Virginia Living Museum Volunteer Positions
General Requirements - All Volunteers
Submit completed application. All applications are reviewed. Selected applicants will meet with Volunteer Services staff to match skills and interests. Position offers are made based on successful interviews and reference checks. Orientation and training are required of new volunteers; work one 4-hour shift per week (alternate hours can be arranged); outgoing, friendly personality. Availability for these volunteer positions is year-round; morning and afternoon hours daily unless otherwise specified.
NOTE: Volunteer placement at the Virginia Living Museum is subject to an official position offer, space availability, and completion of 3-hour orientation plus additional training depending on assignment. Parental permission required for volunteers younger than 18 years of age.
The Virginia Living Museum uses volunteers in a wide variety of areas.
(ages 11-14 with parent). Applicable Positions are: Exhibit interpreter; must be age 13 with parent for Touch Tank.
Ages 15 and above: Applicable positions: Astronomy, Exhibit Interpreter, Horticulture, Museum Store, Visitor Services Associate.
Ages 16 and above: Applicable positions: Astronomy, Exhibit Inerpreter, Horticulture, Museum Store, Visitor Services Associate, Classroom Assistant.
Ages 18 and above: All positions applicable, including Curatorial positions.
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 multimedia helpful; must
have neat appearance and friendly manner.
Duties: Serve as planetarium show usher; answer visitors' questions about astronomy.
Qualifications: Minimum age 14; interest in astronomy; familiarity with multimedia is helpful.
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 16;
must enjoy and be able to relate to children, should be interested in
natural history, physical and/or natural science, must have neat
appearance and friendly manner.
Availability: Year-round;
weekdays only. Contact Volunteer Services for special scheduling requirements.
Duties: Help visitors understand and enjoy exhibits, such as Touch Tank, Outdoor Trail, Noland Chesapeake Bay Aquarium, Cypress Swamp Habitarium, Piedmont and Mountain Habitarium, Nocturnal Gallery, Geology Gallery or Discovery Centers in any of the four galleries. Exhibit descriptions are located in the Volunteer Manual. Work discovery carts to assist visitors with hands-on-materials.
Qualifications: Minimum age 15; or 11-14 with parent (13 with parent for Touch Tank); must enjoy and be able to work with many types of people; willing to initiate interactions and eye contact with visitors; should be interested in natural history, physical science and/or biology; must have neat appearance and friendly manner.
Duties: To maintain the Museum’s buildings, grounds, boardwalks and exhibits meet all safety standards. To present the facility, grounds and exhibits in a pleasing, safe and functional manner as to enhance the visitor experience
Qualifications: Minimum age 21; basic knowledge of tools and maintenance work; physical ability to perform assigned duties and to work outside in the elements year round.
Duties:
Welcome Museum visitors and assist with visitors' questions about Museum
events, programs and activities. Help direct birthday party guests to
appropriate locations.
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; must have neat
appearance and friendly manner.
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; organizational skills; willing to initiate interactions with visitors; must have neat appearance and friendly manner.
Curatorial Positions
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. Physical ability to bend, lift up to 50 lbs., stoop, climb steps on small ladder while holding objects, kneel, reach, chop fish, and also having no qualms about handling mice and birds. Pre-rabies vaccinations are required in order to handle small mammals but are not needed to apply for Animal Care Assistant. Animal handling is very limited.
Availability: Year-round; morning hours only.
Duties: Assist in tank and exhibit maintenance, water quality testing, food preparation 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. 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; ability to do mild to moderate strenuous work such as mulching, digging, planting and lifting; willing get dirty and/or wet.
Availability: Year-round; morning hours only Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
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Volunteer Application
Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing
To volunteer, please download and fill out our application:
Junior applicants need to fill out the above application as well as:
Please fill out the above forms and mail them to:
Volunteer Coordinator
Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd
Newport News VA 23601
Please call 757-595-1900 ext. 262 for more information about volunteering, or email the Volunteer Department.
You must have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader installed on your system in order to use the printable volunteer application. If you do not have it, go to Adobe's Acrobat Reader download site by clicking here.
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