New England Aquarium

Two species of river herring migrate up the Mystic River each spring: Alewife (Alosa psuedoharenous) and Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis). Both fish are anadromous: they spend most of their lives at sea and return to freshwater habitats to spawn, or lay eggs. Since the early 1900's the river herring population in the Mystic has drastically declined due to by-catch, habitat loss and degradation, water pollution, poaching, access to spawning habitat, and natural predators. They are now a threatened species. According to the Herring Alliance some river herring runs on the Atlantic Coast have declined by 95% or more over the past 20 years! In 2011, a fish ladder was installed at the Upper Mystic Lake Dam, allowing herring to access previously lost breeding grounds. In 2017, an underwater camera was installed so that volunteers could count fish and give us a better understanding of how the populations are shifting over time. This is where citizen science comes in! After learning a bit more about the Mystic River Watershed Association's ongoing efforts to revitalize native herring populations, volunteers will create an account (or sign in as a guest) to count fish in 30-60 second long videos. The data will be added to a publicly accessible database, and the top counters will be listed on an online leaderboard (we will even give a small prize to the top-counter after this event!). A smartphone, tablet, or computer is required to view the videos, so come prepared with your own. You are welcome to bring your own snacks/refreshments!

Want to know more about the live blue Service Corps? Through this program, we partner with local environmental organizations to provide episodic volunteer opportunities with a smaller commitment that still has an important impact on our mission! This program was built in flexibility; you only sign up for the service events in which you're interested and for which you have the time. To become a live blue Service Corps member, volunteers are first required to attend a one time, hour long orientation at the Aquarium. During this orientation, you'll learn more about the live blue Service Corps, the kinds of projects you'll be doing, and what to expect. It's also a great chance to meet other volunteers! After attending the orientation you'll be able to sign up for any and all live blue Service Corps projects posted on serve.neaq.org/calendar. [Note that if you are interested in a more committed program, namely those in animal care and education, please visit serve.neaq.org/ClassicCorps to read about the application process]

Volunteers for the Aquarium Lecture Series assist with checking in guests, answer questions, set-up and break down materials, provide general program support, and provide an overall pleasant and inviting atmosphere. You are also welcome to stay to enjoy the lecture! To learn more about the lecture series and to see upcoming speakers, see our website.

Belle Isle Marsh is the last remaining coastal salt marsh within the City of Boston. Managed in part by Boston, Winthrop, Revere, and DCR, this park is in constant need of aid to ensure it remains a pristine environment. Home to dozens of species of birds, fish, and other wildlife, the native habitat here is threatened by marine debris and invasive species, just to name a few. On Saturday, July 20th, the Service Corps will be joining Greenovate Boston and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to remove marine debris, litter, and invasive species that have overtaken a section of the marsh. Come learn more about this unique ecosystem and help keep it protected!

New England Aquarium is participating in the Plastic Free July Eco-challenge, and we need your help to get our team to the top of the plastic-free leader board (while making a difference for our ocean)! At this cleanup, you can learn a bit about the threats facing our local marine life from our DCR partner, Matthew Nash, before heading out onto the beach to remove debris and talk to beach-goers about what they can do to help. Grabbers, buckets, and trash bags provided, but be prepared for a productive morning at the beach! To learn more about the Plastic Free Eco-challenge and join the Aquarium Staff & Volunteer team, visit: https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/teams/new-england-aquarium-staff-volunteers Not currently an active intern or volunteer? Join our community group! https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/dashboards/teams/protecting-the-blue-neaq-community

Join us for Stewardship Saturday on the Boston Harbor Islands! We will be working with the National Park Service to conduct clean-ups, remove invasive species, and complete other beautification projects. Each project takes place on a different island and will involve a different set of work. Tools and gloves will be provided, but be prepared with sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants to protect from thorns and poison ivy, and clothes you don't mind getting dirty. The boat for these projects leaves precisely at 9am. The departure site varies between projects, so keep an eye on your e-mail for details. Here are some pictures of some of our volunteers at past Stewardship Saturdays!!

The Charles River Conservancy works in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to identify ways to improve the overall health and vitality of the Charles River. The live blue Service Corp provides volunteers to help! Through these projects, we help restore parks along the Charles River by weeding garden beds, raking leaves, removing invasive species, picking up trash, painting benches, and improving accessibility for visitors. Tasks will change depending on the needs of the day, but come prepared to spend the morning outdoors doing physical work! On Saturday, June 27th, we will be assisting the Conservancy as they implement a restoration plan at Hell's Half Acre in Cambridge, including invasive species removal and debris cleanup.

Revere Beach is America’s first public beach. It is a destination for tourists and locals alike, and yet, it is often littered with trash from local restaurants and marine debris. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation works hard to maintain the beach, but they need our help to remove litter, educate the public, and raise awareness about the issues surrounding marine debris. Pick up some trash, talk to some people, and keep Revere Beach clean! We’ll learn a little more about marine debris from our DCR partner, Matthew Nash, and then spend the rest of the morning picking up everything from cigarette butts to jars of molasses (seriously). On Tuesday, July 30th, help us cleanup after the Sand Sculpture Festival (July 26th-28th). Expect to find lots of debris and litter large and small! This is a monthly event throughout the summer. Please join us for as many dates as you are able, and feel free to bring a friend. (Just let us know to expect them)

Woodlands Volunteer Corps (Second Saturdays) Franklin and Olmsted Parks June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12 and November 9 | 10:00am – 1:00pm Help implement a comprehensive woodlands management program and promote a healthier forest through activities ranging from removing invasive plant species to conditioning forest soil. If you are interested in this event, please register at the following link: https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/volunteer/

Marine Mammal Education Volunteer Recruiting for: Summer 2019 Time commitment: 5 hour training and a commitment of at least 6 three hour shifts by October 1 2019. Summary: Marine Mammal Center Educators are ambassadors, representing the New England Aquarium by engaging visitors of all ages and backgrounds in one on one conversation about our fur seals and sea lions. Don't know a lot about marine mammals or how to talk to visitors? Don't worry! We provide training and mentorship to prepare volunteers with all the fun facts, information and teaching tips needed to become a highly engaging Visitor Educator. Responsibilities: Answer questions from the public, initiate conversations with visitors, and work with fun biofacts. Training is required and available free of charge to volunteers and includes topics such as marine mammal behavior, husbandry, basic biology, conservation and climate change concerns, visitor safety, public speaking skills, and communicating effectively with different age groups. Required Commitment: Attend a training class on Saturday, May 11th or Wednesday, May 15th from 10:00am to 2:00pm Completion of at least 6 three-hour volunteer shifts by October 1, 2019 Qualifications: Must have enthusiasm and interest in meeting and working with a high volume of aquarium visitors daily Willingness to learn about fur seals and sea lions and their exhibit Must be able to communicate effectively in noisy and crowded conditions Must be able to stand for long periods of time Must be comfortable moving up and down stairs throughout the day Must be able to lift and carry 25 pounds Our fur seal and sea lion exhibit is outdoors so volunteers must be comfortable being exposed to all weather conditions. Age Requirements: at least 18 years old.