Submit completed application and meet with Volunteer Services staff to match skills and interests; attend required museum orientation and training in order to effectively perform duties; work one 4-hour shift per week (alternate hours can be arranged); outoging, friendly personality. Availability for these volunteer positions is year-round; morning and afternoon hours daily unless otherwise specified.

Duties: assist staff in presentation of planetarium shows; serve as planetarium show usher; operate telescope in observatory; answer visitors' questions about astronomy.

Qualifications: minimum age 15; interest in astronomy; familiarity with multi-media is helpful.

Note: Unpaid internship opportunity for appropriate majors.  Click here to learn more.

Exhibit Interpreters

Duties: help visitors understand and enjoy exhibits, such as Touch Tank, Outdoor Trail, Noland Chesapeake Bay Aquarium, Cypress Swamp Habitarium (featuring alligators), Piedmont and Mountain Habitarium (including a waterfall), World of Darkness Gallery, Geology Gallery (including an actual limestone cave), and Discovery Centers in any of the four galleries. Also, work discovery carts to assist visitors with hands-on-materials.

Qualifications: minimum age 15; or 11 with parent; must enjoy and be able to work with many types of people; willing to initiate interactions with visitors; should be interested in natural history, physical science and/or biology.

Duties: assist public in selecting nature related gifts; price and stock merchandise; clean and organize displays; be a source of museum related information for visitors.

Qualifications: minimum age 15; interest in museum; good math and organizational skills; willing to initiate interactions with visitors; must have neat appearance and friendly manner.

Duties: assist educators by preparing for class and helping with children's activities (pre-K through grade 5) during Nature Adventure Club and other class programs.

Qualifications: minimum age 14; must enjoy and be able to relate to children, should be interested in natural history, physical and/or natural science.

Availability: year-round; weekdays only. Contact Volunteer Services for special scheduling requirements.

Duties: welcome museum visitors and assist with visitors' questions about museum events, programs and activities.

Qualifications: minimum age 15; interest in Museum, must enjoy and be able to work with many types of people; willing to initiate interactions with visitors.

Duties: assist staff with direct care and maintenance of native animals and birds; includes food preparation, cage cleaning and animal handling; willing to get dirty and/or wet.

Qualifications: minimum age 18; previous animal handling experience desired with wild animal experience preferred, willing to get dirty and/or wet.

Availability: year-round; morning hours only.

Note: Unpaid internship and/or course credit opportunity for appropriate majors.  Click here to learn more.

Duties: assist in tank and exhibit maintenance, water quality testing and feeding of native fish and marine invertebrates.

Qualifications: minimum age 18; interest in fish and aquatic invertebrates; current course work in marine biology or related field preferred; willing to get dirty and/or wet.

Note: Unpaid internship and/or course credit opportunity for appropriate majors.  Click here to learn more.

Duties: assist in feeding and habitat cleaning of native reptiles and amphibians.

Qualifications: minimum age 18; interest in snakes, lizards, turtles and various amphibians; previous handling experience preferred; willing to get dirty and/or wet.

Note: Unpaid internship and/or course credit opportunity for appropriate majors.  Click here to learn more.

Duties: assist staff horticulturists with propagation and growing of native plants and maintaining museum's landscape; help maintain plants in indoor exhibits, as well as museum grounds (outdoors).

Qualifications: minimum age 15; interest or experience in horticulture; willing to get dirty and/or wet.

Availability: year-round; morning hours only Monday-Friday.

Volunteer placement is subject to space availability, completion of three-hour orientation session, plus additional training depending on assignment. Parental permission required for volunteers younger than 18 years.