Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Fall/Spring/Summer Junior Program 2014
All Applications must include the following:
-Most recent report card with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
-One letter of recommendation from a teacher or employer.Letters cannot be from family members.
-Applicants must write a short essay (200-400 words). The essay should explain why you have chosen CMA to volunteer, how you feel you would impact the Aquarium and why you feel you should be chosen.
-A completed CMA application signed by student and parent/guardian.
-A completed Rules of Conduct form signed by parent/guardian.
-Application fee of $20.00.
Once you complete your paperwork it should mailed to:
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage Clearwater, FL 33767
Attention: Eveanna Ventimiglia, Volunteer Coordinator
Or may be turned in to the “Will Call” window of the ticket booths in a sealed envelope marked- Attention: Eveanna Ventimiglia, Volunteer Coordinator
-Applications deadlines are as follows:
Spring-February 5, 2014Spring session February-May
Summer-May 15, 2014Summer session June-August
Fall-November 5, 2014 < Fall session November-February
Junior Volunteers will be chosen from the pool of candidates with complete applications based on CMA's needs. Juniors will be notified of application status after deadline.Please read thru all of the paperwork attached.
-Applicants who are accepted will be required to attend a junior orientation meeting and training session. (This meeting will introduce the students to some of the staff and all rules and expectations will be discussed.) The date of this meeting will be announced with acceptance into the program.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Fall/ Spring/Summer Junior Program 2014
Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Fall/ Spring Junior Volunteer Program invites students to join us for a great experience! All students age 15 and over are welcome to apply. Junior volunteers will work education, retail sales, food service or guest relations. Positions will be filled at Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Winters Dolphin Tale Adventure locations.
Junior Volunteer Information
- All Junior Volunteers must be at least 15years old by the deadline for applications.
- Volunteers in Spring/Fall will be required to volunteer a minimum ofoneSaturday or Sunday per week for a 4 hour shift.This is a full Fall or Spring commitment and not for those visiting short term.
-Volunteers in Summer will be required to schedule at least one 8 hour shift per week. This is a full Summer commitment and not for those visiting short term.
Education Camp Volunteers will be assistingas “Camp Instructors” both in the classroom and out on the boat (duties include but are not limited to supervising children, taking camp groups on bathroom breaks, supervision of campers during lunch and out in the water while snorkeling). Volunteers in this department are required to have a mask, snorkel, 1 piece swimsuit, closed toed water shoes and towel during all volunteer shifts. MUST BE 16 OR OLDER IN THIS DEPARTMENT. Juniors in this department must be willing to submit to background/fingerprinting check.(Summer Only)
Food Service Volunteers will be assisting with sales and stocking at Shark Bites Café and the Winters Dolphin Tale Adventure food court. (Summer Only)
Retail Sales Volunteerswill beassisting the retail staff. Duties include but are not limited to stocking items, pricing merchandise, keeping the retail area clean & assisting guests with purchases.
Guest Relations:
Hospitality Volunteers will be assisting the Hospitality team at Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure. Duties include but are not limited to: mingling with guests at all of the exhibits, manning the touch tank area, answering guest questions, and giving interactive presentations to the public. Volunteers in this department should be very social and comfortable talking to numerous people daily. Previous public speaking experience is not required, but you are required to be willing to improve your public speaking skills!
Volunteer DiversMaintaining water quality and appearance of our pools is a top priority. The roof removal provides a spectacular open-air effect but also brings with it direct sunlight that increases algae growth in our pools. Volunteer SCUBA divers assist with our pool cleaning challenge. Air tanks are provided and some equipment is available. Most volunteers bring their own dive gear. Any person interested in applying must provide and make copy of a Scuba Certification Card from a recognized agency as Naui, Padi, Pdic, or Ssi. Interested divers must submit their 2 most recent dives from their log book for review. This information must be included with your application. (Junior Divers must commit to at least 2 dives per week.)
-Junior Volunteers may be assigned or choose to work in other areas throughout the aquarium, depending on needs that day.
-CMA does have a uniform dress code. All Junior Volunteers will be required wear a CMA uniform volunteer shirt during each shift, the cost is $10-$20 each. This information will be provided upon acceptance based on the department you have been assigned.
- If volunteering as an Education Camp Volunteer, a Juniorwill be required to purchase an additional uniform shirt (rash guards for $20)
-Any Junior Volunteer who has more than one unexcused absence will be dismissed from the program. Juniors will be provided information on how to call off or request a day off. It is the responsibility of the junior volunteer, not the parent to notify CMA staff.
