Launched in early 2023, the Academy Naturalist Teen (ANT) is a three-month long volunteer program for teens ages 15-17. The program is designed to introduce teens to the field of informal education; using interactive activities to engage with with guests of all ages, particularly with young children.
Application for the Spring 2025 session will be available from November 15 - December 31, 2024. The Spring 2025 program will take place from February 22 - May 10, 2025, with mandatory training dates scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 15 & 16, from 10AM - 4PM. Applicants must be able to commit to attending these in-person training sessions in order to participate in the ANT volunteer program. Contact us at volunteers@calacademy.org if you have any questions.
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Volunteer Role Descriptions
Learn more about our active volunteer roles and download the complete position description. Please note that our recruitment needs vary throughout the year, please check our Volunteer Application Form for a list of current openings.
If your preferred role is not listed, please fill out this form to be notified when the role becomes available.
Academy Naturalist Teen (ANT) Volunteer
Are you a teen who is interested in inspiring others to explore the natural world? Help Academy guests of all ages learn, tinker and investigate, while gaining skills in public speaking and informal science engagement. Please read the role description for specific shift and training requirements.
Application for the Spring 2025 session will be available from November 15 - December 31, 2024. The Spring 2025 program will take place from February 22 - May 10, 2025, with mandatory training dates scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 15 & 16, from 10AM - 4PM. Applicants must be able to commit to attending these in-person training sessions in order to participate in the ANT volunteer program.
Animal Health Volunteer
Do you have an interest in back-of-house animal husbandry? Do you have great attention to detail? Come volunteer with the Academy's Animal Health Team in our hospital and quarantine areas. Volunteers assist with cleaning exhibits, preparing diets, observing medical procedures, and record-keeping. This role offers the opportunity to learn more about the process of introducing new animals to our exhibits and how we provide veterinary care for our living collection.
Aquarium Diver Volunteer
Plunge into stunningly beautiful environments while feeding fish and keeping tanks sparkling clean. Interested divers may also be trained to deliver dive presentations in our Philippine Coral Reef exhibit.
Aquarium Husbandry Volunteer
Are you able to make a weekly volunteer commitment and are interested in working with the inhabitants of Steinhart Aquarium? The Aquarium Husbandry Volunteers assist staff in a variety of tasks involved in caring for our aquatic animals and habitats, and are guaranteed to get wet and dirty! Great for aquarium hobbyists or those looking to learn what it takes to work in the aquarium field.
Comparative Genomics Volunteer
*Please note that due to the nature of this role. previous experience is required.
Are you someone with experience working in molecular lab, and have an interest in flexing your skills to assist genomic researchers with active biodiversity research? Join our team as a volunteer in the Center for Comparative Genomics (CCG)! CCG volunteers assist with lab upkeep as well as actively participating in laboratory work.
Docent Volunteer
Join our community of informal educators that help bring the Academy's mission to life! As a docent, you will assume a vital role in engaging visitors from diverse backgrounds, inspiring curiosity and exploration. You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Academy's world-class exhibits and use specimens from the docent collection to facilitate hands-on learning.
Are you interested in the Docent role but have a limited schedule? Consider our Special Engagement Volunteer (SEV) position! An SEV is a public-facing informal education role that has lower monthly shift commitment.
Family Nature Club (FNC) Volunteer
Do you enjoy being outdoors, working with children and families, and are passionate about regenerating the natural world? Volunteering with the Family Nature Club might be for you!
Family Nature Club volunteers supports the Academy by facilitating a range of activities that may include tabling, engaging with families in outdoor science education, nature play, community science events, and stewardship projects, at the Academy and off-site locations.
Landscape Horticulture Volunteer
Do you enjoy working outside, have an interest in native California flora, and are enthusiastic about horticulture work? If so, this role might be for you. Landscaping volunteers support the horticulture operations staff in maintaining and improving the Academy's grounds, including the California native gardens around the building and the iconic 2.5-acre rooftop botanical ecosystem.
Please note that this role will involve working outdoors, performing moderately strenuous physical tasks, and may include lifting and carrying items weighing up to 30 lbs.
Marine Mammal Field Response Volunteer
*Please note that due to the nature of this role, previous experience is required.
Are you someone with experience in animal necropsy, field work and a flexible schedule? The marine mammal response team could use your help! Field response volunteers assist with carcass retrieval or necropsy across northern California. Personal transportation required.
Naturalist Center Engagement Volunteer
Facilitate hands-on science activities in the Academy's Naturalist Center, as a Naturalist Center Engagement Volunteer! Dissect owl pellets, investigate iridescence, and more with Naturalist Center Engagement Kits. Engagement volunteers inspire curiosity and have fun with guests of all ages.
