Animal Care Volunteers

The Marine Mammal Care Center is always accepting animal care volunteer applications. Volunteers are asked to complete one shift per week on a weekday or weekend. Morning and afternoon shifts are based on animal needs and are a minimum of four hours. Orientation and training classes for volunteers take place as needed. Upcoming orientation dates are posted on the Events and Happenings page.

Orientations are held in the Center for Marine Studies classrooms. Directions are available here. These are open sessions, so you may fill an application out ahead of time, or pick one up when you arrive. Please bring a pencil and paper.

Download a Volunteer Application.   (Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)

Office/Docent Volunteers

We are currently seeking office and docent volunteers. Duties include talking to visitors, accepting donations, selling memberships to visitors and answering phone inquiries. Hours are flexible between 9-5 daily. On the weekends there will be a docent/outreach table set up in the gift shop area.

Office/docent volunteer applicants must attend a volunteer orientation. Upcoming orientation dates are posted on the Events and Happenings page.

Orientations are held in the Center for Marine Studies classrooms. Directions are available here. These are open sessions, so you may fill an application out ahead of time, or pick one up when you arrive. Please bring a pencil and paper.

Download a Volunteer Application.   (Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)

Internship Opportunities

Note: thank you for your interest, however all of the 2012 rotations have been filled and we are no longer accepting applications. Please check back with us next year

The Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur offers hands-on Husbandry internship opportunities to undergraduate college students, graduates and veterinary students.

Husbandry internships are open to graduate and post-graduate candidates 18 years or over. We currently offer spring rotations (starting as early as January) and summer rotations (starting as early as April). Interns are responsible for their own transportation, housing and medical insurance. Additionally, foreign students are responsible for arranging all necessary visas and permits.

Spring rotations (200 hours):

- 20 hours per week

- 10 weeks total

- Staggered rotations with start dates every 2 weeks

- Application deadline: February 1st

Summer rotations (300 hours):

- 30 hours per week

- 10 weeks total

- Staggered rotations with start dates every 4 weeks

- Application deadline: April 1st

Interns are responsible for their own transportation, housing and medical insurance. Additionally, foreign students are responsible for arranging all necessary visas and permits.

Download Internship Applications and forms below.   (Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)

• Cover Letter (revision coming soon)
• Application
• General Release form
• Volunteer Requirements agreement
• Goals and Expectations (revision coming soon)
• Resources for housing and volunteer attire
• Map of the San Pedro/Care Center area
• Download the entire package in .ZIP format. (coming soon)

When you have completed your application package, please MAIL (do not email) all completed paperwork to:

Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur
3601 South Gaffey Street #8
San Pedro, CA 90731
Attn: David Bard

Feel free to contact us for further information.