Volunteering Suggestions

bobberly1 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 05:13 PM

I'm a sophomore in high school and I'm looking for something biology related to volunteer in over the summer. I want something that'll be somewhat enjoyable, help me with college, and get my foot in the door as far as the scientific research and conservation community goes. I'd be interested in really anything related to biology, I keep frogs, fish, coral, fossils, minerals, inverts, and plants so I'm not hard to please.

So, has anyone here gone through any programs or volunteered with any museums or conservation efforts that they enjoyed? As my info says, I live near Boston, but I could travel for an especially good opportunity. As a side note, Costa Rica seems especially cool because of the fact that it's very interesting but has very reasonable air rates. Arizona too. Thanks for reading, feel free to share any experience or knowledge you have.

frogparty · #2 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 05:18 PM

I had to do the same thing in high school and was lucky enough to get a volunteer job at the reptile/tropical rainforest house at the woodland park zoo.
Contact your local zoo/aquarium/ wild animal rescue center and see i there are volunteer openings

wcsbackwards · #3 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 08:21 PM

You could look into finding a wildlife rehabilitator and volunteer to help them out. You could also look into colleges and universities nearby to see if there are any professors doing research you might be interested in. Then you could send them an email detailing what your goals are and how you would like to volunteer.

MonkeyFrogMan28 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 09:10 PM

I live a hour from Boston. What you should do is go to Amherst for a week when our first spring rain comes. This should only be a couple months away. Last year I save 66 spotteds by my home.Get together with som officals and help watch and carry Spotted Salamanders to their breeding sites. Make sure you get permission MA has the strictest laws on their salamander species. You should be able to google it and I am sure they take volunteers . I am off to work so I cant elaborate any more.

wcsbackwards · #5 (**permalink**) 01-19-2010, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyFrogMan28

I live a hour from Boston. What you should do is go to Amherst for a week when our first spring rain comes. This should only be a couple months away. Last year I save 66 spotteds by my home.Get together with som officals and help watch and carry Spotted Salamanders to their breeding sites. Make sure you get permission MA has the strictest laws on their salamander species. You should be able to google it and I am sure they take volunteers . I am off to work so I cant elaborate any more.

That sounds like a lot of fun!

bobberly1 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-19-2010, 11:10 AM

Thanks everyone!

mellowvision · #7 (**permalink**) 01-20-2010, 04:58 PM

If I were still living near Boston, I'd sign up for the volunteer program at the New England Aquarium in a heartbeat. I currently live in NYC and volunteer at the NY Aquarium, and it's my favorite place to be. I've learned a lot there, and met a lot of inanely smart people.

Volunteering

I'm not sure which direction you are away from Boston, but there are a few other places that have always caught my attention. There are aquariums on both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Could make for an exciting summer. The Franklin Park zoo has a volunteer program as well. Zoo New England

In terms of places to maybe find a job, as opposed to volunteering, check out Finger Lakes Aquaculture in Dedham and Wood Fisheries in Gloucester. Aquaculture is the future.

I really can't emphasize enough how much I enjoy volunteering at the Aquarium.

edwing206 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 02:28 AM

I graduated last year and also had to volunteer. I think it was a total of 60 hours. I volunteered at the Seattle Aquarium, I put in about 105 hours(it was either 105 or none at all haha). I had lots of fun. Got to meet some cool people, see some cool stuff. I would try to do something like that. I am a fish nerd too so that was a plus.

pl259 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-21-2010, 05:59 PM

Here's another, close to home...

New England Herpetological Society

thedude · #10 (**permalink**) 01-24-2010, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogparty

I had to do the same thing in high school and was lucky enough to get a volunteer job at the reptile/tropical rainforest house at the woodland park zoo.
Contact your local zoo/aquarium/ wild animal rescue center and see i there are volunteer openings

you can volunteer in their rainforest house??? wow i know what my girlfriend is going to beg me to do with her during some time off from cascadia. although she wont have to beg too much because thats the coolest exibit ive ever seen!