Team OCEAN

four kayakers on the water near one another — Team OCEAN volunteers are dedicated to educate on-the-water visitors in the sanctuary and protect its natural resources. Photo: Amity Wood/NOAA

Become a Team OCEAN Volunteer!

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a haven for wildlife. To promote responsible wildlife viewing and reduce human disturbance, the sanctuary created Team OCEAN (Ocean Conservation Education Action Network) in 2000 to educate on-the-water paddlers through effective, one-on-one engagement. A large percentage of ocean paddlers, including kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, and hydrobike users, are unaware of NOAA regulations and guidelines around safe wildlife viewing distances when out enjoying the sanctuary.

Trained Team OCEAN volunteers serve as kayak interpretive naturalists, helping educate on-the-water visitors and protect marine life from human disturbances. Volunteers also share their knowledge of the natural history of local wildlife to foster public stewardship. Team OCEAN has proven to be a successful program through facilitating thousands of engagements and preventing countless marine mammal and bird disturbances each year. Team OCEAN volunteers operate along Cannery Row in Monterey and at Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing during the summer months on weekends.

sea otter raft on the surface with multiple individuals — Responsibly view wildlife from a safe distance to not disturb their natural behaviors, including the endangered Southern sea otter residents in the sanctuary. Photo: Douglas Croft/*Get Into Your Sanctuary* Photo Contest

Team OCEAN volunteers complete a training program that includes topics on interpretation, marine mammals, local bird life, oceanography, kelp forest, resource protection issues, and sanctuary regulations and enforcement. Volunteers also complete a kayak safety course as well as weekend field trips to practice interpretation techniques and wildlife identification. A staff member leads Team OCEAN volunteers on each shift to provide support, mentorship, and consistency.

Commitment

Training Timeframe: February-March

Number of Training Days: Eight week training with Thursday evening seminars and Saturday field training

Minimum Volunteer Time Commitment: Two three-hour shifts per month

How to Apply

If interested in volunteering, please fill out a volunteer interest form. You can also download a PDF application and email to mbnms.volunteer@noaa.gov.

Note: volunteer positions are open to individuals at least age 16 or older and with U.S. citizenship or a person with U.S. legal permanent resident status. There is required paperwork and a NOAA Office of Security background check, which will begin before the start of your volunteer experience.