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Volunteer Opportunities at ASDM
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!
Volunteer Opportunities are available in the following areas:
- Volunteer Description:
- Nursery Assistants in the Botany Department assist in the care of several plant propagation locations and nursery stock.
Essential tasks for Nursery Assistants include, but are not limited to:
- Watering
- Weeding
- Potting
- General assistance to Nursery Horticulturists
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity to gain knowledge about the propagation and care of Sonoran region flora and enjoy professional networking opportunities. Due to the nature of the position, volunteers in this role receive behind-the-scenes access, and get to experience the Museum in a way that few people do! Active status volunteers receive numerous benefits including complimentary membership and discounts for the duration of their service.
- Requirements:
- Preferred Qualifications: Physical requirements: Able to do manual labor, including using pick, shovel, wheelbarrow. Able to lift and carry 20-30 lbs. Able to do work on knees, and able to stoop, bend, and squat. Willing to work in all climates. Skills/knowledge required: Plant growing experience, preferably with cacti and succulents. Background/Experience desired: Irrigation systems, and general gardening skills. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies.
- Current Openings:
- Weekday mornings - Various days and shifts available
- Volunteer Description:
- The primary role of the Education Volunteer/School Greeter is to act as a liaison to schools and youth groups visiting the Museum by providing information and assistance specific to their visit, while maintaining excellent customer service. Potential future opportunities include assisting with our kid camps and community outreach programs.
Essential Tasks for School Greeters include, but are not limited to:
- Welcome group and review rules and behavior expectations
- Collect paperwork from school/youth group leader (if needed)
- Direct school/youth group leader to admission window
- When applicable, provide chaperones with wristbands, tracking guides, and maps of the Museum
- Instruct group re. entering and exiting the Museum, meal schedule, etc.
- Coordinate and facilitate lunch times and the use of the picnic ramada
- Help maintain ramada area during its use
- Provide instructions for Theater program and Stingray exhibit if applicable
- Check-in on school/youth groups throughout their visit and provide assistance if needed
- Report any emergencies or behavior issues
- Benefits:
- This is a fun way to share your passion for the Sonoran Desert by facilitating educational experiences for future conservationists! Active status volunteers receive numerous benefits including complimentary membership and discounts for the duration of their service.
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Applicants should have the ability to navigate the Museum grounds in all types of weather conditions. Must be able to communicate effectively to provide instructions by using guest friendly language. Must be able to provide exceptional customer service to guests and staff members. Preference will be given to applicants who are enthusiastic to volunteer with youth of all ages. Applicants are asked to provide two references, and must be able to pass a multi-state background check. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies.
- Current Openings:
- Monday-Friday, 8:00am-2:00pm (days and times vary based on group reservations, but individual scheduling is flexible)
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position are stationed around the front patio and they support Guest Services staff by approaching museum Guests and welcoming them in a friendly manner. Volunteers in this position are also the Museum’s first impression for Guests and they are essential when it comes to creating a welcoming and informative museum experience.
- Approaching Guests (of all group sizes) and welcoming them to the Museum
- Directing Guests to the appropriate entry lines to keep things moving
- Suggesting that Guests become museum members
- Distributing maps and providing information on daily programing/upcoming events
- Assisting GS staff by retrieving wheelchairs
- Assisting GS staff by retrieving electric scooters and demonstrating their use to Guests
- Helping to answer or solve a variety of visitor questions or concerns
- Monitoring the exit gates and thanking Guests as they depart
- Collecting Lost & Found items and giving them to GS staff
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity to meet Guests from around the world, while sharing your passion for the Sonoran Desert region. Active Museum Volunteers enjoy benefits which include free memberships, discounts in the gift shops and restaurants, and Service Merit Awards.
- Requirements:
- Physical requirements: Applicants must be able to maneuver around the front patio areas and be comfortable working in winter cold and summer heat. Able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies.
Skills/knowledge required: Applicants must demonstrate excellent customer service skills and be comfortable interacting with a diverse population of Guests (i.e.: age, race, gender, etc.).
Other Requirements: Volunteers in this position must be available to attend a one hour training session for each year they volunteer.
