Volunteer Opportunities
Shedd Aquarium’s volunteer program started in 1975 and remains a vital part of our mission. In 2025, over 300 volunteers donated more than 22,000 hours of their time – a monumental impact! You’ll find them across the aquarium - prepping food for animals, chatting with guests, testing water samples, gardening, and even diving.
If you enjoy learning new things, lending a helping hand, and embracing a spirit of curiosity, you’ll make a great volunteer!
Already a volunteer?
Volunteer Opportunities
Shedd Aquarium’s volunteer program started in 1975 and remains a vital part of our mission. In 2025, over 300 volunteers donated more than 22,000 hours of their time – a monumental impact! You’ll find them across the aquarium - prepping food for animals, chatting with guests, testing water samples, gardening, and even diving.
If you enjoy learning new things, lending a helping hand, and embracing a spirit of curiosity, you’ll make a great volunteer!
Already a volunteer?
Join our Mission
Opportunities abound throughout the aquarium! Volunteers support Shedd Aquarium in front of the scenes and behind the scenes, above the water and below the water, inside the building and outside the building.
We match volunteers to assignments based on their skills, interest, availability, and our needs. The result? A meaningful experience and an expansive community.
See all the ways you can support!
We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, Veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity organization and welcomes everyone to our team.
Shedd Aquarium is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodations for any point in the volunteer process, please reach out to [email protected].
Looking for group, short-term, or service hour volunteering?
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- Admission to the aquarium for you and guest tickets to share with friends and family
- A unique opportunity to see how Shedd works behind the scenes
- Discounts on gifts, food, and parking while volunteering
- Contribute to our mission of sparking compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world.
- Build relationships with diverse groups of staff members, volunteers and guests who share a passion for aquatic life
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Volunteer applications will be open on a quarterly basis in January, April, July, and October.
When applications are open, there will be a link within each available opportunity posting to a dedicated application form.
Outside of these application windows, you may also sign up to receive an alert when applications are next open. Join our interest list.
We hope to connect with you in the future!