Inspiring Ocean Stewardship: The Aquarium of the Pacific VolunTEENs program
Adolescents play a crucial role in the future of marine biology and conservation science. The Aquarium of the Pacific’s VolunTEENs program offers teen volunteers the chance to connect with guests, interact with aquarium staff, and gain hands-on experience in conservation and science communication. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program, the aquarium fosters a deep commitment to conservation and stewardship. In summer 2024, the program achieved a milestone with its largest cohort yet, consisting of 130 teens who contributed 7,800 hours of service. The program is free and open to 14-16 year old teens in the Southern California area. It runs for 10 weeks in the fall, spring and summer. The teens receive training to educate guests about organisms that are designated SAFE species using rolling carts. The purpose of these carts is to inspire stewardship amongst guests and educate about at-risk animals and ecosystems. The themes of the carts are subject to change but this year included: Sea Jelly cart, Kelp forest cart, Pollinator cart, Coral cart, Sharks and Rays cart, Abalone cart, and Sea turtle cart. Along with carts, the teens also used “BioFacts,” such as stuffed animals, frog noise makers, and replicas of biological artifacts. They were also trained to communicate with guests at exhibits, galleries and touch pools. At the end of the program, teens are required to create a final project highlighting their experience and what they’ve learned during the program. This project can be an art piece, poem, piece of music etc. Reworked in 2022, the VolunTEENs program allows teen volunteers to interact with marine conservation topics and practice public speaking skills by engaging with hundreds of guests per day. The goal of this program is to give teens the tools to increase their confidence in public speaking, empower them to be ocean stewards, and to forge long lasting friendships. This presentation will showcase the VolunTEEN program through their carts, examples of VolunTEEN experiences through teen speeches, and teen final projects.
Presentation Preference: Oral
Primary Presenter: Jahlen Pinelo, Aquarium of the Pacific (Jahlenpi@gmail.com)
Authors:
Jahlen Pinelo, Hampton University (jahlenpi@gmail.com)
Inspiring Ocean Stewardship: The Aquarium of the Pacific VolunTEENs program
Category
Education & Policy Sessions > EP06 - Communicating Science to the Public
Description
Time: 09:45 AM
Date: 30/3/2025
Room: W208