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The Aquarium’s Charter Volunteers Leah Young – Marketing And Aquarist Volunteer Leah Young developed a fascination with the sea and its
teer, but it sounded like an interesting adventure so I signed up.” She joined a volunteer training class before the Aquarium opened in June of 1998. Anders is the education day captain Thursdays at the Aquarium, helping guests find certain exhibits, managing schedules
The Aquarium has a dedicated corps of volunteers that provides invaluable assistance in every department. In 2012 alone, 1,456 volunteers and interns contributed more than 154,000 hours of service.
of the education volunteers and their inter-
creatures at a young age. When she
pretation station assignments. “Education volunteers are stationed at these spots to in-
heard that Long Beach was building an
teract with the quests as well as ensure the safety of the live animals in the exhibits,”
aquarium, she immediately inquired
Anders said. Interpretation stations include the invertebrate touch lab, the ray pool, Shark
about volunteer positions and signed up
Lagoon, the jelly touch lab and others.
on the spot – 15 years ago this June.
One of the best things about volunteering at the Aquarium, Anders said, is being able
“Being an Aquarium volunteer has
to meet interesting people. “The volunteers are from a variety of backgrounds and age
been one of the best experiences of my
groups, the staff is great to work with and the guests are there to have a good time,” she
life,” Young said. “I was in the second vol-
said. “We are constantly learning new things about fascinating creatures in the ocean.
unteer training class that began March
Most important of all, we are helping people to develop an awareness of the importance
1998. Our class graduated in May and
of preserving our ocean and surrounding lands to support the Aquarium’s mission.”
began volunteering immediately.” Though she wears a few different hats
Vicki Gausepohl – Guest Services Volunteer
as a volunteer, Young primarily works
With Vicki Gausepohl’s background working as a parks and recreation professional
with the Aquarium’s Community Out-
and administering volunteer programs,
reach Booth Program and the Speaker’s
becoming a volunteer at the Aquarium of
Bureau through the marketing department. She manages
the Pacific was “an obvious fit.”
booths and tables at various eco and community events, drives
“Long before the Aquarium opened and
the Aquarium’s “yellow submarine” in parades and conducts
was just a concept-idea being bounced
presentations to the public throughout Southern California.
around Long Beach, I became aware of it
Young also conducts research, writes some of the animal fact
and was immediately enthusiastic about its
sheets for the Aquarium’s website and spends her Sundays volun-
coming existence,” Gausepohl said. She
teering in animal husbandry with the sharks in Shark Lagoon. “My
has volunteered with the Aquarium and
favorite thing about being an Aquarium volunteer is being able to help
been a member since it opened in 1998.
educate the public on our local ocean, its inhabitants and issues,” Young
Gausepohl works on Thursdays as the
said. “I have made many new friends that
day captain for the guest services depart-
I wouldn't have even met had it not been
ment, managing a small crew known as
for being an Aquarium volunteer.”
The True Blue Thursday Crew. “We all
Barbara Anders – Education Volunteer Looking for volunteer opportunities following retirement from a career in teaching, Barbara Anders discovered the Aquarium of the Pacific.
have cheerfully worked together on Thursdays for almost all the past 15 years,” she said. “We all take great pride in ‘our’ Aquarium and enjoy greeting our guests, informing them about what’s in store for them as they explore the three regions of the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants and environs.” Her years of service at the Aquarium came in handy when Gausepohl and her husband moved to Shanghai, China, in 2005. She discovered the Shanghai Ocean Aquar-
“The Aquarium was under construc-
ium just a mile from their apartment, and became that aquarium’s first ever volunteer.
tion and was starting a training pro-
The relationship was maintained when Gausepohl and her husband returned to Cali-
gram,” Anders said. “I had neither
fornia; she was asked to assist with volunteers for the 2008 International Aquarium
marine biology background nor any idea
Conference in Shanghai. “Shanghai and the Aquarium [of the Pacific] have a special
of what would be involved as a volun-
place in my heart,” Gausepohl said. ■
“The Aquarium of the Pacific has helped our cultural group showcase our Hmong culture to the community. It has been a great pleasure to support the Aquarium of the Pacific’s educational and cultural program.” Seu Yang, Hmong Association of Long Beach