Wrentham???s Jessica O???Toole Works with Marine Animals and Endangered Species for New England Aquarium???s Animal Care Center in Quincy
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WRENTHAM, Mass. ??? After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 2015, Jessica O???Toole of Wrentham was not sure how she would use her degree in marine, freshwater, and estuary biology. She moved home and looked for aquatic opportunities as she worked as a cheese clerk at a local market. This January, she celebrates three years volunteering for the New England Aquarium???s Quincy Animal Care Center. Her experience has inspired her to apply to graduate school conservation programs to start in the fall.
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O???Toole volunteers every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. She assists staff members with food prep and surface feedings, animal observation, water quality collections, tank cleaning, and facility maintenance. Depending on the day, she will go into the tanks to vacuum and siphon algae, collect animals, aid in animal examinations and vet procedures, build tanks, and any other tasks that come her way.????
???I hadn???t heard of the Animal Care Center when I applied, but I was excited to work with a large variety of animals each day,??? says O???Toole. ???It???s a cool experience working behind-the-scenes to see a different side of the Aquarium that most people will not see.???
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O???Toole works as an aquarist volunteer. She assists the Aquarium???s biologists with basic animal care responsibilities at the offsite holding facility in Quincy, which cares for animals being quarantined and/or awaiting exhibit display. From sharks to corals to endangered shorebirds, volunteers work with dozens of different species.??
???Being at this facility has allowed me to learn a lot about where animals come from, the ongoing work to protect endangered species, breeding programs and conservation,??? says O???Toole. ???My favorite moment was going into my first tank that housed our zebra shark, Benny. Standing in the tank was the closest to a shark I had ever been. He started swimming around my legs as I walked around, un-phased. Similarly, I will always remember helping to collect a sea turtle for her vet examination and cleaning the windows of her tank. I was underwater and looked around to see I was surrounded by bonnet head sharks, stingrays, and a sea turtle. It was safe, but also incredible.???????
The Aquarium is always looking for volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and interest levels to step in and help out in a variety of capacities year-round. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit: http://serve.neaq.org/????
???You learn so much about the ocean and marine life volunteering alongside Aquarium staff and the animals that you cannot learn anywhere else,??? she says. ???As a volunteer, you are the one in the tanks, the one leading community beach clean-ups, the one giving the exhibit talks and answering guest questions. Volunteers are a vital part of the fabric of the institution and vice versa. This experience has pushed me to continue my marine education and apply to graduate school to pursue a career in shark conservation.?? I really appreciate the opportunity. It has really impacted my life.???