40 Years of Giving Back
Even before the Monterey Bay Aquarium opened 40 years ago, dedicated volunteers were contributing their time and talents to create a world-class center that would inspire conservation of the ocean.
That initial handful of helpers has grown considerably in numbers and impact. Over the past four decades, more than 10,000 individuals have stepped up, giving over 4.8 million hours of their time to support almost every aspect of the aquarium’s operations.
Today’s volunteers range in age from their teens to their 90s. Some have served as volunteers since 1984, as scuba divers cleaning exhibit windows underwater. Some engage with guests during a visit. New volunteers are stepping up to rebuild the ranks following the aquarium’s 14-month closure during the pandemic.
They share the same passion as the earliest volunteers and are contributing in new ways. They represent a diversity of ages and racial and ethnic backgrounds. They come from over 100 towns across Monterey Bay, the Bay Area, and the Central Valley. They span generations, with some children, parents, and grandparents volunteering together.
“My mother, Lucile Packard, knew that volunteers would be essential to everything the Aquarium hoped to accomplish,” said Executive Director Julie Packard. “We could not have achieved what we have for the ocean without them.”
The breadth of their work is impressive. They’ve raised baby animals, stuffed envelopes, given tours, groomed rescued sea otter pups, moderated online chats, shared the wonder of the ocean with millions of guests, and created a culture of giving at the Aquarium and beyond.
Some began volunteering after they retired. Others have full-time jobs and incorporate volunteering into their busy schedules. That’s true for the growing number of college students who volunteer between their studies.
“These are ordinary people who are making extraordinary contributions,” says Dr. Laraine Lomax, the director of volunteer and intern engagement at the Aquarium.
They’re involved in ways that best utilize their talents, Dr. Lomax says. She noted that some are right now helping train computers to identify deep-sea animals whose images have been captured on video by submersibles. Their work will be incorporated into an immersive video game so scientists can learn more about life in the largest living space on our planet.
Others play a vital role in tracking sea otters in the wild, to help recover California’s threatened otter population. Increasingly, Aquarium volunteers speak with guests
in Spanish and about 20 other languages.
Along the way, volunteers are creating connections and community for themselves. Volunteer guides who share the same shift not only work side by side at the Aquarium each week. They celebrate each other’s birthdays and often plan outings and guide-shift parties together.
“The bonds they forge are wonderful to see,”
Dr. Lomax says. “They become partners in one another’s lives while also partnering with the Aquarium to inspire conservation of the ocean’s ecosystems and the services they provide.
Each year during National Volunteer Month, the Aquarium recognizes exceptional volunteers as recipients of the Lucile S. Packard Memorial Award and Youth Award for their outstanding volunteer service. The award recognizes individuals whose dedication and selfless service
exemplify Mrs. Packard’s lifelong commitment to volunteerism – something she encouraged as an essential component of the Aquarium at its founding.
“My mother was an active community volunteer all her life. She knew how important a volunteer program would be for the Aquarium,” Julie Packard says. “I can’t thank our volunteers enough for the way they’ve supported us throughout our history.”
The 2024 Lucile S. Packard Memorial Award and Youth Award honorees demonstrate how Aquarium volunteers affect our community and communities beyond our walls:
Jack Day (he/him) has brought the ocean to Aquarium guests for over 34 years as a scuba diver, with over 1,200 dives during feeding shows and maintaining our exhibits. He’s one of a handful of people who have completed over 1,000 dives. Laurie Dixon (she/her) is approaching 3,000 hours
of volunteer service in just five years, on weekends and at evening events – all while working full-time in the budget office at California State University, Monterey Bay.
Stephanie Flaniken (she/ her) has shared her passion for the ocean for 18 years and 5,000 hours of service as a volunteer guide. She also supports the Animal Care team and shares conservation stories with guests as a Conservation Associate.
Youth Award honoree Dawson Brej (they/ them) has been associated with the Aquarium since middle school. They’ve been a leader of volunteer guides and a delegate to the Critical Issues Forum at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies, where they advocated for global ocean research and conservation and facilitated a tour for fellow participants from the U.S. and Japan. Dawson’s award includes a $5,000 scholarship.