Model Railroad Museum Docent

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Volunteer Docents welcome guests and provide an overview of the museum and the model railroad clubs housed within it. Docents have an opportunity to learn and share historical details of Southern California railroads, as well as the complexities of creating model railroad layouts. Docents will be under the direction of the Volunteer and Experience Coordinator. Note: This volunteer position does not run model trains.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Interact with guests visiting the museum and share background information including historical details and reasons for each model railroad layout

Provide scheduled and impromptu tours for guests and groups

Assist with special events and programs as museum representatives

Help clear the museum of guests at the end of the day

Understand safety policies and actively promote safe practices

Volunteer docents receive free admission to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, a discount in the gift shop, earn free passes to hand out to friends and family (1 pass for every 25 hours of service with an annual max of 5 passes), and an invitation to the museum's annual appreciation event.

Opportunity Requirements & Important Notes

Getting Started: All volunteers interested in becoming a docent must complete the San Diego Model Railroad Museum's application form.

Time Commitment: Volunteer docents must train for 5 shifts then must commit to a minimum of 2 shifts per month for a minimum of 6 months. Shifts take place from 11:00am - 4:15pm, including breaks. The museum is currently open Thursday - Sunday with the potential to open additional days.

Required Skills/Experience:

A curiosity to learn and communicate details about model trains with guests

Positive attitude & team player

Customer Service - an interest in interacting with families and museum guests

Reliable, dependable, responsible, trustworthy

Physical Requirements: Ability to physically walk and stand the majority of each shift. Ability to bend, squat and lift up to 15-20 pounds. Note: SDMRM is happy to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with physical limitations.

About the San Diego Model Railroad Museum

The mission of the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is to research, collect, preserve and present the heritage of American railroading using educational programs, displays, toy trains, and scale models of California railroads.