Habitat interpreters share their enthusiasm and stories about Aquarium animals with our guests, answer questions and facilitate conversations to help people better understand the marine environment.
Initially, habitat interpreters spend most of their time at our Life on the Edge touch pools and giant Pacific octopus habitat. With additional training, interpreters may move throughout the habitat galleries and focus on other habitats, such as the Underwater Dome, Birds & Shores and Marine Mammals.
Don’t know much about marine animals and their habitats? You can still serve as a habitat interpreter! To prepare for time spent in our habitats, all Aquarium volunteers receive extensive training on the marine animals in our care and interpretive communication techniques. Volunteers are assigned to a team of eight to 15 volunteers and led by a staff marine science interpreter, who shares the important work of actively engaging our guests.
The minimum time commitment required for habitat interpreters is one four-hour shift every week for a minimum of six continuous months. Shifts begin at 9am, 11am and 2pm seven days a week. New volunteers must complete the full series of new volunteer training to begin.
Winter 2025 Orientation and Training
Winter registration is not yet open. If you’re interested in joining us for this role, please fill out this brief interest form:
The volunteer team will reach out to you in late fall when registration opens.
If accepted, all habitat interpretation volunteers must complete the full training series, outlined below.
All volunteers must complete volunteer orientation. Our winter 2025 orientation video will be available to view online once registration has closed. We will share the video via email with anyone registered for training.
Each prospective volunteer is required to complete one virtual interview via Zoom. Interviews are typically 20–30 minutes long. The interview sign-up form will be shared with those who have registered for the winter training series.
Volunteers must complete a virtual volunteer support and safety training session via Zoom.
Life on the Edge habitat training will be hosted on four or five dates this winter, 9am–3pm. These trainings take place at the Seattle Aquarium in our classroom and habitat spaces. Volunteers only need to attend one Life on the Edge habitat training.
Ready, Set, Swim training will be hosted on two or three dates this winter, 6–9pm. These trainings take place after hours in the Seattle Aquarium habitat spaces. Volunteers only need to attend one Ready, Set, Swim training.
