Science Explorer’s Club (SEC) Volunteer

Two Science Explorer’s Club volunteers in bright blue vests stand behind the activity cart, which is covered in wooden blocks for the native plant activity. They are outdoors on a sunny day.
Two Science Explorer's Club (SEC) volunteers show off the native plant activity.

NPS Photo/M. Lorenzo

Many visitors don’t realize that scientific research, monitoring, and experimentation takes place at Cabrillo National Monument!Science allows the National Park Service to learn more about the park and its diverse cultural and natural resources, so they are better protected.

 
A Science Explorer’s Club volunteer in a blue shirt talks to a small child who is looking at the bird puzzle pieces for the bird physiology activity. They are in the Visitor Center walkway.
A child learns about bird adaptations from a Science Explorer's Club (SEC) volunteer.

NPS Photo/M. Lorenzo

Science Explorer’s Club (SEC) volunteers introduce visitors to science in the park through hands-on activities. Topics include:

  • Tidepool monitoring

  • Bird adaptations and monitoring

  • Citizen science with iNaturalist

  • Geology and paleontology (fossils)

  • Gray whale migration

  • Herpetology (reptiles)

  • Native plants and insects

  • Fresnel lens

  • And more!

 

These activities allow anyone – young and old, big and small – to become a scientist for a day! With the help of trained volunteers, visitors can try out real tools, collect data, make observations, and explore nature with the scientific method. The goal of Science Explorer’s Club (SEC) is to encourage visitors towards:

  • Environmental stewardship

  • Appreciation for national parks

  • Curiosity about science and nature

 
An adult and youth pair of Science Explorer’s Club volunteers sit behind an activity table, A volunteer holds a giant stuffed rattlesnake toy
Left, An adult-youth pair of Science Explorer's Club (SEC) volunteers teach tidepool monitoring. Right, A Science Explorer's Club (SEC) volunteer holds up a model from the herpetology activity.

Left, NPS Photo/H. Marquez; Right, NPS Photo/M. Lorenzo

Interested in becoming a Science Explorer’s Club (SEC) volunteer?

We will train you in the science activity of your choice, and the schedule is flexible with shifts open daily. No prior experience is required.

Volunteers must commit to at least two volunteer hours per month.

To find out more, and get started, please contact cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.

 
A group of four Science Explorer’s Club volunteers hold up rocks, fossils, and signs from the geology and paleontology activity. Behind them are the native plants around the Visitor Center.
A group of Science Explorer's Club (SEC) volunteers show off the geology and paleontology activity.

NPS Photo/K. Opalec

Last updated: September 23, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA 92106

Phone:

619 523-4285

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