Texas State Aquarium Participates in Teen Volunteer Exchange Program with Zoos and Aquariums

Corpus Christi, Texas, July 13, 2017 -- CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS –  The Texas State Aquarium’s AquaTeens volunteer program is spending part of the summer not only at their hometown aquarium, but also at other zoos and aquariums located across Texas. In exchange, the Texas State Aquarium will be hosting teenagers from other zoos and aquariums, allowing young zoo and aquarium volunteers from across Texas to gain invaluable career experience, meet their peers, and work alongside experts in the field.

AquaTeens is a program for volunteers ages 14 through 17, and is designed to prepare participants for future careers in conservation and with zoos and aquariums. In summer, AquaTeens and volunteers of other organizations accredited by Association of Zoos and Aquariums participate in an exchange program where each institution’s young volunteers spend time visiting each other’s facilities. AquaTeens recently spent a day at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas to work and learn with their Society for the Advancement of Volunteer Youth (SAVY) volunteers. AquaTeens also visited the San Antonio Zoo to work with their ZooTeens. During their day at each facility, volunteers speak with animal care specialists and learn firsthand about how different zoos and aquariums operate.

“AquaTeens represent the next generation of conservationists, scientists, and zoo and aquarium advocates, and our exchange program allows them to take the next step in their career journey,” said President and CEO Tom Schmid. “Our teen volunteer exchange program is a fantastic opportunity for both our volunteers and those at other zoos and aquariums to meet others with similar interests and discover how they can contribute to zoos and aquariums’ vital roles in conservation, education, and their communities.”

The AquaTeen program is a year-round program that accepts applicants during a yearly selection process. To learn more about the AquaTeens program, visit texasstateaquarium.org/aquateens/.

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The Texas State Aquarium (TSA), the Official Aquarium of the State of Texas, is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) institution that is fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its mission is to engage people with animals, inspire appreciation for our seas and support wildlife conservation.  TSA provides high-quality science education about marine conservation and the habitats and species of the Gulf of Mexico to families primarily in Texas. Recently, it was named the number one cultural attraction in South Texas and one of the Top 20 Aquariums in the nation by TravelChannel.com. Learn more at texasstateaquarium.org.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cd957659-846e-47f6-9a83-b153bf83b49f

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea8e388c-c79e-47ff-ab0c-4325a0e01962

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60cfa072-b6e0-49fa-a952-529665b2d0c7

Seamus McAfee
Texas State Aquarium
361-881-1259
[email protected]