Volunteers

Become a Volunteer with ISEA! "I always felt part of a special team while volunteering for ISEA" Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA)! ISEA is a private, non-profit organization devoted to teaching students of all ages about the science, history and spirit of the Great Lakes. The mission of ISEA is two-fold: to encourage young people to pursue academic disciplines related to the Great Lakes (particularly the sciences) and to encourage public understanding and a sense of stewardship toward the Great Lakes and global freshwater resources. ISEA works toward this mission with hands-on educational programs aboard traditional Great Lakes schooners and in the new Inland Seas Education Center on beautiful Suttons Bay. ISEA has an incredible volunteer corps, and we are looking for new volunteers to join our team! ISEA volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and donate as much volunteer time as they are able. Absolutely no experience is necessary and training is provided for all volunteers. We are looking for new volunteers to work with ISEA in a variety of ways: Ships Schoolship instructor aboard Inland Seas and Liberty Boat maintenance (especially during April and October) Relief crew Ship's cook during summer and fall Port liason: if you live in a town visited by Inland Seas, it is helpful to have someone meet the ship, drive the cook to the store, etc. Others... Grounds SCUBA diver to help clean our underwater camera and perform maintenance on the ship when needed Building maintenance: painting, lighting, carpentry, etc. Ground maintenance: weeding, raking, etc. Technology: computers, TVs, projectors, etc. Equipment inventory, up-keep, and maintenance Assistant aquarist to keep up all of our aquariums Others... Programs Curriculum development Update Education Center Invasive Species Exhibit material Up North 2 Producer for ISEA programs Education Center program coordinator School greater Others... Administration Website tech: update website, post class pictures, update ISEA blog/facebook page, etc. Data entry: evaluations, Schoolship data, etc. Volunteer Coordinator Events: publicity, food, music, volunteers, etc. Mailings: fold letters, stuff envelopes, stamp letters, etc. General office work Great Lakes store: merchandise, cash register, etc. Marketing: Great Lakes Store, Schoolship Program, ISEA wetland, Boat Shop, etc. Public relations: press releases, etc. Post fliers Others... Wetland Plant inventory Amphibian inventory Invasive species control General maintenance Compost Invertebrate inventory Others... Boat Shop Assist students building cedar-strip canoes Boat Shop maintenance Others... Multiple volunteer training programs will occur throughout 2010, which will be designed specifically for new volunteers who would like to teach on the Schoolship, in the Education Center, in the Wetland, or work in the office. Training programs will consist of background information on Inland Seas, informational content on the science of the Great Lakes, and how to teach the various stations and components of ISEA’s programs, led by ISEA staff and veteran volunteers. Click here for more information on ISEA Volunteer Training. Please contact Christine Crissman, ISEA’s Education Director, if you are interested in volunteering with ISEA. She can be reached by e-mail or by phone at (231) 271-3077. We have a volunteer opportunity for you!