Volunteer at OUR Cove
LOCATED AT TAMPA ELECTRIC'S MANATEE VIEWING CENTER
Interact with and educate guests and other team members at The Florida Aquarium's Cownose Cove exhibit at Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center (MVC) in Apollo Beach, Florida. Cownose Cove is staffed by The Florida Aquarium's team members seven days a week throughout the entire season in which the MVC is open: November 1 - April 15.
All new Cownose Cove Education Volunteers must attend an information session, as well as a series of training classes. The dates for our upcoming sessions and trainings are below.
Informational Sessions
| Date |
Time |
| August 7, 2019 |
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. |
| August 10, 2019 |
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
Training Classes
(Must attend one of each)
| Training |
Date |
Time |
| Part 1 |
September 18 OR 21, 2019 |
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
| Part 2 |
September 25 OR 28, 2019 |
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
| Part 3 |
October 2 OR 5, 2019 |
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
| Part 4 |
October 9 OR 12, 2019 |
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Able to commit at least one four-hour shift every other week for the entire duration of the MVC’s season. Shifts are from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM and 1:00 – 5:00 PM, seven days a week; you may sign up for both shifts on the same day.
- Commit to all training sessions during September and October, at the Aquarium in downtown Tampa and at the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach.
- Have reliable transportation to and from the Manatee Viewing Center.
- Able to be outside in a west central Florida climate.
- Able to be on your feet for up to 4 hours at a time.
- Able to communicate about the health of the animals and the status of the life support systems with a remote Husbandry contact (via phone or text).
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Rebecca Hughes (rhughes@flaquarium.org.)