Among the many different volunteer opportunities available to young Bermudians, the Junior Volunteer programme at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo is unique. The programme for students 14 to 16 years of age involves a commitment to work one morning each weekend throughout the academic year, and involves working in four different areas of the facility: the zoo, the aquarium, education programming and local tales (endemic and invertebrate exhibits).

Interviewed while cleaning up after golden tamarins, Christina Hoban noted that she could be earning good money packing groceries or babysitting. "But I'd rather be doing this," she said. "It's so much more fun." The rewards are not monetary, just what has she gets out of the programme. "I've met a lot of new people, made new friends and learned a lot," she said.

She joined initially because she liked working with animals, but had not thought of pursuing her interest as a career. "But, after working here, I've begun to think of jobs I could have," Miss Hoban said.

In fact, a number of graduates of the Junior Volunteer programme now have full-time employment at the facility.

Young people interested in participating in the programme must go through a rigorous application process involving completing a formal application and being interviewed for one of the 16 positions available. Junior Volunteer and Nature Encounter Coordinator Camilla Stringer visits schools in the spring to make students aware of the programme, but application forms are also available at the Aquarium's front desk and online.

Fourteen-year-old Berkeley student Nathan Simmons was encouraged to apply by his mother.

His school requires him to complete community service, but he volunteers far more time because he likes the animals, his favourites being the tortoises because "they're calm, laid back".

Once they have been accepted, the Junior Volunteers embark on a year-long, hands-on learning experience that involves hard work completing some unpleasant tasks, but also fun on field trips and meticulous record-keeping of tasks completed, skills acquired and knowledge learned.

Paired with another volunteer, they spend eight weeks in one of the four areas before moving on to a different area with another partner.

At the end of each quarter, the volunteers are assessed formally on their performance, but also have the opportunity to give feedback on their experience. Their weekly diary entries, photographs and PowerPoint presentations collated in binders then become a permanent record of their experiences.

Special activities include field trips to DolphinQuest and the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences, scrubbing the turtles and building bluebird boxes. A week-long trip overseas at the end of the year includes visits to the Baltimore Aquarium, Smithsonian Natural History Museum and Smithsonian National Zoo.

By the end of the year, the volunteers have a greater insight into the workings of the Aquarium, but also have more confidence at public speaking and sharing their knowledge with others.

Nathan Simmons, who also volunteers each Wednesday evening as a St. John Ambulance cadet, says that those young people who think there's nothing to do in Bermuda "aren't looking for the right stuff".

He recommends the Junior Volunteer programme to those who are interested in working with animals, and cites getting first-hand experience as one of the chief rewards of committing himself to the programme.

His colleague Christina Hoban noted that young people, "just have to find the right thing to do. Once you get involved, one thing may lead to something else".

It may just lead to a career.