Museum Volunteers

Save to Favorites

Volunteer Job Descriptions

A volunteer, by definition, is someone who serves in a community or for the benefit of natural environment primarily because they choose to do so. Many serve through a non-profit organization - sometimes referred to as formal volunteering, but a significant number also serve less formally, either individually or as part of a group. A museum volunteer, in any capacity, is a versatile, highly trained individual who shares his/her knowledge and passion for the Behringer-Crawford Museum with a board range of audiences in order to inspire and encourage an understanding and appreciation for the history of our region.

At Behringer-Crawford Museum there are many different arenas that a volunteer can become trained in, and we encourage all museum volunteers to familiarize themselves with all the facets of volunteering within the museum. Listed below are the various volunteer positions available within the museum. The job descriptions associated with each position were designed to clearly state and communicate with volunteers the primary role of their chosen discipline.

Docent

A Behringer-Crawford Museum docent is a volunteer that is trained primarily to interpret the numerous exhibits throughout the museum. Docents will be trained on the background information for exhibits and how to interpret the varying exhibits to a broad range of audiences. Docents are the museum's front line personnel and responsible for being friendly and gracious to all the museum's visitors. Uniforms must be worn at all times while docents are working in the museum. Following the museum's daily floor schedule is of paramount importance to the museum docent and the operation of the museum. Failure to follow a daily floor schedule may result in dismissal of a docent. Docents are permitted, with the approval of museum staff, to research and develop first person characters. First person characters must be based on actual historical individuals. Examples of first person characters are, Mary Greene, John Roebling, James Bradley and an actual ancestor of a docent. Additional information on how to research and present a first person characters will be given to a docent.

Visitor Service Volunteers

Behringer-Crawford Museum visitor service volunteers will be trained in and responsible for ticket sales and the operation of the museum gift shop. Visitor service volunteers will be trained extensively on the point of sale system used within the museum. The Visitor Service Coordinator will oversee all the visitor service volunteers. Visitor service volunteers will also be responsible for following the museum's daily floor schedule. As front line personal, visitor service volunteers are expected to be in uniform at all times. In addition, they are responsible for informing all visitors of various upcoming events and exhibits. They are also responsible for marketing and selling memberships to museum visitors. Additional manual information and trainings will be provided to all visitor service volunteers.

Education Volunteers

Education Volunteers will either assist with or lead educational programming in the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Education volunteers will report directly to the Education Director. Additional training on the programs themselves and how to interact and lead a museum program is required. Further information concerning the leading of programs will be provided to education volunteers. Prior to leading a museum program by themselves, volunteers must be observed and evaluated. Education volunteers will not be required to learn all museum programs, they can pick and choose certain programs to learn and present. Uniforms must be worn by all education volunteers. Additional background checks may be required.

Special Projects Volunteers

Special project volunteers will assist with various behind the scenes projects, which are not limited, to gardening, mailings, events, maintenance, research, exhibit and program support. Assistance with various projects throughout the museum is needed on a daily basis. Special project volunteers may be required to wear a uniform; this will depend on the type of project they are working on. Projects may be suggested by volunteers to museum staff, museum staff will then approve or deny the project. Otherwise, projects will be determined by the museum staff based upon the museum needs and upcoming events.

Youth Volunteers

Youth volunteers must be between 14-18 years old.

info@bcmuseum.org or call 859-491-4003 and ask for the Museum Services Coordinator.

Welcome to BCM!