Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Fall/ Spring/Summer Junior Program
All Applications must include the following:
-Most recent report card with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
-One letter of recommendation from a teacher or employer. Letters cannot be from family
members.
-Applicants must write a short essay (200-400 words). The essay should explain why you have
chosen CMA to volunteer, how you feel you would impact the Aquarium and why you feel you
should be chosen.
-A completed CMA application signed by student and parent/guardian.
-A completed Rules of Conduct form signed by parent/guardian.
-Application fee of $20.00.
Once you complete your paperwork it should mailed to:
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage Clearwater, FL 33767
Attention: Kerra Hubbard, Volunteer Coordinator
Or may be turned in to the “Will Call” window of the ticket booths in a sealed envelope
marked- Attention: Kerra Hubbard, Volunteer Coordinator
-Applications deadlines are as follows:
Spring-February 5, <<< Spring session February-May
Summer-May 15, <<<< Summer session June-August
Fall-November 5, <<<< Fall session November-February
Junior Volunteers will be chosen from the pool of candidates with complete applications based on
CMA's needs. Juniors will be notified of application status after deadline. Please read thru all of
the paperwork attached.
-Applicants who are accepted will be required to complete online training prior to starting.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Fall/ Spring/Summer Junior Program
Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Fall/ Spring Junior Volunteer Program invites students to join us
for a great experience! All students age 15 and over are welcome to apply. Junior volunteers will
work education, retail sales, food service or guest relations. Positions will be filled at Clearwater
Marine Aquarium and Winters Dolphin Tale Adventure locations.
Junior Volunteer Information
- All Junior Volunteers must be at least 15 years old by the deadline for applications.
- Volunteers in Spring/Fall will be required to volunteer a minimum of one Saturday or Sunday per
week for a 4 hour shift. This is a full Fall or Spring commitment and not for those visiting
short term.
-Volunteers in Summer will be required to schedule at least one 8 hour shift per week. This is a
full Summer commitment and not for those visiting short term.
Education Camp Volunteers will be assisting as “Camp Instructors” both in the classroom and
out on the boat (duties include but are not limited to supervising children, taking camp groups on
bathroom breaks, supervision of campers during lunch and out in the water while snorkeling).
Volunteers in this department are required to have a mask, snorkel, 1 piece swimsuit, closed toed
water shoes and towel during all volunteer shifts. MUST BE 16 OR OLDER IN THIS
DEPARTMENT. Juniors in this department must be willing to submit to
background/fingerprinting check. (Summer Only)
Food Service Volunteers will be assisting with sales and stocking at Shark Bites Café and the
Winters Dolphin Tale Adventure food court. (Summer Only)
Education Junior Volunteers will be assisting the department with classroom program
preparations and leadership and serve as mates on the Sea Life Safari boat tours as
needed/available. Classroom assistants will prepare education materials including booklets, crafts
and props. They will also be responsible for classroom set up and clean up. Classroom
assistants may also assist with conducting programs both onsite and offsite. Volunteers may also
assist as boat mates helping pull net lines and show marine animals to guests. MUST BE 16 OR
OLDER IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
Retail Sales Volunteers will be assisting the retail staff. Duties include but are not limited to
stocking items, pricing merchandise, keeping the retail area clean & assisting guests with
purchases.
Guest Relations:
Hospitality Volunteers will be assisting the Hospitality team at Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure.
Duties include but are not limited to: mingling with guests at all of the exhibits, manning the touch
tank area, answering guest questions, and giving interactive presentations to the public.
Volunteers in this department should be very social and comfortable talking to numerous people
daily. Previous public speaking experience is not required, but you are required to be willing to
improve your public speaking skills!
Volunteer Divers Maintaining water quality and appearance of our pools is a top priority. The
roof removal provides a spectacular open-air effect but also brings with it direct sunlight that
increases algae growth in our pools. Volunteer SCUBA divers assist with our pool cleaning
challenge. Air tanks are provided and some equipment is available. Most volunteers bring their
own dive gear. Any person interested in applying must provide and make copy of a Scuba
Certification Card from a recognized agency as Naui, Padi, Pdic, or Ssi. Interested divers must
submit their 2 most recent dives from their log book for review. This information must be included
with your application. (Junior Divers must commit to at least 2 dives per week.)
-Junior Volunteers may be assigned or choose to work in other areas throughout the aquarium,
depending on needs that day.
- CMA does have a uniform dress code. All Junior Volunteers will be required wear a CMA
uniform volunteer shirt during each shift, the cost is $10-$20 each. This information will be
provided upon acceptance based on the department you have been assigned.
- If volunteering as an Education Camp Volunteer, a Junior will be required to purchase an
additional uniform shirt (rash guards for $20)
-Any Junior Volunteer who has more than one unexcused absence will be dismissed from the
program. Juniors will be provided information on how to call off or request a day off. It is the
responsibility of the junior volunteer, not the parent to notify CMA staff.