NightLife Ambassador
Are you an evening person who enjoys interacting with guests in a high energy environment? The NightLife Ambassador role might be for you!
Similar to the Orienteer role, NightLife Ambassadors support the Academy's Guest Experience team at our evening events by greeting guests, offering event-specific assistance, and proactively engaging with guests to help create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere.
Note: NightLife Ambassadors must be at least 21 years of age, and shifts are available only on Thursday evenings.
Orienteer (Guest Experience)
Orienteers help Academy guests feel welcome and comfortable when they enter the museum. They answer questions, provide useful tips, and help visitors navigate the public floor.
The Orienteer is a public-facing role that supports the Academy's Guest Experience team. You can find more information about the Orienteer and other front of house roles here.
Penguins and Pajamas Volunteer
Guide young explorers and their families in creative, explorative, and open-ended activities as they roam the Academy before bedtime!
Volunteers supports the Academy staff by facilitating arts and crafts, story time, early childhood activities, and educational programming during our evening Penguin and Pajamas sleepover events. Candidates must be able to attend a minimum of six events between January and June, 2025, with shift times from 5:30-9pm.
Planned Giving and Donorship Administrative Volunteer
Are you looking to use your administrative skills to help regenerate the natural world? Do you have great penmanship, strong organizational skills, or great data entry experience? Join our Development team as an Administrative Support Volunteer. Tasks range from writing handwritten notes to our donors, scanning and labeling documents, and supporting other administrative projects. Great for those looking to make a monthly commitment or those looking for a shorter-term project that can be completed in a few shifts.
Public Programs and Guest Experience Volunteer (multiple roles)
Are you looking to help engage Academy guests in our mission to regenerate the natural world? From helping visitors navigate the museum to educating guests about scientific specimens to engaging our youngest visitors in facilitated play and exploration, Public Programs and Guest Experience Volunteers help bring the Academy's mission to life. Browse through the variety of opportunities available to find the perfect role to match your interests and availability.
Rainforest Horticulture Volunteer
Are you a plant enthusiast with an interest in tropical ecosystems? Rainforest Horticulture Volunteers assist with the daily maintenance of the plants inside the Academy, including plants inside our rainforest dome. This role offers the opportunity to expand your horticulture knowledge and skills. Must be able to work in hot and humid conditions.
Research Collections Volunteer (multiple roles)
Support our Academy collections managers in preparing and maintaining scientific collections in our research departments. Individual duties are diverse—mount plants, classify bones, re-bottling specimens, document collections, and more—but all volunteers are immersed in the principles and techniques of modern scientific-collections management.
School Programs Volunteer
Enjoy working with school groups in an informal setting? This volunteer opportunity provides an in-depth, hands-on experience for people interested in informal education. Volunteers learn teaching techniques and gain an understanding of how to communicate with students of varying ages and backgrounds. We can also work with graduate and undergraduate students to fulfill a graduation requirement.
Scientific Computing Volunteer
Genomics, collections, and computing infrastructure all need your help! Bring your programming, IT, and database skills to help with tasks ranging from regular maintenance to groundbreaking research work. Positions will be tailored to skill sets and volunteer availability.
Special Engagement Volunteer
Interested in engaging with guests on the public floor, but have limited time to dedicate to volunteering? The Special Engagement Volunteer (SEV) role is a pared-down version of our docent role.
The Special Engagement Volunteer is a public-facing role that supports the Academy's Public Programs team via informal and interactive engagement with guests. You can find more information about our Public Programs Roles here.
Terrestrial Husbandry Volunteer
Do you have an interest in birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, or arachnids? Terrestrial Husbandry Volunteers assist staff in many of the tasks involved in routine animal husbandry of the terrestrial animals who call the Academy home. This role may involve working inside the Academy's rainforest, so is best suited to those who are comfortable working in hot and humid environments.
Water Quality Volunteer
Keeping our living collections healthy and thriving means making sure that their habitats are cared for as well! Water Quality Volunteers learn to assist in conducting water quality tests on samples they collect from exhibits throughout Steinhart Aquarium. Do you have experience in a laboratory setting and an interest in helping the Academy to care for our living collection? Come join the Water Quality Team!
Journey through a living 4-story rainforest, home to free-flying butterflies and birds and giant Amazonian fish.
Explore how you can build your company's brand and inspire your employees while helping the Academy flourish.
Welcome to the Academy's hub for exploration, with books, games, specimens, and more. Open daily; hours vary.
Contact us
Still have questions about volunteering? Feel free to contact us:
Academy Volunteer Programs Team
Academy Volunteers, you can clock in for your shift here!
Careers at the Academy
Exciting opportunities abound—learn more about the Academy's latest job openings here!