Opportunities From: The Durham Museum

Help us prepare Santa's gifts for his visitors this Christmas season! Will involve putting together small gift bags for our elves to hand out to Santa's guests for the duration of the Christmas season at the museum.

As a Docent you will lead a group of students through the Pioneer Life program. 

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here. 

What to expect: 

- presenting in our exhibit areas about the specified topic (training materials provided)  

- dressing in period accurate clothing to encourage an immersive atmosphere (Costume pieces provided)  

- speaking and standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get set-up for the school group

- presenting the program for one or more student groups throughout the shift time 

As a Docent you will lead a group of students through the Native American Life program. 

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here.  

What to expect: 

- presenting in our exhibit areas about the specified topic (training materials provided)  

- dressing in period accurate clothing to encourage an immersive atmosphere (Costume pieces provided)  

- speaking and standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get set-up for the school group

- presenting the program for one or more student groups throughout the shift time 

As a Education Ambassador you will lead a group of students throughout their field trip to each area, where docents will present programming. 

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here. 

What to expect: 

- maintaining field trip schedule and timing 

- standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get your schedule for the school group

-Help open the shop and make it ready for guests before we open at 10:00

-Maintain merchandise displays through re-stocking, taking inventory, and notifying staff of merchandise needs

-Complete sales for guests

-Assist guests in finding a special treasure to remember their visit

-Familiarize yourself with all the wonderful gifts in our shop

What to Expect 

- familiarize yourself with our train cars (information/training provided)

- interact with visitors as they stop by the trains providing facts about our cars

- keeping an eye on the treatment of the cars and notifying staff of any concerns/damage

- assist in directing visitors to other exhibits that may interest them

What to expect:

--Welcome visitors to our national historic landmark and share some highlights of our great hall layout

- Collect admission and inform guests about the benefits of becoming a member

- Work with our POS systems and troubleshoot as needed with staff

- Keep the admissions desk area tidy and stocked with museum brochures and other offering materials

- Acting as the center hub of information for guest’s questions, and connect with appropriate staff members to address situations as needed

-Provide exhibit recommendations to new and returning guests

Responsibilities

Alert museum staff of needed repairs/issues

Greet guests and assist families as they line up to see Santa! Will be responsible for helping guests use elevator down to Santa (if needed) as well as giving estimates on how long it will take to see him and when the line closes.

Volunteer as a Gallery Guide for the fall/winter 2025 exhibit, Hockey - Faster Than Ever.

Responsibilities

Alert museum staff of needed repairs/issues

Help operate the seasonal Sock Skating Pond for museum visitors - monitoring line, guest safety, any issues that need to be brought to staff attention, etc.

As a Docent you will lead a group of students through the All Aboard program. 

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here. 

What to expect: 

- presenting in our exhibit areas about the specified topic (training materials provided)  

- dressing in period accurate clothing to encourage an immersive atmosphere (Costume pieces provided)  

- speaking and standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get set-up for the school group

- presenting the program for one or more student groups throughout the shift time 

As a Docent you will lead a group of students through the Holidays Around the World program. 

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here. 

What to expect: 

- presenting in our exhibit areas about the specified topic (training materials provided)  

- dressing in period accurate clothing to encourage an immersive atmosphere (Costume pieces provided)  

- speaking and standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get set-up for the school group

- presenting the program for one or more student groups throughout the shift time 

Engage with guests in our Christmas-themed log cabin, providing them information on what the Christmas season was like in the later 1800s and early 1900s. Information will be provided to those who are interested. 

Help facilitate a sports-themed trivia PowerPoint for museum guests on Saturdays. Interact with and engage with museum guests interested in the trivia opportunity.

Help serve as a general floater during CUS events. Greet guests, provide directions, help with performer check in, help with food if any is in Swanson, etc.

These are unique educational programs that live outside of a normal field trip/recurring program.

Assist Membership with data entry, membership cards, and other needs.

As a Docent you will lead a group of students through the Historic Schoolroom program. 

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here. 

What to expect: 

- presenting in our exhibit areas about the specified topic (training materials provided)  

- dressing in period accurate clothing to encourage an immersive atmosphere (Costume pieces provided)  

- speaking and standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get set-up for the school group

- presenting the program for one or more student groups throughout the shift time 

Serve as a docent for field trips in our Hockey - Faster Than Ever exhibit.

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here.  

What to expect: 

- presenting in our exhibit areas about the specified topic (training materials provided)  

- dressing in period accurate clothing to encourage an immersive atmosphere (Costume pieces provided)  

- speaking and standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get set-up for the school group

- presenting the program for one or more student groups throughout the shift time 

As a Docent you will lead a group of students through the Homes and Families program. 

For details including the school name, grade level, and number of students, click here. 

What to expect: 

- presenting in our exhibit areas about the specified topic (training materials provided)  

- dressing in period accurate clothing to encourage an immersive atmosphere (Costume pieces provided)  

- speaking and standing or sitting for duration of presentation time 

- arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start time to get set-up for the school group

- presenting the program for one or more student groups throughout the shift time 

Help man the craft station for our Tuesday evenings with Santa at the musuem. Will be responsible for helping keep craft materials stocked and cleaning the craft space periodically.

Our new Mission Table is meant to be an inviting and informational space dedicated to sharing our museum with visitors. Brochures, handouts, activities, photo archive examples, event signage, and other promotional materials will be displayed in the Great Hall near the Admissions Desk. Volunteers who sign up are expected to have a general understanding of the museum's mission, history, and community offerings.

What is it Wednesday - This Daily Activity shift is from 10:00 – 12:00.

What to Expect:

- familiarize yourself with an artifact from our collections (information sheets provided)

- interact with visitors as they arrive and give them information on what the object is and some brief history

- keep count of visitor interactions for data collection

- assist in directing visitors to our exhibits level after they have arrived

Help us put together the gift bags for our guests that come to our Noon-Years-Eve celebration here at the museum!

Distribute our Noon Years goodie bags to guests as they enter the museum. There will be a table with chairs for seating.

Work with guests on a variety of fun and engaging handmade crafts.

Help sell drinks (of the carbonated variety) to guests dring our Noon Years Eve celebration.

Help manage a scavenger table for Noon Years Eve, giving guests hints if needed and distributing rewards on completion.

We meet on the second Wednesday of every month to stuff envelopes and send out our most recent membership communications. 

Support our membership program by helping us send renewal letters and other important information. 

Duration depends on the amount of mail and how many volunteers arrive in the morning but typically last 2 hours. When you arrive sign-in on the check-in kiosk and proceed to the Library, unless otherwise noted in an email from a Durham staff member. 

We appreciate your time and help!