-Juniors will be subject to dismissal for inappropriate behavior. Those behaviors considered
inappropriate include talking/texting on cell phones during camp time (or playing games on
phones, IPods’, or other devices), refusal to work where needed, and showing lack of supervision
of the children especially in the water.
-We will only provide any information about a Junior Volunteer to the person listed as their
Emergency contact.
If you are volunteering for Bright Futures or any other school /scholarship related
hours:
-All paperwork is the student’s responsibility; CMA will not provide any copies etc.
-CMA staff will sign required paperwork as needed at the time the student volunteers. Any hours
completed must be signed off during that period. We will not keep track of your hours for the
Junior.
-It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of all hours. CMA highly recommends a Junior to
keep a log of hours for each shift you complete and have a supervisor sign off on your hours
daily.
Parents - The Junior Volunteer Program is an outstanding opportunity for your
student to gain valuable experience in leadership skills and in dealing with the
adult working world. Please do not call or email for your student! Please allow
them to communicate directly with the staff. Failure to comply can result in
removal from the Junior Volunteer Program.
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
Please complete all parts of this application legibly (please print). Incomplete forms will
not be considered.
Name (Last/First)
_____________________________________________
Street Address
_____________________________________________
City/State/Zip
_____________________________________________
Date of Birth
__________________________
Home # ________________ Cell#________________ Work# ____________
Best time to reach you:___________________________ Home/Work/Cell (circle one)
E-mail: ______________________________________________________
VOLUNTEER RELEASE:
By signing this application, you (and your parent/guardian if you are under age 18 yrs.) are
indicating that Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Inc., assumes no responsibility for any injury
suffered by you as a result of your volunteer work either on or off CMA premises, and if you are
accepted into the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Volunteer program, neither you, nor your
parent/guardian, nor heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns shall ever institute any action
at law or otherwise against Clearwater Marine Aquarium as a result of any injury to you or your
property resulting from your volunteer services, and you and your parents/guardian, for
yourselves and your heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns HEREBY RELEASE
CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, its Board of Directors, Officers, employees, and agents
from and against any and all claims for personal injury to you or loss or damage to your property
arising out of your activities undertaken as a volunteer.
Executed this ____ day of ______________, 20___.
__________________________
Your signature
____________________________
Parent or Guardian (if
volunteer under age 18)
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: _________________________
Relationship: _______________
Phone number: __________________
The junior positions are: (please select your top 3 preferences. Do NOT select the
same position more than once, and number 1, 2 & 3 with 1 being your 1st choice.)
_____Guest Relations Hospitality
_____Education Camps
_____Food Service
_____Education
_____Dive Team
_____Retail Sales
Select Session:
____ Fall (November- February)
____ Spring (February - May)
____Summer (June - August)
Shirt size- please circle one (shirts are adult sizes) small medium large
XL
Junior Volunteer Rules of Conduct
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff wants all of our summer junior participants to enjoy their
experience in an enjoyable, stress-free educational environment.
There are times when it is necessary for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium administrators to make
a decision concerning the acceptability of a junior’s behavior in the Summer Program. These
decisions must be based on the welfare of the total summer program community and how the
behavior issue will affect the learning environment and fellow participants.
The following rules have risen out of a need to address unacceptable behavior. Please read all
rules, and discuss these rules with your child(ren):
Engaging in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the CMA Program will not be
tolerated. Examples: The use of violent force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear,
passive resistance, or any other comparable conduct.
Vandalizing Aquarium or Summer Camp property is forbidden. This includes, but is not
limited to, damaging games, tables, chairs, bathrooms, or equipment.
Repeatedly refusing to follow the directions of the Staff, Summer Camp Instructors,
Counselors, Interns or Volunteers or engaging in acts of serious disrespect to personnel
or violation of any rules and policies will be considered unacceptable behavior.
Intentionally causing or attempting to cause physical injury or behaving in such a way as
could reasonably cause physical injury to any person will result in isolation and/or
expulsion from the Junior Volunteer Program.
Bringing any weapon to CMA (pocket knife, firearms, etc.) will result in isolation and/or
expulsion from the summer junior volunteer program.
Disciplinary steps taken for behavioral problems
Brief supervised separation from the group may be used if necessary when a junior is having
trouble with his/her behavior. The following disciplinary procedures will be used when behavioral
issues occur (whether on the same or separate days):
First Offense of unacceptable behavior will result in written disciplinary note sent home;
this note must be returned signed by a parent or guardian at the next volunteer shift.
Second Offense of unacceptable behavior will result in a written disciplinary notice and
phone conference with a staff member, parent, and child.
Third Offense will result in a second written disciplinary notice and a conference with the
staff member, parent, and child to determine whether the junior will be allowed to
continue or will be asked to leave the Program. The final decision will be at the sole
discretion of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff.
Acknowledged on ___________________20____
_____________________________________
Parent or Guardian Signature
_________________________________
Junior Volunteers Signature