Volunteer at the Turtle Conservancy

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Attention turtle enthusiasts! We currently have some volunteer positions open at the Turtle Conservancy’s conservation center in Ojai, California. We are looking for reliable individuals who have a positive attitude and who are passionate about animals and conservation! The Turtle Conservancy is looking for volunteers for the following categories:

Keeper's Aid: This is a wonderful opportunity for students and graduates in the biology field (or anyone who has a passion for turtles) to experience what it's like to be a keeper at the Turtle Conservancy! Volunteers need to be able to comfortably lift 50lbs. Tasks will include meal prep and feeding, enclosure maintenance, animal welfare and husbandry care. Many of the species we care for are critically endangered, so previous experience is preferred. Keeper's aids will go through orientation and additional training.

Museum Collection Assistant: The Turtle Conservancy is the proud curator of the Peter Pritchard Natural History Collection, which contains over 14,000 turtle specimens. Volunteers would have the opportunity to help in the curation and management of this museum collection. Responsibilities would be the following:

1. General organization on the skeletal and archive collection. Moving boxes, setting up shelves, and shuffling things around. We know this doesn't sound too interesting, but it is a necessary first step in making space to do more work with the collection. A lot of heavy things but it will be rewarding to get this space organized!

2. Fluid collection management. Increasing concentrations of alcohol in containers, relabeling. You get to see a lot of (dead) turtle species and there is a little chemistry involved.

We are looking for volunteers who can commit to 4 hours a week for a minimum of 6 months.