Exciting Volunteer Opportunities
Share your passion for our living planet and help guests Explore, Discover, and Learn. Participants in the LLPA Volunteer Program are valuable members of our team. LLPA volunteers participate in a variety of roles and are an integral part of daily operations, events, and special projects at the aquarium.
Already a volunteer?
Become a Volunteer
See our available positions below!
Depending on the volume of interest and submissions, we will only be contacting applicants who meet all of the minimum requirements listed in the job posting. Only those applicants who align most closely with our minimum and preferred qualifications will be contacted for an interview. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) will retain your application materials for one year and may contact you regarding future opportunities.
*All volunteer positions require a $25.00 cash deposit for issued uniform items.
Education Volunteer Roles
*Applications for Education Volunteers are currently closed. Check back in the future.
Husbandry and Diving Volunteer Roles
Saltwater Volunteer
Saltwater Volunteers assist staff with the care of marine animals at the Aquarium. With training, volunteers help maintain high standards for cleanliness and welfare for the animals under the care and supervision of the Saltwater Husbandry Team. Volunteers work closely with staff to perform routine tasks large and small. Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
- Animal food preparation (raw fish and shellfish, produce, gel diets, supplements, etc.)
- Washing and disinfecting dishes, surfaces, tools, equipment
- General back-of-house operation and maintenance (organizing and cleaning, disinfectant solutions, equipment, and processes)
- Filtration maintenance (filter sock changing and cleaning, protein skimmer cleaning, etc.)
- Habitat maintenance (scrubbing, vacuuming, water changes, etc.)
- Animal feeds
- Water chemistry testing
Requirements:
Must be a minimum of 18 years of age
Must commit to a minimum of 8 hours every month.
Minimum 1-year commitment
*Applications currently closed. Check back in the future.
River Otter Survey Volunteer Technician
This citizen science volunteer position will assist in gathering video camera surveillance data as part of a larger project to collect a census of North American river otter populations in the Wasatch area. Volunteers must have their own transportation to the survey sites, be able to hike in uneven terrain to retrieve data cards, and must be willing to review lengthy video footage to identify animals.
Requirements:
Must be a minimum of 18 years of age
Must commit to 1 day per month
Minimum 1-year commitment
Available to volunteer on weekends
*Applications currently closed. Check back in the future.
Husbandry (Endotherm Volunteer)
Endotherm Volunteers assist staff with the care of the mammals and birds at LLPA. With training, the volunteer helps maintain high welfare standards for the animals under the care and supervision of the Endotherms Husbandry team. This is done by working alongside animal keepers to accomplish daily tasks and long-term projects. Duties also include:
- Preparing specific animal nutrition with limited or no supervision
- Disinfecting feeding dishes, tools, enrichment devices, and workspaces
- Assisting with maintenance on and off habitats, as needed
- Working closely with keepers to complete projects
- Cleaning and organizing of husbandry areas
- Observing and recording animal behavior as taught
Requirements:
Must be a minimum of 18 years of age
Prefer someone who can commit to one 4-hour shift per week.
Minimum 1-year commitment
Volunteer Dive Specialist
The Dive Specialist will be responsible for assisting with LLPA system cleaning, maintenance, repair, and animal care. This position will require the Dive Specialist to be in close proximity to the various LLPA inhabitants and closely adhere to the safety protocols of the LLPA Dive Program.
Requirements:
- Must be a minimum of 18 years of age
- Must have a current Open Water dive certification from an internationally-recognized organization
- Must have completed a minimum of 25 open water dives in addition to their certification dives. Of the 25 dives, five need to have been completed in the past year.
- Must complete a written and practical exam administered by the Aquarium Dive Program
- Must complete and submit a Dive Medical from a board-certified physician
- Must have a current CPR/AED/First Aid/Emergency Oxygen Administration certification from an internationally-recognized organization
- Must commit to two shifts per month
- Participate in one Rescue Training yearly
- Minimum 1-year commitment
- Must have Divers Alert Network Diver Accident Insurance
*Applications currently closed. Check back in the future.
Benefits
Free admission to the Aquarium with volunteer ID
Discounted admission for guests visiting the Aquarium with you
Discounts in the Reef Café and Gift Shop when you show your name tag
Invitation to Aquarium Team events
FAQs
To qualify for any husbandry or animal handling volunteer position you must be at least 18 years old. To qualify for the dive volunteer program you must be at least 21 years old.
LLPA posts volunteer positions as needed. Those candidates who meet the minimum and preferred requirements will be contacted for an interview. Once a position has been filled, the position will no longer be posted on the website until the need arises for more volunteers. Candidates who are accepted into the volunteer program will be scheduled for onboarding that included an orientation and training.
All new volunteers go through an in-person training program to get them familiarized with volunteer processes and LLPA operations. This training program consists of shadowing staff members and successfully completing knowledge checks. Volunteers work at their own pace and can stay in this training program until they feel confident and comfortable on their own. Volunteers are also required to complete web-based safety courses, which will be assigned during their first couple weeks of service. Safety is the top priority in our organization, so safety training must be completed in a timely manner. Volunteers may complete online courses at home using their own device, but they also have the option to use LLPA computers if they need staff assistance.
Hourly requirements vary according to the volunteer position, check the position description for further details. On average, volunteers must complete two half-shifts, or one full shift per month. This works out to about 8 ½ hours per month.
It may be possible to use LLPA as a service site for certain high school classes or programs. This information must be disclosed to the Volunteer Services Coordinator prior to any service-for-credit activity. Please be aware that the Volunteer Services Coordinator reserves the right to refuse participation in any service-for-credit program, particularly if it conflicts with LLPA volunteer policies. Volunteers should not assume that they can use LLPA as a service site for credit, unless they have already received confirmation from the Volunteer Services Coordinator.
Yes! Volunteers receive a variety of benefits that become available immediately upon their start date. These include: free admission to LLPA, discounted LLPA tickets, and discounts at the café and gift shop. Additional benefits become available as volunteers fulfill a certain amount of hours. These include: admission tickets, memberships, animal encounter tickets, and more! Benefits will be discussed in further detail during Volunteer Orientation.
Interested in Internships?
