Volunteer at the Museum

Volunteers in the Docent position will be able to sign up for a variety of assignments throughout the Museum to enhance the guest experience by providing overall support and information. These assignments include gallery ticket scanning and greeting assignments, Information Desk and wayfinding assignments as well as some special event and adult program support assignments. Docents are trained and knowledgeable about overall Museum happenings and the specifics required for the assignment. Docents will be supported and directly supervised by Volunteer Engagement Department staff unless otherwise specified. Shifts are available seven days a week and Friday evenings. Volunteers must volunteer for 12 shifts per year to remain on active status. Volunteers start with the Docent position and after six shifts they are eligible to participate in a facilitation review to possibly qualify as a facilitator. 

Volunteers in the Facilitator position will be able to sign up for assignments that focus on facilitating content-based discovery and exploration interactions with Museum guests. These assignments include all Exploration Station assignments (aka carts) and any assignment that requires content-based training like the Navigator assignment. Facilitators are first and foremost, fantastic Docents, displaying an overall understanding of Museum-wide happenings and exemplary customer service. All Facilitators are required to be trained and able to facilitate Museum-wide high-priority Facilitation assignments.
 
To be eligible for a Facilitator position, volunteers are required to complete six docent shifts to participate in a Facilitator Review Shift. During this shift, volunteers who are interested in facilitating will come to the Museum prepared to facilitate the Exploration Station of their choosing. Team Members will observe facilitation interactions and provide input on whether a volunteer is ready to start registering for Facilitation assignments upon completion of content-specific training. 

Engage with the Zoology Collections Team by offering your time and skills to assist our staff in managing the zoology collections. The department is seeking volunteers to assist with several projects in the collections. Information about the current projects is detailed below. Read below to learn more about each project.

Shift times are from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., 12:30 – 4:30. p.m., and 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and are available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with a 6-month commitment at a minimum.

Vertebrate Zoology Data Entry Project 
We are seeking volunteers to assist in incorporating new specimen data (primarily birds and mammals) into the Museum’s zoology collection. This work will support the current and future research being done by the DMNS Zoology Curators as well as researchers across the globe. The specimen data will be entered into the vertebrate collection’s online database, Arctos (https://arctos.database.museum). The tasks consist of transcribing and entering preparation data into the database or bulk loader, assigning catalog numbers to specimens, and maintaining the physical catalog of specimen data. Occasionally, volunteers will be asked to complete data cleanup of existing records.

Required Skills

• Strong computer skills (Experience with Windows preferred)
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Adept at following written instructions and effective problem-solving
• Skilled in handling repetitive tasks with precision and care
• Outstanding communication abilities, including timely responsiveness to notifications and the ability to address issues with collections staff

Not Required, but Preferred Skills

• Experience in natural history or zoology
• Expertise in Excel

Training 
The Zoology Assistant Collections Manager will provide required training and must be attended before volunteering.

Zoology Collections Specimen Labeler 
Volunteers are needed to assist in labeling and tagging prepared specimens to be integrated into the Zoology collection. Specimens that have been processed in the Museum’s Vertebrate Preparation Lab are sent down to collections to be matched with corresponding specimen data, including the specimen’s catalog number and collection data. The tasks consist of transcribing the specimen’s catalog number onto the extracted bones, tying tags onto prepared skins, and affixing data labels onto specimen boxes. This position requires a steady hand and good eye, as volunteers will handle fragile, sometimes very small specimens.

Required Skills

• Manual dexterity skills, able to manipulate fragile, sometimes small specimens
• Excellent handwriting
• Accuracy in transcribing information
• Attention to detail, checking for any inaccuracies
• Excellent communication skills, whether it be prompt in responding to notifications or able to bring up issues to collections staff

Not Required, but Preferred Skills

• Experience in natural history, biology, or zoology
• Computer skills (Excel, databases, web browsers, etc.)

Specimen Integrator 
This volunteer position is needed to incorporate specimens into the Museum’s Zoology collection. Volunteers will be responsible for going through the ever-growing log of incoming specimens and transferring these specimens into permanent storage. This will also involve the reorganization and inventory of specific taxa, where the Zoology department is working on re-allocating growth space. Volunteers will also be trained on databasing specimen processing and labeling.

Required Skills

• Great attention to detail
• Strong computer skills (Excel, databases, etc.)
• Cooperative with good communication skills
• Adept at organization and problem-solving
• Excellent communication skills, whether it be prompt in responding to notifications or able to bring up issues to collections staff

Not Required, but Preferred Skills

• Experience in natural history, biology, or zoology

Schedule and Commitment for Positions Above 

• Minimum of one shift per week for 6 months. Shifts are available Tuesday – Friday for all projects listed above.

