Volunteer
Volunteers play an essential role in inspiring and engaging our audiences and supporting behind-the-scenes work. Volunteers greet and welcome visitors, provide information and tours, and support staff in a variety of functions.About | Donations | Get Involved
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Children's Program Volunteer
Children's Program Volunteer
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can! Become a Children’s Program Volunteer and enhance the museum experience for our youngest visitors and their caregivers.
The Early Childhood Education Initiative supports the understanding and development of each child’s healthy racial identity, their joy in human diversity and inclusion, their sense of justice, and their capacity to act for their own and others’ fair treatment. Volunteers will contribute to this mission by assisting with children’s programs that include music performances, story times, infant and toddler programs, community and family events, hands-on and craft activities and more.
REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
Previous experience in working with diverse families, students, and/or children, ages 0 to 8, in an educational or community-based environment.
Commitment to implementing anti-bias education programs in a museum environment in age appropriate ways.
Interest in history and early childhood education.
Foreign language skills are helpful but not required.
All abilities are welcome. We have different roles available for individuals based on their physical abilities.
Background check is required
Must be 18 years of age or older
Complete trainings led by museum described below
SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS
No minimum commitment
Suggested volunteer commitment of 2 programs/month (averaging to 4 – 6 hours monthly)
Weekday and or Weekend availability is preferred, but not required for eligibility. Most programs take place 7 days a week during the mornings and early afternoons.
Throughout the year, there will also be Special Events programs.
TRAINING
In-person training workshops starting October 2022. Content will include anti-bias education, child development, and methods in museum education.
Protection of Minors Training is required.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Contact Pam Basu
Public Program Volunteer
Public Program Volunteer
Doing Good Does You Good! Program Volunteers support and contribute to the successful undertaking of the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s public programs, educator programs, and conferences. Volunteers represent the Museum to the public at these programs.
VOLUNTEER DUTIES
Facilitating set-up prior to the program
Welcoming arriving visitors
Checking-in visitors
Scanning tickets
Line management
Distributing handouts
Answering visitor inquiries
Providing directions
Distributing and collecting evaluations
Facilitating break-down and clean-up
Escorting program participants and their guests to seats or staff
Assisting staff where needed and undertaking special assignments related to the event or program
Preparing program materials
Assisting with Q&A sessions and serving as timekeeper
Behind-the-Scenes assistance
Working with children & families to facilitate programs
DESIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
Must be welcoming
Able to problem-solve
Provide excellent customer service
Be comfortable or willing to learn to use an iPad and visitor evaluation techniques
Ability to react quickly and solve problems
Foreign language skills are helpful but not required
Volunteers should possess the following qualities:
Welcoming personality and enthusiasm for working with the museum’s diverse visitors
Strong interpersonal skills – must be able to make each visitor feel welcome, impart relevant information and resolve problems
Interest in African American History and Culture
Interest in dolls is a plus
Ability to work with a team enthusiastically, dependably and flexibly
Ability to react quickly and solve problems or recognize when to contact a staff person
Follow all museum policy even during difficult situations and problematic visitors
Must be able to lift up to 10lbs
REQUIREMENTS
All abilities are welcome.
Background check is required
Must be 18 years of age or older
Completion of volunteer training
TRAINING
The training program will be comprised of in-person and online sessions. Training includes directed and independent study; lectures and demonstrations by museum educators and experts; activities; and on-the-job experience. These sessions will also be taught in connection with the Museum office of Visitor Services and the Office of Protection Services.
SCHEDULING
Volunteers commitment is flexible; however at least 1 year of service including the successful completion of a comprehensive training based on customer service and an introduction to the museum’s content is desired. Continued volunteer service is subject to yearly performance reviews.
Public programs take place weekdays and weekends, during the Museum’s regular hours of operation and in the evenings. Schedules and frequencies are dependent on a number of factors. As a result, volunteers will not be held to a consistent schedule but will be expected to serve at least 2 events per quarter.
All public, educator and classroom programs will be scheduled consistently, and volunteer schedules and time commitments will be subject to change.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Contact Pam Basu
Museum Docent
Museum Docent
Things get solved if you get involved! Apply to become a docent. Docents are volunteer facilitators who provide group learning experiences in the form of museum tours, demonstrations, or instruction in special activity areas. They are an essential link between the public and the Museum.
DOCENT VOLUNTEER DUTIES
Docents engage visitors to the museum by:
Interpreting the Museum’s collections
Communicating directly with visitors, including the general public, special-interest groups, VIPs, and people with diverse learning style and abilities
Docents must also work in concert with staff and volunteers of the Museum to:
Present interpretive programs as designed by the Education Department’s Office of Audience Engagement in a manner consistent with the tour program goals and objectives
Implement and practice effective teaching strategies in a museum setting, that includes discussion, storytelling, verbal description, and working with teaching objects
Attend additional in-service and volunteer enrichment training sessions offered throughout the year
Accept periodic evaluation of tours in a spirit of cooperation
Maintain an attitude of flexibility and respect in relationships with peers and staff
Function, always, within the guidelines and procedures of the Museum
DESIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
Volunteers should have an interest in American history and culture and a thirst for knowledge and lifelong learning
Volunteers must have excellent speaking and communication skills and be active listeners
Volunteers must enjoy speaking to a variety of visitors and groups of all sizes
Volunteers must remain calm when faced with the unanticipated and think quickly on their feet
Retired educators, public and community historians welcome
Fluency in American Sign Language and other second languages are helpful but not required
Interpretation and/or experience conducting tours is a bonus
REQUIREMENTS
A background check for prospective volunteers is required
Volunteer must be 18 years of age or older
Complete of volunteer training
TRAINING
Docents are highly trained on the content of each exhibition. The Museum’s new docent orientation and training is comprised of weekly classroom/workshop sessions, readings, self & group-exploration activities, and a certification examination and video that occur over the course of 9 months to a year.
