Volunteers learn more, live longer and meet lots of people!

The North Museum of Natural History and Science has a long history of active volunteers. In fact, it is the passion and dedication of volunteers that are responsible for the conception, building and long life of the North Museum. There are volunteer opportunities for students and adults, and you can help on weekends or on weekdays. If you are interested in training for any of these valuable and interesting volunteer opportunities, contact Towanda F. Williams, Volunteer Coordinator, at 717 291-3943 or towanda.williams@fandm.edu. Here are some of the ways you can help at The North Museum.

RECEPTION DESK
Greet our visitors! This is the place our visitors see their first smiling “face” of The North Museum. Provide general information to visitors and callers, and help customers in the shop. Volunteers are needed weekdays and weekends, a regularly scheduled commitment is preferred, and training necessary.

DISCOVERY ROOM
Volunteers show visitors around our hands-on Discovery Room, supervise activities, demonstrate discovery boxes to children and their parents, and keep the room orderly and well-maintained. Volunteers are needed on weekends and a regularly scheduled commitment is preferred.

COLLECTIONS VOLUNTEER
Assist in cataloging collections. Collections include: paleontology, anthropology, archaeology, botany, geology, and more. This volunteer opportunity could be project-based or ongoing.

EXHIBIT PREPARATION
Exhibits are installed, refurbished, and moved on an ongoing basis. (We're always moving something, and it us usually too big or varied to do alone!) Carpentry skills are especially valuable here, but sometimes it's just being willing to get dusty. This volunteer opportunity is on an “as needed” basis, and the commitment is occasional or project based.

CLERICAL ASSISTANT
Help with filing, data entry, copying, or computer work. Assist with membership record keeping. This volunteer opportunity is on an “as needed” basis, and the commitment is occasional. Special training not needed.

LIVE ANIMAL ROOM VOLUNTEER
Educate visitors about the museum's reptiles and other live animals. Assist in live animal room maintenance. You should enjoy working with reptiles and interacting with visitors. Live animal room volunteers must be 18 years old and willing to commit to training program. A regularly scheduled commitment is preferred.

DOCENT
Guide school groups through the museum, interpret exhibits, assist with hands-on activities. You should enjoy sharing a love of the natural world with children and have the ability to supervise small groups. Docents are called on as needed throughout the year with the spring being the busiest time. Training is provided.

SPECIAL EVENTS HELPER
Help with special family days and weekends that occur throughout the year. There are visitors to be directed, tables and props to be set up and taken down, food to be prepared and served and activity stations that need instructors and helpers. This volunteer opportunity is on an “as needed” basis, and the commitment is occasional. Advance training not usually necessary.

SCIENCE CART DEMONSTRATOR
Demonstration-based science carts are set up on the museum floor at which a volunteer can engage visitors explaining a natural history or science concept or idea. Training is available. This is on an “as needed” basis, and the commitment is occasional, usually on weekends.