Working Conditions

• Organization and maintenance of Museum collections tasks will all/mainly occur in the B2 (basement 2) level of the Avenir Collections Center 
• The use of ladders will be necessary 
• Lifting and moving specimens of variable sizes 
• Office conditions and standard office equipment 
• Depending on the project, volunteers must be able to sit or stand for extended periods

Age Requirement 
Available to individual applicants 18 or older

Assist the Museum’s entomology collection by working hands-on with insect specimens from around the world to help make our entomology specimens and their data useful for research! Shift times are from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., 12:30 – 4:30. p.m., and 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and are available Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with a 6-month commitment at a minimum.

Projects 
Volunteers are needed to prepare specimens for incorporation into the entomology collection. This includes pinning insect specimens from alcohol vials for drying, sorting them by taxa, and keep collecting data associated with each specimen.

Required Skills

• Careful attention to detail
• Computer skills (typing, web browsers, spreadsheets)
• Willing to learn new skills
• Manual dexterity skills, able to manipulate small and fragile specimens
• Cooperative in a team environment
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently
• Must be able to commit to a set weekly schedule
• Education or experience in biology or entomology helpful

Training
On-the-job training will be provided by the Zoology Assistant Collections Manager.

Schedule and Commitment
Minimum of one shift per week for 6 months. Shifts are available Wednesday – Friday.

Age Requirement
Available to individual applicants 18 or older

Get your (gloved) hands dirty in a state-of-the-art lab dissecting and preparing animals for collections! Zoology vertebrate preparator volunteers assist with prepping mammal study skins, skeletons, and tissues in preparation for specimens to be added to our mammalogy and ornithology collections. This is a unique opportunity to have hands-on experience with many specimens from the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions. Daily tasks include skinning carcasses and taking tissue samples, collecting parasites, prepping study skins, and accurately filling out datasheets.

Volunteers will work on a project during their volunteer time with a minimum time commitment of 6 months. Once the project is completed or the time has elapsed, the volunteer can either share an interest in continuing on a new project, continuing on the same project, or pausing/ending their time as a volunteer.

Zoology Vertebrate Preparation Projects

Mammals 
Partial Preparation Mammals: Volunteers will work on various sizes of rabbits and squirrels. Volunteers will learn how to preserve skulls, tissues, and/or whole bodies in ethanol. It is best for volunteers who have never dissected animals before and are new to the methods. This position requires volunteers to have a strong stomach, good attention to detail, and organized. Two volunteers are needed for this project, with a minimum time commitment of 1 full day shift a week for 6 months or two full shifts a week for three months.

Birds 
Raptor skeletonizing: Volunteers will work on bird skeletonizing and some wing preparation of various sizes of raptors. This project is best for someone with manual dexterity and some sewing skills. Two to three volunteers are needed, with a minimum time commitment of one full day shift a week for 6 months.

Dermestids 
Volunteers will work on washing, boxing, and rearranging skeletal materials in the dermestid colonies. This project is best for volunteers who are okay with spiders/insects and can handle strong smells. One volunteer is needed. One 4-hour shift a week, Monday to Wednesday, with flexibility on the dates and times of this volunteer position. Minimum 6-month commitment.

Shifts 

• Mammal and Bird Projects: Shifts are available Wednesday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Dermestid Project: Shifts are available Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, one four-hour shift each week

Minimum Qualifications

• Have solid attention to detail and a proactive willingness to acquire new skills
• Exhibit manual dexterity skills that lend themselves to intricate tasks
• Thrive in a collaborative team setting
• Demonstrate adeptness in following instructions while also excelling in independent tasks
• Consistency is key; commit to maintaining a regular weekly schedule

Helpful Skills

• Education or background in biology, mammalogy, or ornithology is helpful
• Prior experience in handling specimens is helpful

Training
The Zoology Preparator will provide on-the-job training. Additionally, volunteers are required to take the Zoology Preparation Lab Safety Training on their first working day in the lab.

Schedule and Commitment
A minimum commitment of one shift per week for 6 months.

• Mammal and Bird Projects: Shifts are available Wednesday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Dermestid Project: Shifts are available Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, one four-hour shift each week

Age Requirement
Available to individual applicants 18 or older 

Physical Working Conditions

• Must have the ability to sit or stand for long periods of time
• Ability to safely lift and handle specimens
• Manual dexterity – must have the ability to hold and operate hand tools and pneumatic tools without assistance

Physical Effort Required

• Moderate physical activity is required by handling objects up to 20 lbs occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs frequently