Volunteer
Volunteers at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center are an invaluable support to our staff, guests, and resident animals. AWCC’s volunteer programs provide opportunities to learn new skills, work towards personal goals, and contribute to the AWCC in a fun and meaningful way. Learn more at the links below or email volunteer@alaskawildlife.org with questions.
AWCC Volunteer Programs:
Docent | Fellowship | One Time Groups | Scouts | Beluga Monitoring | Gardening & Hummingbirds | Photo Gallery
Volunteering at the AWCC was an amazing way to spend the summer. I learned so much from the awesome people who work there about the resident animals and their wild counterparts. It was really fun to meet people from all over the world who are interested in animals too. I loved getting to share everything I learned with our visitors. I can’t wait to come back next summer!
Docent Volunteers
For local individuals looking to volunteer with the AWCC on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, our Docent Program is for you! Rooted in education, our Docent Program seeks dedicated volunteers interested in learning about our organization, mission, and resident wildlife. Docents support the AWCC by helping visitors develop an understanding and appreciation of the wildlife we care for, their wild counterparts, and the ecosystem surrounding the sanctuary. To meet this goal, docents engage with guests by offering educational opportunities and answering questions as guests view wildlife. All training necessary to become a successful docent at AWCC is provided through our Docent Training Program led by Education Department staff members.
Individuals interested in volunteering with the Animal Care department must first successfully complete our Docent Training Program and be able to speak about AWCC’s core functions and mission to guests for consideration as an Animal Care volunteer candidate.
Our volunteer needs vary throughout the year due to fluctuating visitor numbers and seasonal changes on site. Our highest volunteer need corresponds to our highest visitation during the summer months.
We are currently accepting applications for docent volunteers year-round. To apply to be a docent, Click Here. You will need to submit a resume and fill out an application. With any questions, please email volunteer@alaskawildlife.org
An AWCC docent hosting a info booth for guests.
Benefits:
- Gain valuable hands-on experience
- 10% discount on purchases in the Be Wild Gift Shop
- Free admission to AWCC
Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Ability to work well both independently and with others
- Comply with AWCC policies and procedures
- Record of current Tetanus vaccine
Naturalist Fellowship Volunteers
Our Naturalist Fellowship Program is a unique opportunity for individuals seeking temporary, full-time volunteer experience at the AWCC. This program requires a minimum commitment of two months, working a minimum of 32 hours per week. Participants are given the short term and rigorous opportunity to live on site, join our team, learn about AWCC operations, and gain valuable career skills. These dedicated volunteers are interested in learning about our organization, mission, and wildlife and desire to share their knowledge with others. Fellowship candidates may secure funding through their university, a grant, scholarship, or similar and work as sponsored volunteers. While preference is given to applicants being sponsored for a fellowship, we will accept volunteer applications without sponsorship. Applicants should indicate their sponsorship status in the Fellowship application form and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
While applicants can indicate departmental preference in their application, participants will have duties in both our Education and Animal Care departments, with tasks such as presenting daily talks and tours, assisting with school programs, preparing animal diets, and cleaning habitats. Tasks in this program are given on a scale of earned responsibility, starting with training and orientation that includes learning about the animals in our care and shadowing staff.
Our volunteer needs vary throughout the year due to fluctuating visitor numbers and seasonal changes. There are no specific start and end dates for this program, but availability is limited. Please include your preferred start and end dates in your application.
We are currently accepting applications for fellowships year-round. To apply for a fellowship click here. You will need to submit a single page resume and fill out an application.
Fellow assisting with a sedated muskox procedure.
Benefits:
- Gain valuable career skills
- Hands-on opportunities
- On site housing during full time service
- Discount on purchases in the Be Wild Gift Shop
Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be able to commit to a minimum 2 month full-time volunteer schedule
- Record of current Tetanus vaccination
- Valid drivers license
- Be able to pass a background check
I loved the diversity of roles I had the opportunity to fill. Working with different departments as well completing an individual project made every day exciting and unique.