Accepted applicants must be available for and attend orientation and training classes that are specific to this volunteer position
Trainees are expected to shadow tours outside of class
Accepted applicants must successfully complete the required training course(s), homework assignments, and tour evaluation
SCHEDULING
Upon successful completion of the training course, a commitment of at least 2 years of service would be nice.
Docents volunteer 2 shifts (averaging 8 -10 hours) per month. Morning (9am – 1:30pm) and afternoon (1:00pm – 5:30pm) volunteer shifts are available seven days a week. Filling afternoon shifts is a high priority for the museum
HOW DO I APPLY?
Contact Pam Basu
Special Events Volunteer
Special Events Volunteer
If You See a Need, Take the Lead! Become a Special Events Volunteer. You can support and contribute to the successful undertaking of the Museum’s private events!
VOLUNTEER DUTIES
Setting-up Welcome Desk prior to the event
Welcoming arriving guests
Checking-in guests
Distributing maps, programs, and/or handouts related to the event
Providing wayfinding and answering visitor inquiries
Distributing and collecting comment cards towards the conclusion of the event
Facilitating break-down and clean-up of the Welcome Desk
Assisting staff where needed
DESIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
Strong interpersonal skills
Discretion, even with high profile guests or public figures
Flexibility in changing situations
Promptness
Ability to react quickly and solve problems
Foreign language skills helpful but not required
REQUIREMENTS
All abilities are welcome.
Background check is required
Must be 18 years of age or older
Completion of volunteer training
TRAINING
The training program will be comprised of in-person and online sessions. Training includes directed and independent study; lectures and demonstrations by museum educators and experts; activities; and on-the-job experience. These sessions will also be taught in connection with the Office of Visitor Services and the Office of Protection Services.
SCHEDULING
Volunteers must commit to at least two years of service including the successful completion of a comprehensive training based on customer service and an introduction to the museum’s content.
The majority of Special Events are scheduled on weekday evenings, with the occasional weekend events. We are looking for volunteers who have availability between 5:30PM and 11PM on weekday evenings and 7AM-10AM on weekday mornings.
Volunteers will be expected to serve at least 2 events per quarter.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Contact Pam Basu
Visitor Information Volunteer
Visitor Information Volunteer
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Visitor Information Volunteers create opportunities for visitors to engage with the museum’s content in a meaningful way. Volunteers are stationed at the Welcome Desk and strategically throughout the museum to serve as a resource to visitors who require orientation and information. As part of the Office of Visitor and Guest Services, Visitor Information Volunteers greet and welcome visitors, encourage an exploration of the museum’s exhibitions and daily program offerings, and provide information about surrounding attractions.
VOLUNTEER DUTIES:
Introducing and welcoming visitors to the Museum
Responding to inquiries, comments, and feedback from diverse audiences clearly, courteously and effectively
Providing information about the museum and its exhibitions, and daily program offerings as well as surrounding attractions
Using knowledge of museum content to guide visitor learning in the museum’s public spaces
Initiating and facilitating conversations and using objects to spark new questions and ideas from visitors in exhibitions
Using available resources including computers, iPads, colleagues, and print resources to answer visitor questions, concerns and comments
Resolving most issues that arise from visitors or bring escalating problems to the attention of volunteer managers when appropriate/necessary
Staffing exhibitions, public spaces and exterior museum areas as needed to engage the public in conversation and provide wayfinding assistance
Understanding the Museum’s crowd management protocols and queuing plans in order to direct visitors appropriately during periods of high visitation
Assisting with the facilitation of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences to visitors
TIME COMMITMENT
The monthly time commitment is two three-hour shifts (6hrs) each month. Continued volunteer service is subject to meeting this time commitment and maintaining performance in line with volunteer requirements.
Daily volunteer shifts are:
9:30AM-12:30PM
12-3PM
2:30PM-5:30PM
Volunteers must commit to at least two years of service as a Visitor Information Volunteer before they may apply for additional volunteer opportunities within NMAAHC.
REQUIREMENTS
Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination to the Smithsonian’s Occupational Health Services (or receive approval for legal reasonable accommodation)
All abilities are welcome.
Background check is required
Must be 18 years of age or older
Must fully complete the training program
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Flexible and willing to problem solve and adapt to quickly changing situations
Reliable and willing to meet requirements and expectations set by Museum staff
An interest in African American History and Culture and an eagerness to learn something new every day
Ability to utilize computers, iPads, and other technology to assist visitors
Enthusiasm for working with the museum’s diverse audiences
Demonstrable interpersonal skills or customer services experience – must be able to make each visitor feel welcome, impart relevant museum content, and resolve problems
Comfort and confidence speaking to groups of all sizes
Ability to work with a team
Foreign language or ASL skills are not required but a plus
TRAINING
The training program will be comprised of in-person and online sessions. In-person trainings will be offered on multiple dates. Virtual sessions will be recorded for those needing to make them up. Volunteers must attend/view all trainings to be fully on-boarded into the program.
Training dates are still being finalized. Expect the trainings to occur the last two weeks of January and first two weeks of February.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Contact Pam Basu
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