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Volunteer at VIMS

  • Seining   Volunteer Caroline Herath catches an American eel while seining with a group of students.   © S. Maples/VIMS.
  • Boat Tour   Volunteers learn about the marine environment durring an educational outing.   © S. Maples/VIMS.
  • Poquoson Seafood Festival   VIMS graduate student Hadley McIntosh staffs the VIMS booth during the Poquoson Seafood Festival.   © S. Maples/VIMS.
  • Group Tour   Graduate students Brandon Conroy and Jami Ivory interact with students during a tour of the Zooplankton Ecology Lab.   © S. Maples/VIMS.
  • Fisheries Collection   Professor Eric Hilton talks with a guest during a tour of the VIMS Fisheries Collection.   © S. Maples/VIMS.
  • After Hours Lecture   Professor Carl Hershner addresses the audience during a VIMS After Hours lecture.   © D. Malmquist/VIMS.
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Interested in volunteering at VIMS? Volunteer positions are available with our outreach and educational programs and sometimes with specific research programs.

Requirements for each volunteer position vary, but general requirements for all VIMS volunteers are below: 

  • Be at least 16 years of age (research and field-based opportunities are severely limited for minors under 18 years old)
  • Complete safety training with the VIMS Safety Office before conducting any work as a volunteer
  • Complete required volunteer paperwork (check-in form, liability waiver, provide emergency contact information)
  • A volunteer position may require you to commit to a certain number of hours, such as two hours per week, 15 hours per year, or more regular hours during a certain timeframe (summer, specific sampling period, etc.)

For general questions about volunteering at VIMS, please contact Kristen Sharpe at [[v|knsharpe]] or (804) 684-7069.

Please note that volunteer positions are limited, and we do not have many open volunteer opportunities at any one time.