Volunteer
You can make a direct impact on marine wildlife conservation
Whether you’re interested in animal care, education, or just want to support where needed, there’s an opportunity for everyone (18+) to make a difference.
How to Become a Volunteer
Express your interest in volunteering by filling out an application.
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We will reach out via email to all applicants when we are actively seeking new volunteers. We conduct all training in April and May, so there may be a wait. Please see descriptions below for details about roles and seasonality.
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All potential volunteers who have filled out an application will be invited to attend the next virtual orientation.
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Our Volunteers Make an Impact
Since the SeaLife Rescue Center opened in 2021, hundreds of volunteers have contributed about 10,000 hours annually toward our mission to advance the health and welfare of marine wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. Watch the video below to see them in action.
2026 Timeline
Interested in volunteering with us? Check out the 2026 timeline to learn about the key dates in our application process.
Apply
Orientation
Select Role
Training
Shift Sign Up
Start!
We will release our Orientation Video to all applicants in mid-March.
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If you wish to join the SR3 Volunteer Class of 2026 in any capacity, you will need to watch the video and confirm your interest through an online form by early April.
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As our most competitive and robust program, we select our Animal Husbandry cohort first.
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If you complete your Orientation tasks and select a top choice of Animal Husbandry, you will automatically be entered into the lottery.
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We will announce the results of the lottery* in early/mid-April.
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If you are selected for Animal Husbandry, you will then be prompted to sign up for a training session held on a variety of dates and times in May. Once you attend the training, you can sign up for shifts that begin June 1.
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* If you complete all of the requirements but are unfortunately not selected through the lottery, you are put on a priority list for the following year. Historically, volunteers have only had to wait one year. If you are interested, you may commit to any** of the other roles in the meantime; those trainings intentionally happen later in the season.
** Digital Media is the exception; you will need to submit specific application materials to be considered for this role.
Volunteer Roles
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Next Call for Volunteers: March 2026
Animal Husbandry Volunteers play a key role in wildlife rehabilitation by ensuring patients are well fed and have a clean and safe environment for recovery.
This role requires extensive training, including one 45-60-minute virtual orientation and one 4-hour in-person session with options scheduled on a variety of days and times in May.
Husbandry season formally starts on June 1, and volunteers must complete three 4-hour shifts per month at our SeaLife Rescue Center from June to November. For more details, including the shift schedule, see the Animal Husbandry Position Description.
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Administrative Volunteers act as critical support for the logistical operations of SR3. These volunteers cover our phone line, help with fundraising, data collection and input, merchandise + shipping, and other administrative projects. This behind-the-scenes work is what guarantees SR3 has the support to make response, rehabilitation and research possible. By becoming an administrative volunteer, you will ensure SR3’s continued success from our office at our SeaLife Rescue Center.
Minimum requirement of six hours per month from June through November.
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Outreach volunteers connect people to SR3 and their local environment and to the impact humans have on marine creatures, helping inspire change for a healthier ocean. These volunteers staff booths at community events and festivals, talk about marine animals with members of the public, and communicate conservation actions that benefit marine wildlife.
Minimum requirement of four hours per month from June to November.
This role requires attendance at an Education & Outreach training in early June.
For more details, see the Education & Outreach Position Description.
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While SR3’s mission is local, the factors that affect our ability to preserve the health of marine life reach beyond the Pacific Northwest. Digital Media Volunteers expand SR3’s sphere of influence by collecting the images and sounds that we use to share our story with the world. These volunteers capture the content that will captivate our supporters.
Minimum requirement of two (3 hour) shifts per month from July to November.
This role requires attendance at a two-hour virtual training in late June and one shadow shift with the Communications Specialist at the SeaLife Rescue Center.
For more details, including application requirements, see the Digital Media Position Description.
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Marine Mammal Stewards are part of a beach naturalist program cooperatively run by SR3 and MaST Center Aquarium. These volunteers connect with the community, informing boaters, beachgoers and tide-poolers of best practices when they spot marine wildlife. They also serve as an educational resource, leading all-ages activities on the beach to inspire change for a healthier ocean, largely in the marina and Redondo Beach areas of Des Moines.
Minimum requirement of two (3-hour) shifts per month from June through September.
Attendance at a Marine Mammal Stewards training in early June is mandatory for this role. Training is in-person and split between two facilities, the SR3 SeaLife Rescue Center and the MaST Center Aquarium.
For more details, see the Marine Mammal Stewards Position Description.
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Our SeaLife Rescue Center contains a lot of moving parts, and the more a part moves, the more maintenance it needs. The tents, enclosures, plumbing, fencing and facility all keep the marine animals in SR3’s care safe from the elements so they have a safe space to heal. Life Support Systems (LSS) Volunteers help keep our physical infrastructure functioning and help improve our site with facility upgrades and additions.
Because this role is more technical/specialized than the others, LSS Volunteers must display proficiency and familiarity with basic hand & power tools, as well as tool safety equipment and protocols.
This role requires attendance at a 60- to 90-minute in-person training at our SeaLife Rescue Center in early June.
Minimum requirement of two (2 hour) shifts per month from June through November.
For more details, see the Life Support Systems (LSS) Position Description.
Questions?
Please review these resources, including FAQs. If you have additional questions about our volunteer program, please contact Jesse Katz-Klug, our Volunteer Coordinator and Development Assistant.
