John G. Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium will begin a three-year project to broaden and diversify its volunteer corps for the twenty-first century, providing a new model of interpretive volunteer recruitment, training, and service that embraces the community, is learner-focused, and develops programming that incorporates volunteers’ experiences and interests. Shedd will build relationships with community organizations, collaborating with them and potential volunteers to create a recruitment structure that lowers access barriers that have kept certain populations, including economically disadvantaged adults, from volunteering in cultural institutions. New programs, which will include workforce development and service-learning for teens, a new training program that emphasizes stewardship opportunities and experiential learning, and a program development strategy that builds on volunteers’ interests, will lead to a robust volunteer corps that reflects the greater community.