Volunteer Opportunities

The Museum of Nature & Science strives to recruit, develop and retain individuals and group liaisons from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds and persons with disabilities. We create an environment for all staff, interns, volunteers and trustees that is conducive to creativity, growth, ingenuity, resourcefulness, imagination and inspiration. We believe in lifelong learning and a passion for discovery and innovation.

You are invited to apply to become a volunteer and join the excitement!

Why should I volunteer?

• You want to share your enthusiasm for science and the natural world
• You like have fun with others who share your passion
• We are flexible and thrilled to have your help
• You want to give back to our community
• You like working with children
• You get the chance to meet many new people
• Great café and Gift Store discounts
• Tickets to share with friends and family for every 25 hours of volunteering
• Free Membership for 1,000 hours of volunteering
• We appreciate you

Home School Program
The Science Place offers home school students the opportunity to expand their science and math knowledge by sharing and teaching others in our hands-on environment. Students assist our teachers with public program demonstrations and classroom presentations. Students also have the opportunity to work with our administrative team. They get in inside look at our museum. What all takes place here at The Science Place? A lot more than meets the eye!

Adult Volunteer Job Opportunities
The Museum of Nature & Science offers individual volunteers opportunities to volunteer to complement your schedule! Depending on the day of the week and the time of day, there are a variety of opportunities from which to choose. --–from administrative help to engaging children to explore and imagine! Several volunteer positions do have age and knowledge requirements, but all positions are engaging and the need to give to the community is ongoing!

Summer Discovery Corps
Donate your teen’s body to science!

The Museum of Nature & Science is pleased to announce the formation of the Discovery Corps, a new and exciting summer program for teens. Teens from the ages of 14 to 17 can get involved with MNS, providing valuable volunteer assistance and participating in fun activities.

Nine two-week sessions are available from June 9 through August 4.  An orientation party, “Night at the Museum”, will be held on Friday, June 6 that will include orientation, training sessions, a nighttime scavenger hunt, video games on the giant IMAX screen, pizza and ice cream sundaes.

On select Fridays, lunch will be served during career talks given by local professionals that highlight careers in technology and science fields. This is an excellent opportunity to boost those college application résumés with volunteer service while also having a great time.

Download an information sheet and application.

Home School and School Sponsored Student Volunteers
The Museum offers students the opportunity to expand their science and math knowledge by sharing and teaching others in our hands-on environment. Students can assist our teachers with demonstrations and classroom presentations. Students may also have the opportunity to work with our administrative team, getting an inside look of the museum. What takes place in the Museum of Nature & Science? A lot more than meets the eye!

Corporate and Group Volunteer Opportunities
The Museum of Nature & Science welcomes groups and corporations to donate their time for special events and special needs within the museum. We can use from 5 to 25 to 50 volunteers at a time depending on the event and/or project.

Exhibit Demonstrator
Are you a people person? The Museum of Nature & Science has opportunities for volunteers to teach in a one-on-one situation simple science experiments or using a Discovery Table where teaching can enhance the visitor experience to the point that the visitor has one significant moment they will never forget.

Paleo Lab and Collections Department
If you are a patient adult and can volunteer during the business week, then volunteering in the Paleo Lab and Collections may be just down your alley! Being a volunteer in these two departments does require a great deal of previous knowledge. After you are accepted as a volunteer in the Museum, you must interview with either the Curator of Earth Sciences, the Fossil Preparator (yes, we have two Ph. D. paleontologists on staff!), or the Collections Manager.

Clerical/Administrative Assistance
The Museum of Nature & Science enjoys our volunteers’ help in all facets of the museum. We’re eager to work with you to place you in a volunteer position that you feel works well with your age, experience, interests, or schedule. If you have experience or are interested in helping classify inventory in the collections department, if your knowledge base is marketing or development, or if you’re a whiz with word processing/database manipulation and filing – we have a place for you at the Museum!

Greeters and Information Experts
People person? The Museum wants every visitor to feel welcome and have a wonderful visitor experience.  Do you love to talk about things you’re passionate about and have a knack for helping people find their way around? Then we’d love to have your help as a Greeter! Visitors love to know about the history of Museum of Nature & Science and our historical buildings as well as the general Fair Park area. If you’re interested in leading possible tours for families and groups, we have a place for you!

IMAX® and Planetarium Control Booth Operators
The Museum of Nature & Science is pleased to have both an IMAX® Theater and our own Planetarium. Helping the staff take tickets and seat guests is just part of the position. Both positions require specialized training — but you can do it! As with other departments within the museum, after you are accepted as a Museum volunteer, you must interview with the appropriate manager – our Theater Services Manager, in this case – and receive some specialized training before you begin. Volunteering in the Planetarium is available only during the business week.

Children’s Museum in the Museum of Nature & Science
The Children’s Museum creates extraordinary experiences for young children.  As an early museum experience for children, our environment is informal, but our purpose is to stimulate a child’s imagination with new insights and involvement. We need volunteers who are creative people with a love of play to assist with programs, activities or our half-day summer Discovery Camp, Jr.

Special Events
Every year throughout the year, we have special events or festivals that require volunteers. This may consist of donating a few hours in the evening to help with registration for a lecture, or a full day or weekend for family festivals and events. We also have events that require pre-planning and committee work.

Summer and Spring Camp Workshops
We need volunteer teachers and teacher assistants during our numerous daily workshops during summer and spring break. Every classroom needs at least one assistant. If you are an adult and a teacher and would like to volunteer your time teaching or assisting our camp participants, you are welcome to become a museum volunteer.  The staff member who leads the camp workshops will interview all volunteers interested in helping. To volunteer for a workshop, you must volunteer for an entire day, whichi is 8 a.m. - 5:30p.m. You can always volunteer an entire week, but it is not required.

State Fair of Texas
During the 3 weeks of The State Fair each year, we need nearly 200 volunteers to donate many hours. Our operating hours are extended. Planetarium and IMAX® shows are hourly and daily. We need 4 or 5 Greeters to be at each of the doors helping the guests plan their visit! We always have a special exhibit that will need volunteers to help. This is not counting our normal Children’s Museum area that always has hundreds of children playing daily. We can provide parking and gate entrance passes to volunteers who are willing to volunteer at least 4 hours every 5 days during the Fair. You must be an active volunteer before the beginning of the Fair.

---

Training
Training varies according to the project or program. You may need to come 30 minutes early to learn what to do, or you may need to have a 3 hour training session to learn what is to be accomplished before you start. Typically, training is on-the-job and hands-on. A staff member is always available if you have any questions.

Requirements
Volunteers must pay a $10 application fee, complete a 2 page application and a certification saying they will adhere to our workplace polices on harassment and drug/alcohol use. Persons over the age of 18 must also have a clear background check. We do accept court-ordered volunteers for truancy and some non-violent misdemeanors. We do not accept anyone with a felony record as a volunteer.

How do I get started?
Contact our Volunteer Manager today!

Susan Meyer
Museum of Nature and Science
Box 151469
Dallas, TX 75315
214-201-0552
214-428-2033 fax
volunteers@natureandscience.org