Wonders of Wildlife volunteers wearing warm clothes help feed the gentoo penguins.

WOW volunteers sit in a meeting watching a presentation on a screen in the background.

Wonders of Wildlife Volunteer Diver

Volunteer at Wonders of Wildlife

Behind every great aquarium is a team of dedicated volunteers.

Our volunteers are an essential part of Wonders of Wildlife, sharing our mission and passion of celebrating people who hunt, fish and act as stewards of the land and water. Volunteers assist with everything from diet preparation and guest interactions, to diving in our tanks to help feed and clean. We offer versatile trainings to teach team members about conservation, various exhibits, and a wide variety of animals. Fill out an application today and become a part of the Wonders of Wildlife team.

Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Guest Engagement Guides

Upcoming 2026 Orientation Dates: Jan. 10, March 25, May 22, July 21, Sep. 2, Nov. 14

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Guest engagement guides are stationed at exhibits throughout the aquarium and museum to provide information on the exhibits showcased. You will be provided with information that will help you share with our visitors fascinating facts, while telling exciting stories. This is a vital part of our mission, as it provides our guests with a deeper understanding and connection to the living world. Applicants must be 16 years or older and choose their own volunteer schedule with a great amount of flexibility.

Applications are accepted up to two weeks prior to orientation dates. Selected applicants will be notified no later than one week prior to orientation.

Apply Here

Wayfinders & Greeters

Upcoming 2026 Orientation Dates: Jan. 10, March 25, May 22, July 21, Sep. 2, Nov. 14

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Wayfinders are among the first to greet our guests, direct visitors to different galleries and amenities, providing information on any special events or activities, and generally make the start of a visit easy and exciting. Wayfinders help ensure that everyone has a unique Ozarks experience. Applicants must be 16 years or older and choose their own volunteer schedule with a great amount of flexibility

Applications are accepted up to two weeks prior to orientation dates. Selected applicants will be notified no later than one week prior to orientation.

Apply Here

Divers

Applications are accepted year-round

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Are you a certified diver with a passion for marine life? Join our team and dive into a unique underwater experience! With over 1.5 million gallons of water and a vibrant collection of marine life, our tanks offer an exciting environment to explore. As a volunteer, you’ll assist with essential cleaning dives and execute educational dive shows for the public. It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to interact with aquatic life, support conservation, and inspire visitors from beneath the surface.

For your application to be considered, the following qualifications must be completed prior to submitting your volunteer diver application;

Must be at least 18 years old
Open water SCUBA certification
Pass a dive physical
First aid certification
CPR/AED certification
O2 administration certification

Apply Here

Animal Care

Applications are accepted year-round

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Animal Care volunteers learn valuable hands-on skills, taught by our Aquarists or Keepers, which may include water quality, fish identification, disease management, animal nutrition, live food preparation, culturing jellies, observing and documenting animal behaviors and much more. Volunteers may perform a variety of tasks for animals including daily husbandry tasks, supporting animal training and welfare practices, organizing and cleaning animal food storage areas, and ensuring tanks/habitats are in optimal condition. These volunteers will work near our animals, but applicants should not expect direct animal contact or handling.

Applicants must be 18 years or older and commit to a weekly schedule, beginning at 6 am.

Apply Here

Young Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Family Volunteering

Upcoming 2026 Orientation Dates: Jan. 10, March 25, May 22, July 21, Sep. 2, Nov. 14

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Family Volunteers serve as Guest Engagement Guides at various exhibits. Parents, siblings (18 years or older), grandparents, or guardians will work side-by-side with their child(ren) ages 10 and older, limit two children per adult. Participants engage with guests at touch pools, assist with special events, attend trainings, share information with guests about our animals, artifacts, and more.

Applications are accepted up to two weeks prior to orientation dates. Selected applicants will be notified no later than one week prior to orientation.

Apply Here

Job Shadowing

Job shadow opportunities are limited to the dates listed below

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Job shadowing will allow you to experience a "day in the life" of a professional, gain valuable insight through real and relevant learning, as well as glimpse of daily operations within Wonders of Wildlife. Explore opportunities with professionals in administrative roles, aquarist and biology jobs, education positions, hospitality roles, zookeeper careers and everything in between. Opportunities are available for students 16 years or older. Job shadow experiences are offered on pre-scheduled dates throughout the school year, with a 3-hour commitment from 8 am – 11 am.

Requirements:

We require a minimum of 3-hours per job shadow experience.
Opportunities are available for high school juniors & seniors (16 years or older), college undergraduates, and new professionals.

Scheduled Job Shadow Opportunities:

Thursday, January 29, 2026
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Job Shadow Expectations

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Tomorrow's Naturalist of Today (TNT)

Applications are accepted year-round with interviews in late spring and late fall, prior to our mandatory training camp.

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Tomorrow's Naturalists of Today (TNT) is a teen volunteer program where students have the opportunity to work directly with Wonders of Wildlife's education team. TNT volunteers assist staff in a wide variety of programs from birthday parties to summer camps. They may also get the chance to work with some of the team's ambassador animals and extensive artifact collections to help educate our guests.

Applicants must be between 13 & 17 years old and attend a mandatory training camp.

Apply Here

Divers

Submit Application

Complete the application process.

Interview

The Dive Liaison will reach out to request a copy of your Dive certifications and physical.

Screening

After a document review, you’ll be scheduled for a swim test, and check-out dive.

Orientation

Complete orientation.

Start volunteering

Questions About Volunteering?

Other Ways to Get Involved

See all the opportunities Wonders of Wildlife offers to get involved with conservation. At WOW, you can inspire others to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors in our own community and throughout the world.

Get Involved

Volunteer

Wonders of Wildlife Volunteer Diver

Volunteer at Wonders of Wildlife

Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Guest Engagement Guides

Learn More

Wayfinders & Greeters

Learn More

Divers

Learn More

Animal Care

Learn More

Young Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Family Volunteering

Learn More

Job Shadowing

Learn More

Tomorrow's Naturalist of Today (TNT)

Learn More

Divers

Submit Application

Interview

Screening

Orientation

Start volunteering

Questions About Volunteering?

Other Ways to Get Involved

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