Teen Volunteer Program

Georgia Aquarium's Teen Volunteer Program, also called the Beginner Environmental Leadership Program, is an unpaid, in-person volunteer program at the aquarium for high school students ages 15 to 17 who care about aquatic life and enjoy working with people. The program runs three times a year, and each session lasts four months. The spring session runs January to April with a 60-hour commitment, summer runs May to August with 80 hours, and fall runs September to December with 60 hours. Teens volunteer on weekends and school breaks during the school year and on any day in summer. New volunteers start as gallery guides, helping with guest interpretation, guest engagement and touch pools, and summer volunteers spend one week assisting with Camp H2O. Every participant also completes a group community project. Accepted volunteers pay a $45 administrative fee. Volunteers receive training, a uniform shirt, free parking during shifts and discounts at the food court and gift shop.

Applicants must be 15 to 17 years old when they apply and enrolled in high school or home school. To apply, teens email the aquarium's volunteer office to register for a required virtual information session, and a parent or guardian must attend with them. Selected applicants then take part in a group interview at the aquarium. Accepted teens must commit to a four-month session, arrange their own transportation, show a birth certificate and photo ID, and attend a full training day. The application deadline for the fall 2026 session was August 1, 2026, and information sessions for the spring 2027 session are planned for October 2026.