One-Time Groups
Want to get out of the office for a volunteer project? Whether your group is new to volunteering or is regularly serving the community, AWCC has a variety of exciting projects to help you build a stronger team invested in community service.
The types of projects we have available for volunteer groups vary with the seasons and the current needs of the sanctuary. Some projects require no special gear or materials, and volunteers can simply show up to participate. Other projects may be seeking a donation of materials or sponsors to help complete them. Some examples of volunteer projects that could be expected are pulling invasive species, removing litter, assisting with habitat cleaning, or building a habitat improvement.
Benefits:
- Engaging team building opportunity for your company or organization
- Complete annual community service goals
- Fun and rewarding experience with stories to bring back to the office
- Create a deeper connection to our environment and community
- Enjoy visiting AWCC after your volunteer project is complete
Requirements:
- Program leader available to represent the group, coordinate details with AWCC staff, and disperse those details to participants
- Participants should be at least 18 years of age.
- Program availability based on AWCC’s project needs
To inquire, please email volunteer@alaskawildlife.org with details about your group and project ideas or requirements.
A Group of one time volunteers help construct a North American porcupine habitat.
Scouts
AWCC is happy to work with youth serving organizations to complete service or conservation projects for badges and awards for programs such as the Gold Award, WoHeLo, or Eagle Scouts.
In the past, scouts have furthered AWCC’s mission by completing projects such as pulling invasive species, removing trash, building shelters for animals in our care and other related conservation projects. The types of projects we have available vary with the seasons and current project needs of AWCC.
To inquire, please email volunteer@alaskawildlife.org with details about your group and project ideas or requirements.
Scouts built a small animal habitat.
Beluga Monitoring
AWCC partners with the Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program (AKBMP) to host a beluga monitoring site. AWCC and AKBMP seek dedicated volunteers who want to contribute to conservation efforts for the Cook Inlet beluga whale species. During the spring and fall, AWCC staff and volunteers participate in field monitoring and contribute to collecting scientific data on beluga habitat use. Monitoring efforts will provide researchers, managers, and the public with valuable information on beluga distribution, behavior, and habitat use in this region.
Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years of age unless accompanied by an adult guardian
- Complete the AKBMP new volunteer orientation
- Complete in-person monitoring training
- Commit to a minimum of 3 monitoring sessions throughout the season (about a 6-hour commitment in total)
Interested in learning more about the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale? Visit our beluga whale research webpage to learn more about the species and conservation efforts.
Email volunteer@alaskawildlife.org with any questions.
Beluga whale swimming at The Point.
To sign up to become a beluga monitoring volunteer, visit the Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program website and complete the volunteer orientation.
Gardening and Hummingbird Feeders
AWCC maintains vegetable gardens, pollinator gardens, and hummingbird feeders during the summer months. The vegetable gardens provide us with locally grown food and enrichment for our resident wildlife while the pollinator gardens provide us with opportunities to support conservation and educate visitors. The AWCC maintains feeders for the Rufous Hummingbirds and Anna’s Hummingbirds that visit the sanctuary for nesting so that we can support research and conservation efforts for their species.
AWCC is currently accepting volunteers interested in working to help maintain the garden beds and/or hummingbird feeders. AWCC’s educational staff will provide all the training needed to know how to identify plants and properly clean hummingbird feeders.
Benefits
- Gain valuable hands-on experience
- 10% discount on purchases in the Be Wild Gift Shop
- Free admission to AWCC
Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult
- Ability to work well both independently and with others
- Comply with AWCC policies and procedures
- Record of current Tetanus vaccine
To inquire, please email volunteer@alaskawildlife.org.
Youth engage in service projects for a number of reasons; to connect more deeply to their community, contribute to causes they believe in, to grow personally and professionally, and so many others.
A fellowship volunteer bonding with two of our muskox orphans.
Volunteer docent holding a bison skull bio fact – John’s favorite tool!
Volunteer leading a info table during an event.
Two docents scrub antlers to help us prepare for our Paint An Antler event.
Volunteers help keep our sanctuary and surrounding areas clean by picking up along the highway near our entrance.
