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Special Support Programs offer volunteers an opportunity to enhance
the museum experience for visitors in various ways, from assisting
with hands-on activities to providing staff with administrative
support. Contact the following museum/office for more information.
Note: An asterisk * indicates weekend opportunities are available.
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Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum* |
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Opportunities are available to work at the information
desk and behind the scenes. Minimum age is 18 years old. |
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Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Education Department
Smithsonian Institution
2 East 91st St., MRC 553
New York City, NY 10128
212.849-8387 (voice)
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National Air and Space Museum* |
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Opportunities are available at its two facilities -
the flagship museum in D.C. and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in
Chantilly, Va.: |
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Discovery Stations*: Volunteers engage visitors
in hands-on, informal learning through looking, discussion, and
activities related to aviation, astronomy, space exploration, and
planetary geology. Help visitors discover how astronauts eat in
space, what meteorites can tell us, the principles of flight, and
much more!
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Flagship contact:
Discovery Station Program Coordinator
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Education Department
Independence Ave. and 7th St., NW
MRC 305, PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
202.633.2544 (voice)
Udvar-Hazy Center contact:
Discovery Station Program Coordinator
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Education Department
14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway
MRC 326
Chantilly, VA 20151
703.572.4061 (voice)
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National Museum of American History,
Behring Center* |
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Two hands-on rooms provide visitors ages 5 to 105 with
opportunities to experience the museum in an exciting and interactive
way. |
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Hands On History Room*:
Docents assist visitors as they send messages on a
telegraph, harness a mule, investigate the clothing and deportment
of 18th-century Americans, or participate in any one of more
than 35 available activities. Note: Temporarily closed,
under renovation. |
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Hands On Science Center*: Docents
help visitors to extract DNA and to test water for chemicals
and food for additives. They also assist visitors as they measure
radioactivity, work with magnets, or test their own intelligence.
More than 20 activities are available in this learning center
located next to the Science in American Life exhibition.
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Docent Program Manager
Department of Education and Public Programs
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
MRC 603, PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
202.633-3690 (voice); 202.357.1563 (TTY)
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National Museum of Natural History* |
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Discovery Room*: Designed
for visitors of all ages, with most activities directed for children,
this room contains many natural science objects and encourages visitors
to enjoy a learning experience through touch and vision. The exhibit
is staffed by docents who act as facilitators and interpreters for
the exhibit, respond to visitor questions, and assist with hands-on
activities and the maintenance of the collections. |
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Coordinator of Docent Program
Discovery Room
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
MRC 158, PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
202.633-1080 (voice); 202.633.9287 (TTY)
www.mnh.si.edu/education/volunteer_opportunities
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O. Orkin Insect Zoo*: Displayed in this popular
exhibition are live crustaceans, insects, arachnids, millipedes,
and centipedes. Docents are trained to demonstrate tarantula feedings
and to help interested visitors handle live arthropods.
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Coordinator of Docent Program
O. Orkin Insect Zoo
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
MRC 158, PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
202.633.1090
www.mnh.si.edu/education/volunteer_opportunities
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National Museum of the American Indian |
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Opportunities are available at its three facilities
listed below: |
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On the National Mall in Washington, D.C., volunteers
assist staff in providing a positive experience for visitors, including:
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Visitor Services*: Volunteers
orient visitors to the museum. |
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Office of External Affairs and Development*:
Volunteers assist at special events, and in its Development,
Public Affairs, and Membership operations. |
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Public Programs and Community Services*:
Volunteers assist with hospitality for Native artists, interns,
and fellows. |
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At the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland,
volunteers help staff care for collection objects and archival materials,
as well as support curatorial, conservation, and collections management
activities.
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At the George Gustav Heye Center* in New York City,
volunteers assist staff with public and behind-the-scenes activities
at the information desk, at the Resource Center, in the Film &
Video Center, in the Exhibitions Department, in Community Services,
in the Volunteer Office, and in the Executive Office.
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Volunteer Coordinator
National Museum of the American Indian
4th St. and Independence Ave., SW
MRC 590, PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
202-633-6800
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| Public Program Assistant*: Assist
families with hands-on activities and crafts once a month on
weekend afternoons. Attend at least six programs per year |
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Department of Education
National Postal Museum
Smithsonian Institution
MRC 570, PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
202.633.5534 (voice); 202.633.9849 (TTY)
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National Zoological Park* |
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The Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) provides many
opportunities for volunteer service in a variety of programs and special
exhibit areas. The range of opportunities for volunteering is divided
into four categories: |
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Education Volunteers
are on the front lines at the Zoo - interacting
with visitors of all ages, enhancing their experiences by answering
questions, offering information, and allowing them to handle
objects. Minimum age is 18 years old. |
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Zoo Support Volunteers work
behind the scene - assisting office personnel, gardeners, and
animal keepers; collecting behavioral data; painting, building,
and doing anything else that is needed. Minimum age is 18 years
old. |
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Special Events Volunteers make
possible the many educational, fund-raising, and membership
events celebrated at the Zoo. Activities range from collecting
tickets to helping children with craft projects to waiting tables.
Minimum age is 15 years old. |
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Teen Volunteers can participate
in programs that run throughout the year or ones only available
in the summer. Many teens find they can fulfill their schools'
requirement for community service hours while having fun at
the Zoo. None of these programs involve interacting with live
animals. Minimum age, depending on the program, is 13 years
old. |
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Friends of the National Zoo
National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, MRC 551
Washington, DC 20008
202.633.3025
nationalzoo.si.edu/support/volunteer
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The Smithsonian Associates |
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The Smithsonian Associates (TSA)* creates
opportunities for lifelong learning through an array of public programs
that include lectures, performances, seminars, courses, and study
tours. Subjects reflect the diversity of Smithsonian interests, from
art history to zoology. Programs are available in the greater Washington,
D.C., area and around the country and the world. TSA recruits D.C.-area
volunteers to work as monitors for programs/classes, office assistants,
and teacher aides. |
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Volunteer Manager
The Smithsonian Associates
PO Box 23293
Ripley Center, MRC 701
Washington, DC 20036-3293
202.786.3234
Email: volunof@si.edu
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