Volunteer Opportunities
Sea Center Texas has one of the most versatile and active volunteer groups in the TPWD system. Each month, about 100 volunteers donate their time to act as Sea Center Texas ambassadors, guiding tours, greeting visitors, and providing "expert" knowledge at special events. They also form the heart of more mundane activities by helping maintain the site and develop support within the community. This group’s work has been recognized both individually and as a team since its inception with awards for excellence.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to volunteer on their own. If under 16, volunteers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also a registered volunteer. All volunteers under 18 must have the signed permission of a parent or guardian. Applicants 18 years and older must consent to a criminal background check and be willing to pledge at least seven hours a month of service. Volunteers may complete the TPWD online volunteer application or request volunteer applications by calling Sea Center Texas at 979-292-0100 or by email at seacenter@tpwd.texas.gov
A wide variety of volunteer opportunities are available including:
Greeter
The greeter position is an important component of the Sea Center Texas experience. You are the first person to welcome the public. You oversee visitor sign-in and answer questions. Sign-in is an important tool in determining the success of Sea Center Texas.
1. Promotes the mission, vision, and values of Sea Center Texas.
2. Assists in collecting sign-in information
3. Has a positive and service-focused attitude
4. Greets and orients all visitors
Gift Shop
The gift shop is essential to Sea Center Texas operations. The revenue generated from the gift shop is funneled back into the operating budget and provides the means for Sea Center’s education and outreach efforts. By volunteering your time in the gift shop, you are ensuring that Sea Center Texas can continue working toward our mission.
1. Promotes the mission, vision, and values of Sea Center Texas.
2. Operates a register and makes sales via card, payment apps, and cash.
3. Restocks gift shop merchandise and alerts staff members when low.
4. Assists with counting, tagging, and organizing new merchandise
5. Handles and accurately counts money.
Tour Guide
The tour guide is an essential part of Sea Center Texas. A tour guide acts as an interpreter by teaching about the facility’s history, hatchery operations, and stock enhancement practices for raising red drum, spotted seatrout, and southern flounder.
1. Promotes the mission, vision, and values of Sea Center Texas.
2. Has a positive and service-focused attitude.
3. Greets and orients all visitors in a positive and customer-focused manner.
4. Must be able to navigate around the facility with groups of up to 20 people.
Provide interpretive and accurate information to visitors and answer visitor questions.
Touch Tank
The touch tank is an important part of Sea Center Texas. A touch tank volunteer acts as an interpreter by identifying and describing the life history, behaviors, unusual characteristics, and social and environmental values of the marine organisms within the touch tank.
1. Promotes the mission, vision, and values of Sea Center Texas.
2. Must be able to enforce touch tank rules.
3. Answers questions about marine life, marine habitats, and any other non-technical questions that would enhance visitor experience.
Youth Fishing
The fishing event volunteer is an essential part of Sea Center Texas. A fishing volunteer teaches fishing skills, catch-and-release, and ethical fishing practices at Sea Center Texas.
1. Promotes the mission, vision, and values of Sea Center Texas.
2. Ability to teach fishing skills, assist with rig repair, netting fish, removing hooks, cutting line, and all other aspects of fishing.
3. Ability to work with diverse groups of people, particularly youth.
4. Handle fish appropriately and ethically.
5. Must be able to work in a safe manner at all times.
Outreach & Engagement
The outreach & engagement (O&E) volunteer is an essential part of Sea Center Texas' mission. An O&E volunteer assists with offsite outreach and special events, helping Sea Center Texas spread its mission far beyond the facility walls.
1. Promotes the mission, vision, & values of Sea Center Texas.
2. Has a positive and service-focused attitude and the ability to work with diverse groups of people, particularly youth.
3. Provide interpretive and accurate information to visitors and answer visitors' questions.
4. Raise awareness of stock enhancement practices, conservation, and stewardship; answer questions about marine life and marine habitats.
5. Assist with setup and takedown of tables, chairs, displays, etc.
6. Ability to travel to event locations.