This site uses cookies. View our Cookie Policy to learn more about how and why.

Regular hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm
Last entry at 5 pm

Habitat Interpretation

A white wave shape.

Fall 2025 Orientation and Training

Thanks for your interest in joining our community of habitat interpreters! The next cycle of onboarding new volunteers will begin in early fall. Please check back here in mid-summer for open registration.

Habitat interpretation training overview

If accepted, all habitat interpretation volunteers must complete the full training series. Volunteers who cannot complete the full series should wait for a future onboarding cycle.

Step 1: Orientation
This is a virtual Zoom meeting during which you can meet fellow prospective volunteers and hear from the Volunteer Engagement team about the programs we offer. Attending orientation is not a commitment to volunteering; this is just a chance to learn and ask questions.

Step 2: Interviews
Each prospective volunteer completes one virtual interview via Zoom. These informal interviews are typically 20–30 minutes long and allow you a chance to speak with existing volunteers to learn more about the habitat interpretation experience.

Step 3: Volunteer support and safety training
During this virtual training, the Volunteer Engagement team will discuss important support and safety items as well as general guidance for volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium.

Step 4: Life on the Edge habitat training
Hosted on select dates from 9am–3pm, these trainings take place at the Seattle Aquarium in our classroom and habitat spaces. Volunteers only need to attend one Life on the Edge habitat training. During this training, you will get a broad introduction to the Life on the Edge habitat, where all volunteers begin their interpretation journeys.

Step 5: Certification Night
Hosted on select dates, 6–9pm, these trainings take place at the Seattle Aquarium in our habitat spaces after the Aquarium has closed to the public. Volunteers only need to attend one Certification Night training. Here, you’ll practice your interpretation skills and learn from established volunteers how to succeed as a habitat interpreter.

[custom_side_nav]
Two sea otters at the Seattle Aquarium investigating a hard hat being used as an enrichment item toy, both otters are looking up towards the viewer.

Website maintenance

Our ticketing and membership systems will be undergoing maintenance starting at 10pm Pacific on Wednesday, March 5. Maintenance is expected to last a few hours. During the maintenance window you may not be able to purchase tickets or access the membership dashboard.

Thank you for understanding.

An eagle ray against a transparent background.
Support the Seattle Aquarium

End the year with a gift for our one world ocean! Support the Aquarium’s work as a conservation organization by making a donation by December 31, 2024.

Today only, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000 thanks to the generosity of Betsy Cadwallader, Jess and Andy Peet, and an anonymous donor.

Photo of an eagle ray gliding through the water cut out and placed against an illustrated background of snowflakes with two illustrated presents above the eagle ray.

Cyber Weekend Sale

15% OFF ALL MEMBERSHIPS
NOV. 29–DEC. 2