The National Aquarium Baltimore has about 1.6 million visitors a year, and its busiest season runs from April to October. For the past three summers, the Aquarium has supplemented its staff by participating as a YouthWorks job site.

Workforce Solution

In 2011, 20 young people spent six weeks working at the Aquarium in the visitor services, custodial and admissions departments. “The YouthWorks participants are valuable in helping during the busy summer months,” said the Aquarium’s Human Resources/Administration Services Manager Diane Stanley, who manages the YouthWorks program in partnership with Visitor Operations Supervisor Rachel Roundtree. Seven of those 20 workers proved to be so valuable, in fact, that the Aquarium hired them to stay on as permanent, part‐time employees after the summer program ended. According to Ms. Stanley, the decision to hire was based upon the individuals’ work performance and the Aquarium’s operational staffing needs. Dymond Harrod, 18, was among those hired. She is continuing to work at the Aquarium part‐time while she studies elementary education at Morgan State University. “This [job has] taught me patience with everyone, and time management. I have to be at my post at a certain time and if I’m not doing my job, I’m hurting someone else,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d be as good as I am with people. It changes things about you. I talk to the cashier at the supermarket now. I’m more open and I just talk to people more.”  Jamal Saunders, 18, is also continuing to work at the Aquarium while he attends Baltimore City Community College this fall. He said his long‐term career goal is to become a chef and open his own restaurant; he plans to transfer to Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island to study culinary arts. He said his experiences at the Aquarium – working as a greeter handing out maps and assisting with the dolphin show, security, and ticketing – will all benefit him as he begins his career.  “It’s been pretty wonderful,” Jamal said. “I’ve learned communication skills and customer service skills. Everyone gets along well here and it’s an open environment.” 

Outcomes & Benefits

Creating a positive work experience for YouthWorks participants is very deliberate on the part of the Aquarium team. “The supervisory staff here works so hard to help the kids get acclimated, adjust, and make sure they’re happy and safe,” Ms. Stanley explained. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s very valuable.” Each YouthWorks participant was also paired with a mentor – someone within the Aquarium’s organization that they can talk to about professional expectations and rely on as a sounding board to help them ease into one of their first professional work experiences. “The mentoring program was good all the way around,” said Ms. Stanley. “The mentors got to guide and teach, while the youth had someone to depend on.”