-Juniors will be subject to dismissal for inappropriate behavior. Those behaviors considered inappropriate include talking/texting on cell phones during camp time (or playing games on phones, IPods’, or other devices), refusal to work where needed, and showing lack of supervision of the children especially in the water.
-We willonly provide any information about a Junior Volunteer to the person listed as their Emergency contact.
If you are volunteering for Bright Futures or any other school /scholarship related hours:
-All paperwork is the student’s responsibility; CMA will not provide any copies etc.
-CMA staff will sign required paperwork as needed at the time the student volunteers. Any hours completed must be signed off during that period. We will not keep track of your hours for the Junior.
-It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of all hours. CMA highly recommends a Junior to keep a log of hours for each shift you complete and have a supervisor sign off on your hours daily.
Parents - The JuniorVolunteer Program is an outstanding opportunity for your student to gain valuable experience in leadership skills and in dealing with the adult working world. Please do not call or email for your student! Please allow them to communicate directly with the staff. Failure to comply can result in removal from the Junior Volunteer Program.
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
Please complete all parts of this application legibly (please print). Incomplete forms will not be considered.
Name (Last/First)______
Street Address______
City/State/Zip______
Date of Birth______
Home # ______Cell#______Work# ______
Best time to reach you:______Home/Work/Cell (circle one)
E-mail: ______
VOLUNTEER RELEASE:
By signing this application, you (and your parent/guardian if you are under age 18 yrs.) are indicating that Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Inc., assumes no responsibility for any injury suffered by you as a result of your volunteer work either on or off CMA premises, and if you are accepted into the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Volunteer program, neither you, nor your parent/guardian, nor heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns shall ever institute any action at law or otherwise against Clearwater Marine Aquarium as a result of any injury to you or your property resulting from your volunteer services, and you and your parents/guardian, for yourselves and your heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns HEREBY RELEASE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, its Board of Directors, Officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims for personal injury to you or loss or damage to your property arising out of your activities undertaken as a volunteer.
Executed this ____ day of ______, 20___.
______
Your signatureParent or Guardian (if volunteer under age 18)
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: ______Relationship: ______
Phone number: ______
The junior positions are: (please select your top 3 preferences. Do NOT select the same position more than once, and number 1, 2 3 with 1 being your 1st choice.)
_____Guest Relations Hospitality_____Education Camps
_____Food Service _____Retail Sales
_____Dive Team
Select Session:
____ Fall (November- February) ____ Spring(February- May)
____Summer(June - August)
Shirt size-please circle one (shirts are adult sizes) small medium large XL
Junior Volunteer Rules of Conduct
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff wants all of our summer junior participants to enjoy their experience in an enjoyable, stress-free educational environment.
There are times when it is necessary for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium administrators to make a decision concerning the acceptability of a junior’s behavior in the Summer Program. These decisions must be based on the welfare of the total summer program community and how the behavior issue will affect the learning environment and fellow participants.
The following rules have risen out of a need to address unacceptable behavior. Please read all rules, and discuss these rules with your child(ren):
Engaging in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the CMA Program will not be tolerated. Examples: The use of violent force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, or any other comparable conduct.
Vandalizing Aquarium or Summer Camp property is forbidden. This includes, but is not limited to, damaging games, tables, chairs, bathrooms, or equipment.
Repeatedly refusing to follow the directions of the Staff, Summer Camp Instructors, Counselors, Interns or Volunteers or engaging in acts of serious disrespect to personnel or violation of any rules and policies will be considered unacceptable behavior.
Intentionally causing or attempting to cause physical injury or behaving in such a way as could reasonably cause physical injury to any person will result in isolation and/or expulsion from the Junior Volunteer Program.
Bringing any weapon to CMA (pocket knife, firearms, etc.) will result in isolation and/or expulsion from the summer junior volunteer program.
Disciplinary steps taken for behavioral problems
Brief supervised separation from the group may be used if necessary when a junior is having trouble with his/her behavior. The following disciplinary procedures will be used when behavioral issues occur (whether on the same or separate days):
First Offense of unacceptable behavior will result in written disciplinary note sent home; this note must be returned signed by a parent or guardian at the next volunteer shift.
Second Offense of unacceptable behavior will result in a written disciplinary notice and phone conference with astaff member, parent, and child.
Third Offense will result in a second written disciplinary notice and a conference with the staff member, parent, and child to determine whether the junior will be allowed to continue or will be asked to leave the Program. The final decision will be at the sole discretion of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff.
Acknowledged on ______20____
______
Parent or Guardian Signature Junior Volunteers Signature