Volunteering, or, a Fun Day on the Water?

Volunteer registration and training begins for the summer season

March 2017

With beautiful boating weather right around the corner, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is recruiting new volunteers to help us promote safe and enjoyable public use of the marine environment. We invite interested citizens to join a dedicated and enthusiastic team of volunteers as part of our Ocean Conservation Education Action Network, known as Team OCEAN..

Team OCEAN volunteers join sanctuary staff on our boats at heavily visited reef sites throughout the Keys during peak recreational boating seasons and heavy-traffic holiday weekends. Volunteers inform the public about the sanctuary and its special zones, encourage proper use of sanctuary resources, and provide tips on how to practice basic safety.

Volunteer registration is required to participate in the program. Once registered, individuals may be trained as on-the-water interpreters/educators and join sanctuary staff. Volunteers who own their own boats and meet training requirements may also conduct Team OCEAN outreach from their own boats.

The sanctuary will conduct training sessions for Team OCEAN volunteers in April in the upper and lower keys.

A great way to spend Earth Day!!

What:   Upper Keys Team OCEAN volunteer training
When:   Saturday, April 22, 2017
      8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (classroom),
      1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on the water with Team OCEAN – weather permitting
      (must clear a background check prior to participation in boating activity)
Where:   Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
      Key Largo Office
      95239 Overseas Highway, Key Largo , FL 33037

What:   Lower Keys Team OCEAN volunteer training
When:   Saturday, April 29, 2017
      8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (classroom)
      1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on the water with Team OCEAN – weather permitting
      (must clear a background check prior to participation in boating activity)
Where:   Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
      Key West Office
      33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040

For more information on becoming a volunteer and participating in other Team OCEAN activities within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, contact Nicole.Uibel@noaa.gov or Eric.Raslich@noaa.gov.