Claire Chatham

Experience

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  Georgia Aquarium

  May 2019 - now

  For the past 5 years, I have been an active volunteer at Georgia Aquarium as a gallery interpreter and greeter, welcoming guests into the exhibit and informing them about the aquarium's animals, programs, and conservation efforts. Completion of training courses are required prior to working in the gallery. I am qualified to work in all of the aquarium's galleries, but primarily volunteer in "Sharks! Predators of the Deep". Prior to working as an adult volunteer, I was a teen volunteer with the Beginner Environmental Leadership Program (BELP). Here, my passion, dedication, and leadership were recognized, resulting in my promotion to Junior Conservationist, and later Adult Volunteer. Over the years, I have volunteered almost 600 hours. In addition to being knowledgeable about the animals within the exhibit, a large part of this job involves speaking in front of large crowds, quality customer service, and solid interpersonal skills. Volunteering has given me the opportunity to share my passion and knowledge with others, has increased my knowledge and appreciation of a variety of aquatic biodiversity, enhanced my communication skills, and improved my ability to present information to large groups of diverse audiences. Show less

  • Guest Programs Team Specialist

    May 2024 - now

  • Gallery Greeter & Interpreter Volunteer

    May 2019 - May 2024
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  Chattahoochee Nature Center, Inc.

  Mar 2021 - Dec 2023

  Head Camp Counselor

  For the past 3 years, I have worked at Camp Kingfisher, an educational environmental summer camp at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. As head counselor, I mentored and supervised counselors and Leaders in Training (LITs), led meetings & group discussions, conducted staff evaluations, and worked directly with the camp administration/leadership team. I also received animal training and led educational animal demos on Gopher Tortoises, Box Turtles, non-venomous snakes, and opossums. I specialized in working with campers 6-8 in groups of 15-20, often with a co-counselor. Each week, we collaborated to make schedules for our groups and led various activities such as nature hikes, crafts, canoeing, archery, swimming, and animal demos. In addition to these activities, we also informed campers about the environment through interactive, hands-on, educational activities. Overall, these activities enhanced the campers' understanding, interest, and appreciation for the environment. This position has strengthened my leadership skills and enhanced my ability to multi-task, adapt, and handle camper/counselor conflicts. Working with my campers has been extremely rewarding and seeing their excitement to learn about science has inspired me to seek a position that promotes environmental conservation through education. Show less