The University of Arizona
 

Current Volunteer Openings at ASM

Photo collections volunteer Jo Anne Jenkins examines slides

Photo collections volunteer
Jo Anne Jenkins examines slides.

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES

ASM Docent Program
Visitors Services
Public Programs: Program Presenter
School Programs: Activity Guide
ASM Store: “Native Goods”

 

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I4 Arizona State Museum Docent Program ~ Ongoing: 2 hours per week

Interested in Native American Cultures of the Southwest?
Want to Learn More & Share Your Knowledge With Others?
Want to Meet New People & Give Back to the Community?

If you answered "yes" to the above, then the new Arizona State Museum Docent Program is for you!  Docents are museum volunteers who interpret exhibits and help visitors better understand and appreciate the rich cultural diversity of the American Southwest.

Arizona State Museum Docents receive 3 1/2 months of classroom instruction—including lectures, guest speakers, small group work and practice tours—before working with the public.  After the initial training, docents will be expected to volunteer a minimum of 2 hours per week. Duties will include:

  • Greeting museum visitors
  • Leading Tours
  • Interpreting exhibits and objects for visitors
  • Answering questions in the galleries

SCHEDULE:
The Fall, 2009 Docent Class is full; however, please submit your application for classes in 2010 to reserve your spot!

Submit an Application
To sign up, you must be able to attend the Docent Class and available to volunteer 2 hours per week at the museum.

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I6 Visitor Services ~ Ongoing: 2–4 hours per visit

Vistor Services volunteers Dave Danell and Janice Danell are prepared to greet visitors at the front desk.

Vistor Services volunteers Dave Danell and Janice Danell are prepared to greet visitors at the front desk.

We want everyone to feel welcome at ASM! Volunteers are needed to greet visitors with a warm smile & a helpful attitude. You will provide visitors with information about the museum, the exhibits and our events. Visitor Services Greeters also play an important role in museum operations by collecting accurate information of visitorship and reporting problems. Hours are available weekdays and weekends. Most hours are during the day; but, there are occasional special events in the evenings.

Submit an Application

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I5 Public Programs: On and Off Site Program Presenter and Program Aide ~ Ongoing: 3–6 hours per month

If you enjoy attending Tucson events like the Family Arts Festival, want to stimulate the public's interest in traditional southwestern cultures, and get a kick out of working with kids and jumpstarting their creativity, you'd love being a Program Presenter.

The Education Department's busy calendar includes family and youth programs at the museum on the University of Arizona campus and at citywide events at other locations. Program Presenters work with children, youth and families, challenging them with hands-on activities related to the museum’s exhibitions. Activities have included gallery treasure hunts, painting, creating paper and clay pots, weaving, making masks, and more. No specialized background is necessary.

Program Aides help out at adult workshops and lecture programs. They direct visitors, pass out programs, help presenters, and help set up receptions. Usually lectures occur during the week in the evening; workshops take place on weekend days. This is a good job for someone who likes to help, but who also wants to be an audience member for most of the program. No specialized background is necessary.

Submit an Application

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I4 School and Camp Programs: Activity Guide ~ Ongoing: 3 hours per week

Enjoy working with children? The Education Department seeks volunteers to guide students at hands-on discovery stations during interactive school and summer camp programs. This volunteer position requires a weekly commitment throughout the school year. Complete training will be provided. No prior experience is necessary, but you must enjoy teaching elementary-aged children and not mind being on your feet for two-hours. New programs related to new exhibits are on-going.

Submit an Application

 

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I3 Arizona State Museum Store: "Native Goods" ~ Ongoing: about 4 hours per visit

Store volunteer, Sally Clement, shows a visitor a piece of jewelry

Store volunteer, Sally Clement, shares her knowlege about jewelry with a visitor.

Do you love a good story? The museum store, Native Goods, has openings for volunteers who enjoy sharing stories as they sell top quality Indian handicrafts. In Native American cultures, stories are a primary means of learning and bring to life the objects and crafts in the store. When volunteers share stories with visitors they are continuing a tradition integral to our region's past. As storytellers, Native Goods volunteers are ambassadors to the museum. They educate visitors by highlighting connections between the artifacts in the exhibits and the authentic Native American merchandise—pottery, jewelry, baskets, textiles—for sale in Native Goods.

Volunteers receive complete background training by museum staff, stock shelves, run a computerized cash register and assist the store manager. A background in public speaking is helpful. Native Goods volunteers also act as informal liaisons between visitors and museum staff as they pass on visitors' questions or comments.

Submit an Application

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Be sure to check our volunteer opportunities for Special Programs and Projects!

The first step in becoming a volunteer at ASM is to Submit an Application
Even if you don't see something on these pages that matches your interests, you may still want to submit an application so we can notify you when new opportunities become available.

Photos by Jannelle Weakly

ASM thanks the Arizona State Credit UnionOpens in a new window for their support of our Volunteer Program.

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