A unique opportunity
AS PUBLISHED IN THE NEWS-TIMES AUGUST 24, 2011
By Ross Coyle
Of the News-Times
Lincoln County residents looking to get closer to the deep blue can try volunteering at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and not only learn about the fishes, but swim with them, too. The 379 volunteers are the backbone of the aquarium’s operations. From exhibit presentation and diving to clerical work and maintenance, volunteers work in dozens of positions vital to the day-to-day operation. Among the most visible are the interpreters, youth, and dive volunteers.
Often, volunteers begin work at the aquarium to stay occupied or enhance their education, such as interpretive volunteers Alan Johnson and Julie Schaefer, who have worked at the aquarium since 2006.
Johnson got involved in the volunteer program as a way of continuing his education as a substitute teacher in the Lincoln County School District. With a background in biology, Johnson attributes a greater understanding of the marine environment to his work with the aquarium.
Johnson feels the most satisfaction from seeing patrons get excited about the ocean, especially families from the Midwest and inner states. “The kids, they’ve never seen an abalone, they’ve never seen a sea urchin,” he explains, “so they’re absolutely amazed that there’s so many things out in the ocean.”
Schaefer, the aquarium’s interpreter volunteer of the year, says she has similar experiences working at the center. After 20 years of work at various zoos and preserves in the Midwest, she returned home and decided the Oregon Coast Aquarium was the best fit for her skills. She volunteers for much the samereas on as Johnson, to educate about exhibits and get the public engaged in the ocean. She finds it particularly satisfying when she is able to invoke a curiosity in patrons. “Our job is just to get them going in that direction,” she says, “not just spit out the answer and walk away, but to encourage their thought process.”
Many of the volunteer positions rely on youth to provide support as assistants, getting valuable work experience and expanding their knowledge of the marine environment. John Lee, the aquarium’s youth volunteer of the year, is one such volunteer.
Lee, who got involved with the aquarium after a recruiting visit to his classroom, says the work has helped him out both academically and socially, from improving his public speaking skills to his academics.
As a returning youth volunteer crew chief, Lee also has learned leadership skills, which he says were most evident in setting up the aquarium’s Shark Week. “During Shark Week, Tricia always looked to me,” he says. Lee encourages more teenagers to volunteer. “If you’re not sure about volunteering, do it,” he says. “We need more youth volunteers.”
While the youth and interpreters man the floor, diver volunteers can be seen at many hours of the day working in the tanks, performing tasks ranging from tank cleaning to fish feeding. John Church, who has logged more than 4,000 hours, says the best reason to volunteer is the chance to dive with so many different animals, almost at a whim.
In addition to improving scuba skills and the constant availability of diving, Church says it is a unique experience in diving. “How often do you get to dive into a fish tank and swim with sharks?” he says. “I enjoy this so much; it’s very much a passion.”
Those interested in volunteering at the Oregon Coast Aquarium should contact Carmen Morgan at Carmen.morgan@aquarium.org or call 541-867-3474, ext. 5315.
By Ross Coyle
Of the News-Times
Lincoln County residents looking to get closer to the deep blue can try volunteering at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and not only learn about the fishes, but swim with them, too. The 379 volunteers are the backbone of the aquarium’s operations. From exhibit presentation and diving to clerical work and maintenance, volunteers work in dozens of positions vital to the day-to-day operation. Among the most visible are the interpreters, youth, and dive volunteers.
Often, volunteers begin work at the aquarium to stay occupied or enhance their education, such as interpretive volunteers Alan Johnson and Julie Schaefer, who have worked at the aquarium since 2006.
Johnson got involved in the volunteer program as a way of continuing his education as a substitute teacher in the Lincoln County School District. With a background in biology, Johnson attributes a greater understanding of the marine environment to his work with the aquarium.
Johnson feels the most satisfaction from seeing patrons get excited about the ocean, especially families from the Midwest and inner states. “The kids, they’ve never seen an abalone, they’ve never seen a sea urchin,” he explains, “so they’re absolutely amazed that there’s so many things out in the ocean.”
Schaefer, the aquarium’s interpreter volunteer of the year, says she has similar experiences working at the center. After 20 years of work at various zoos and preserves in the Midwest, she returned home and decided the Oregon Coast Aquarium was the best fit for her skills. She volunteers for much the samereas on as Johnson, to educate about exhibits and get the public engaged in the ocean. She finds it particularly satisfying when she is able to invoke a curiosity in patrons. “Our job is just to get them going in that direction,” she says, “not just spit out the answer and walk away, but to encourage their thought process.”
Many of the volunteer positions rely on youth to provide support as assistants, getting valuable work experience and expanding their knowledge of the marine environment. John Lee, the aquarium’s youth volunteer of the year, is one such volunteer.
Lee, who got involved with the aquarium after a recruiting visit to his classroom, says the work has helped him out both academically and socially, from improving his public speaking skills to his academics.
As a returning youth volunteer crew chief, Lee also has learned leadership skills, which he says were most evident in setting up the aquarium’s Shark Week. “During Shark Week, Tricia always looked to me,” he says. Lee encourages more teenagers to volunteer. “If you’re not sure about volunteering, do it,” he says. “We need more youth volunteers.”
While the youth and interpreters man the floor, diver volunteers can be seen at many hours of the day working in the tanks, performing tasks ranging from tank cleaning to fish feeding. John Church, who has logged more than 4,000 hours, says the best reason to volunteer is the chance to dive with so many different animals, almost at a whim.
In addition to improving scuba skills and the constant availability of diving, Church says it is a unique experience in diving. “How often do you get to dive into a fish tank and swim with sharks?” he says. “I enjoy this so much; it’s very much a passion.”
Those interested in volunteering at the Oregon Coast Aquarium should contact Carmen Morgan at Carmen.morgan@aquarium.org or call 541-867-3474, ext. 5315.
Sandra Watts, who has been volunteering with the Oregon Coast Aquarium for three and a half years, informs visitors about the animals in the touch pool. Watts works the typical volunteer shift of four hours, one day a week. “I love the aquarium, and it’s a good way to give back to the community,” she says. (Photos by Ross Coyle)
Mike Favwer cleans the glass as one of his morning dive duties in the aquarium’s Passages of the Deep exhibit. Like other divers, Favwer owns his own gear, has completed a minimum of 25 cold water dives, and underwent two days of classroom and pool training to work as a volunteer diver for the facility.
