• Academy docent engaging with guests
    Academy docent engaging guests with ichthyology specimens.
  • Docent showing sea star to young visitor
    Academy docent engaging with interested guests.
  • Collections volunteer with avian specimens.
    Collections volunteer working with our ornithology specimens. 
  • Docent volunteer with cats engagment
    Academy docent leading an engagement in Tusher African Hall.
  • Orienteer greeting guests
    An orienteer greeting Academy guests as they enter the museum.
  • Dive volunteer in the Cal Coast exhibit
    Academy dive volunteer at work in our California Coast habitat.
  • Ichthyology collections volunteer at work
    Ichthyology collections volunteer preparing a specimen.
  • Docent engaging on the public floor
    Academy docent engaging with guests in our exhibit hall.
  • Husbandry volunteer preparing animal diets
    Our husbandry volunteer preparing diet for our animals in Steinhart Aquarium.
  • Docent volunteer leading a Spectroscopy activity
    Academy docent leading a spectroscopy activity.
  • Volunteer Aquarium Divers getting ready
    Volunteer aquarium divers getting ready for a dive in our California Coast habitat.
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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

Docents on the Academy bridge

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 are scheduled for the following dates: Sundays, October 27th, November 3rd and 10th, and Wednesday, November 13th. Candidates must be available to attend the four training dates in-person.

 

  • Special Engagement Volunteer (SEV) — next one-day training class will be held on Sunday, October 5th. Candidates must be available to attend the training in-person.
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Volunteering in the Community

Volunteers on the roof

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

Naturalist Center

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.

Recruitment for our Fall 2024 session has concluded. Please complete this interest form to be notified when the application for our Spring 2025 session opens later this year. Feel free to reach out to us at volunteers@calacademy.org if you have any questions.

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Donor recognition wall

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
Owl Pellets Naturalist Center

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.

Recruitment for our Fall 2024 session has concluded. Please complete this interest form to be notified when the application for our Spring 2025 session opens later this year.

Download Role Description
Animal Health Volunteer
animal husbandry record keeping

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.

Download Role Description
Aquarium Diver Volunteer
aquarium dive show

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.

Download Role Description
Aquarium Husbandry Volunteer
chinook salmon

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.

Download Role Description
Comparative Genomics Volunteer
Comparative Genomics in Action

*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.

Download Role Description
Docent Volunteer
Docent volunteer interacting with guests

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.

Download Role Description
Family Nature Club (FNC) Volunteer
Family in Wander Woods

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.

Download Role Description
Landscape Horticulture Volunteer
Volunteer on the Living Roof

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.

Download Role Description
Marine Mammal Field Response Volunteer
Moe Flannery examines a deceased pinniped.

*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.

Download Role Description
Naturalist Center Engagement Volunteer
Naturalist Center Engagement

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.

Download Role Description
NightLife Ambassador
Nightlife Sign

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.

Download Role Description
Orienteer (Guest Experience)
Orienteer greeting guests in the lobby

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.

Download Role Description
Penguins and Pajamas Volunteer
Rooftop Stargazing

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.

Download Role Description
Planned Giving and Donorship Administrative Volunteer
monarch butterflies

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)
docent in the rainforest

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.

Download Role Descriptions
Rainforest Horticulture Volunteer
osher rainforest

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.

Download Role Description
Research Collections Volunteer (multiple roles)
chris grinter collections

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.​

Download Role Descriptions
School Programs Volunteer
little naturalists

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.

Download Role Description
Scientific Computing Volunteer
comparative genomics

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.

Download Role Description
Special Engagement Volunteer
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.

Download Role Description
Terrestrial Husbandry Volunteer
Madagascar day gecko

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.

Download Role Description
Water Quality Volunteer
aquarium

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!

Download Role Description
A world-sized workplace
You'll see our volunteers at work in a range of Academy spaces, helping to excite and educate visitors about the wonders of the natural world.
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A visitor inspecting the Naturalist Center cabinets filled with specimens, books, and more.
Naturalist Center

Welcome to the Academy's hub for exploration, with books, games, specimens, and more. Open daily; hours vary.

Panoramic shot of Osher Rainforest exhibit at the Academy, a 4-story glass dome housing a living rainforest
Osher Rainforest

Journey through a living 4-story rainforest, home to free-flying butterflies and birds and giant Amazonian fish.

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Volunteers from Oracle garden atop the Academy's Living Roof
Corporate Engagement

Explore how you can build your company's brand and inspire your employees while helping the Academy flourish.

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.

Volunteer FAQ
Contact us
Still have questions about volunteering? Feel free to contact us:
Academy Volunteer Programs Team
volunteers@calacademy.org