Call for retired teachers to volunteer at the aquarium

A loggerhead turtle which was released after rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation is appealing to retired high school teachers to volunteer their time and assistance for a new FET Marine Sciences Course.

The appeal is specifically aimed at teachers who have experience in marine sciences, earth sciences, natural sciences and life sciences, or any other marine sciences subject.

The volunteer teachers will assist during online sessions that take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4.30pm to 6.30pm during government school terms.

Volunteer teachers will be required to:

  • Provide teacher support;
  • Provide administration and pastoral support for students enrolled in the programme;
  • Assist with recording attendance during each online session;
  • Support in the chat function and with any questions asked;
  • Support in facilitating breakout groups;
  • Possibly take on small teaching tasks when they are more familiar with the course;
  • Assist with practical sessions based at the aquarium for three or four days during the mid-year school holiday; and
  • Assist with exam administration.

Interested parties can send their CV and a motivational paragraph to jacinta@aquariumfoundation.org.za

The closing date for applications is Monday January 31.

  • The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation sea turtle rehabilitation team released 44 rehabilitated sea turtles approximately 30 nautical miles south of Hout Bay last Monday, January 17.

The turtles were all rehabilitated at the Two Oceans Aquarium over the past months after being found stranded on Western Cape beaches. The group that was released included Geri, the three-flippered green sea turtle that had been recovering in the I&J Ocean Exhibit.

After months of rehabilitation, the turtles were cleared for release by the vet, with some tagged with satellite tags to enable the animals to be tracked, and others tagged with microchips, similar to those used for house pets.

On the morning of the release, all the turtles were packed into travel crates, transported to Hout Bay harbour and loaded onto two boats.

The team and crew headed out about 30 nautical miles in order for them to encounter the warmer currents that can be found south of Cape Town during summer.