Are you enthusiastic about the natural science world? You don’t need a science degree. As a docent you will learn how to interpret our exhibits and inspire visitors to the Academy.

Docents have a choice of one of four specialty areas, including the Academy’s green features and the rainforest, the aquarium, evolution, and earth and physical sciences. Some docents work with live animals; and all docents get to staff the tidepool, the living roof, and use hands-on specimens, all the while demonstrating some of nature's most surprising secrets.

Classes for each specialty area are held once a year. The next 42 hour training is in the Easy Being Green specialty. Get to know the green features of the Academy building and what we're doing to promote sustainability. Explore the Rainforest Bola and get to know the plants, birds, butterflies, and herptiles of rainforests around the world.

Once the training is completed, the commitment is three 3.5 hours shifts a month, plus a monthly evening continuing education class. Currently, shifts are available Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Monday mornings.

Share your enthusiasm for the natural world, while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow docents in this dynamic and engaging program.

Download description of current offering here.

 Docent, It’s Easy Being Green Program [28k]
 Docent, Water is Life Program [28k]
 Docent, As the World Evolves Program [28k]
 Docent, Let’s Get Physical Program [28k]

Join the Academy’s hospitality team. Greet, meet, and guide Academy visitors as “roving concierges.” Orienteers help visitors make the best use of their time by providing impromptu itineraries and helpful suggestions. A short training is offered every month. The commitment is 2-two hour shifts a month. Experienced Orienteers also have an opportunity to join the Information Desk volunteer crew.

Budding marine biologists and hobbyists alike are welcomed by the aquarium staff. Over 38,000 animals make their home at the Academy. Become an aquarium volunteer and learn how to take care of a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial animals, test water quality, check on animal health, or show off your horticultural skills. “Dive in” if you’re an experienced certified rescue diver and have at least 50 logged dives. You’ll interact with exotic and unusual creatures while feeding the fish and keeping the tanks sparkling clean. Divers may also be trained to deliver dive presentations in the Philippine Coral Reef.

Learn specialized curatorial and archival skills working with the collection managers, as they prepare and maintain scientific collections in some of our research departments. Mount plants, classify bones, shells and rocks and rebottle specimens. Help inventory and document the collections, or join our monthly “botany bee” and make specimen envelopes for the curatorial staff.

Most research placements require a 3-4 hour weekly commitment and are only available weekdays.

Learn to teach informal science education and help evaluate our programs. This training program is designed to provide an in-depth, hands-on experience for people interested in pursuing a career in informal education. People participating in the program will work alongside the Academy’s Education Staff to learn about the different facets of school programs in a museum.

These short-term, in-depth placements require ~ 10 hours per week from September - December and/or January - May. They are only available on weekdays.

There are currently two options to choose from, which relate to our programs and resources:

 School Programs [265k]
 Program Evaluation [262k]

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