- Current Openings:
- Various days and shifts available
- Volunteer Description:
- Exhibit Greeters welcome guests to an immersive play-based exhibit. Greeters will orient visitors, provide instructions, answer questions, and provide customer service. Greeters will assist with safety protocols and occasional interpretation. The position is indoors in an air-conditioned environment. Primary Specific Tasks: 1) Welcome groups of visitors to the Playhouse 2) Follow safety protocols and help direct positive behavior 3) Provide customer service 4) Encourage visitors to learn how they can live in harmony with the desert 5) Opportunities to interpret southwest ecology, primarily as it pertains to packrats
- Benefits:
- Packrat Playhouse Greeters gain experience working with children of all age groups, grow their confidence and public speaking abilities, and gain experience working in an immersive learning exhibit. Active status volunteers receive numerous benefits including complimentary membership and discounts for the duration of their service.
- Requirements:
- Applicants should have a passion for working with people. Comfortable with customer service, creating welcoming environments, and working with families and children in a non-traditional educational setting. Able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies. Applicants should have a positive and upbeat attitude.
- Current Openings:
- Various days and shifts available
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this role provide care and enrichment for our fresh and saltwater aquatic animals. The General Aquatics Volunteer assists with animal husbandry, diet prep, enrichment, and special projects.
- Animal Husbandry: Assisting with the day-to-day husbandry and maintenance of our fresh and saltwater fishes.
- Diet Prep: Assisting with the preparation of meals for our animals. This includes frozen/thawed shellfish and seafood, as well as invertebrates, pellets/flakes etc.
- Enrichment: Providing enrichment for aquatic animals.
- Special Projects: Open for discussion based on the interests of individuals. May include:
- Getting into tanks for scrubbing
- Developing new enrichment ideas
- Logging and documenting data
- Benefits:
- This is an opportunity to learn about the husbandry involved with a wide variety of fresh and saltwater aquatic animals in an AZA accredited institution. Great for resume building and career building experience. Active status volunteers receive numerous benefits including complimentary membership and discounts for the duration of their service.
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Applicants must be comfortable around invertebrates, and fish. Volunteers must have the ability to bend, kneel and balance while performing a variety of Volunteer duties. Volunteers must also be comfortable lifting and carrying up to 50lbs. for short distances. Applicants should be comfortable helping outdoors throughout the year and have the ability to follow directions. For the safety of the animals, applicants must be able to think and react quickly in demanding situations while adhering to HIIZ department protocols. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the boundaries related to animal interactions. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies.
- Current Openings:
- Fridays or Wednesdays (8:00am - 12:00pm)
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position are assigned but not limited to support of the Stingray Touch Exhibit. Volunteers are support for the animal Keeper staff. Additionally, volunteers in this role will engage and guide guests with instructions, guidelines, interpretation and animal contact. This includes the guest feeding experience and other husbandry-related tasks and activities.
Primary Specific Tasks:
- Assist HIIZ Keeper staff
- Assist with basic stingray husbandry (i.e., logging observations, etc.)
- Interact with Museum visitors
- Help facilitate guest entry and guest services while at the stingray exhibit
- Assure the safety of both the stingrays and guests at all times
- Stingray pool-related tasks
- Assist with enrichment activities
- Other tasks may be assigned
- Benefits:
- This is a unique opportunity to volunteer with stingrays at an AZA accredited, world-class institution. Volunteers receive the opportunity to expand upon their public speaking skills while gaining hands-on experience. Great for resume building and career building experience. Active status volunteers receive numerous benefits including complimentary membership and discounts for the duration of their service.
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, must have the ability to bend, kneel and balance while doing a variety of tasks; they must also be comfortable lifting up to 25 lbs. Applicants should be comfortable helping outdoors throughout the year and have the ability to work cooperatively with others in a complex and busy social environment. Having a positive attitude is very important, and must be willing to follow directions. Preference will be shown to applicants who can demonstrate good general communication skills. For the safety of the animals, applicants must be able to think quickly in demanding situations while adhering to HIIZ department protocol. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the boundaries related to animal interactions. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies. Year-round availability welcome but not necessary.
- Current Openings:
- 8:30-12:45 & 12:15-4:15 -Sun-pm, Mon-pm, Thur-am, Fri-am & pm, Sat-pm
If a position aligns with your interests and availability, please fill out the following form:
Volunteer Application Form
If you're having trouble accessing the online application, please print this application form (PDF) and mail it to Volunteer & Internship Programs Coordinator (Mike Walker) at: 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to call the Volunteer & Internship Programs Coordinator (Mike Walker) at: 520-883-3082 or at [email protected].
