Volunteer

Volunteer Position Title: Astronomy Education Volunteer

Location: 
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

Reports To: Haas Astronomy Program Specialist 

We are not recruiting for this position at the moment.

Position Overview: 
Astronomy Education Volunteers engage the Museum’s many diverse audiences with hands-on programming about the sky and planetary science. Volunteers interact directly with the public by facilitating the use of telescopes for daytime or evening observing, leading activities about astronomy and space science, and answering visitors’ questions about the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets. Programming takes place at both Museum locations, on weekdays and weekends, daytime and evening, as well as offsite outreach events in the DC area. Volunteer applicants do not need an extensive knowledge of astronomy or telescopes, just a desire to learn and share interesting things with other people. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Assist in setup and breakdown of telescopes and hands-on activities for on-site programming 
• Handle all equipment and teaching materials with care
• Learn content about the Sun and other astronomical objects that visitors will observe 
• Work alongside fellow volunteers, Museum staff, and youth employees to present programming to the public 

Volunteer Training: 
In addition to the Museum’s required training, volunteers will participate in a mandatory, initial astronomy training session of approximately two hours. This orientation is scheduled on a quarterly basis, usually on weekends at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. By the end of the training, new volunteers will: 

• Feel comfortable in the new National Air and Space Museum exhibit and education spaces 
• Better understand content about the Sun, its features, and ways to safely observe it 
• Have some practice experience in inquiry and collections-based interactions 
• Know some exhibit connections to program content 
• Gain a general understanding of best practices in informal education 
• Feel prepared to begin on-the-job training with specific equipment and activities during future volunteer shifts 

In addition to orientation, ongoing quarterly training sessions are held for all astronomy volunteers. These sessions are also open to staff, interns, and volunteers from other programs or departments. The quarterly trainings are generally about two hours long, offered twice each (weekend and weekday) to allow maximum accessibility, and cover topics across science, observing, educational techniques, history, and National Air and Space Museum-specific updates. 

Time Commitment and Typical Shifts: 
Volunteers are asked to commit to at least 4 hours per month for 1 year. Volunteers are not required to keep a regular weekly schedule and can sign up for individual shifts as their availability allows. However, showing up consistently helps maintain familiarity with the equipment and subject matter. Most volunteer shifts are 2-4 hours long and happen at the following times: 

• Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30am to 3:30pm at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
• Second Saturday of the month from 10:30am to 2:30 pm at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
• One weekend evening per month at the Udvar-Hazy Center 
• Occasional weekday or weekend evenings in the DC area for outreach events 

Qualifications: 

• Open and eager to learn new things 
• Excited to share interesting concepts with many kinds of people 
• Willing to adapt each interaction to the particular audience that is present 

Volunteer Position Title: Discovery Station Volunteer

Location: 
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

Reports To: Discovery Stations Manager

Position Overview: 
Discovery Station Volunteers will engage visitors with interactives and moving stations covering topics ranging from space exploration, astronomy and astrophysics, aeronautics, and history. Volunteers will guide inquiry from individuals and groups who approach the station to learn more about the topics covered, how they connect to the museum displays, and explore teaching artifacts before sending visitors on their way with new tools for understanding the museum’s content.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Properly set up and tear down the station and associated teaching objects 
• Report all station maintenance needs to the Discovery Stations Manager in a prompt manner 
• Learn each station’s Interpretive Plan and complete associated coursework
• Use inquiry-based learning strategies to facilitate conversations with visitors 
• Differentiate engagement strategies to meet the interests and needs of diverse visitors 
• Enforce the procedures for proper collections handling when appropriate  
• Encourage audiences to interact with the technology, collections, and activities 
• Support Explainer staff and other volunteers 

Volunteer Training: 
In addition to the Museum’s required training, volunteers will independently review each Interpretive Plan for stations they are interested in facilitating and complete the short associated course. After completing this coursework, volunteers will work with the Discovery Stations Manager to shadow an experienced facilitator at stations they are interested in for a minimum of one shift. After shadowing an experienced facilitator new volunteers will be asked to demonstrate ability to run the station independently by facilitating the station with the Discovery Stations Manager shadowing and providing feedback. The Discovery Stations Manager will approve the volunteer for the station or work with the volunteer through feedback and further practice until the volunteer is qualified to run the station independently.  

By the end of the training volunteers will: 

• Feel confident and comfortable using the Discovery Station materials 
• Better understand air and space content related to the Discovery Station subject 
• Have a better understanding of inquiry and collections-based interactions 
• Understand visitors’ perspectives in approaching the stations 
• Know exhibit connections to program content 
• Gain a general understanding of best practices in informal education 
• Learn best practices for facilitating visitor-interest driven interactions 

Time Commitment and Typical Shifts: 
Volunteers commit to a minimum 8 hours per month for one year. Volunteers sign up for their shifts in advance, preferably doing three-hour shifts on consistent days month-to-month (e.g. a volunteer will sign up for two or more Monday shifts during one month). Volunteers should be able to undertake all the activities described above in the Key Responsibilities section. Shifts are available seven days a week, running from either from 10AM-1PM or from 1PM-4PM. Additional flexibility can be arranged in coordination with the Discovery Stations Manager. If canceling your shift, please make sure to do so in advance. If canceling within 24 hours of your volunteer shift, please make sure to email, call, or text staff. 

Qualifications: 

• Enjoy interacting with a diverse audience 
• Friendly and responsible 
• Flexible and able to adjust to last minute changes 
• Willing to learn and present Smithsonian-approved Interpretive Plans without improvising content 

Volunteer Position Title: Early Childhood Education Story Time Program Volunteer

Location: 
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

Reports To: Early Childhood Education Specialist

Position Overview: 
Early Childhood Education Volunteers will engage families and school groups with children from birth to 8 years old in facilitated, hands-on 30-45 minute play and storytelling experiences that help children and their adult caregivers make a personal connection to the aircraft, spacecraft, and other objects in our collection and the people that designed, built, or flew them. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Assist in set up and break down of on-site programming 
• Learn general content related to our Museum collection. Each program will have staff facilitators who will choose topics, stories, and activities and volunteers who assist 
• Use inquiry-based learning strategies to facilitate conversations with participants 
• Use play and storytelling as an entry point into understanding about Museum collections and topics 
• Enforce the procedures for proper collections handling when appropriate  
• Support staff and other volunteers 

Volunteer Training: 
In addition to the Museum’s required training, volunteers will participate in a training (10am-12pm). This training is mandatory for all volunteers and will take place during weekday mornings in February. By the end of the training volunteers will: 

• Feel confident and comfortable in museum 
• Better understand  air and space content related to young children 
• Have a better understanding of inquiry, play, and storytelling as teaching and learning methods 
• Understand visitors’ perspectives, with particular attention to young children 
• Gain a general understanding of best practices in informal education 
• Understand best practices in working with young children and their caregivers in the museum 

Time Commitment and Typical Shifts: 
Story Time shifts are usually weekday or Saturday mornings from 10:30 am to 11:30 pm. While there are no minimum requirements for hours worked each month, we prefer volunteers to work a regular schedule weekly or biweekly.    

Qualifications: 

• Enjoy interacting with a diverse audience, with a focus on young children 
• Willingness to support and build a collaborative environment amongst facilitators and with children and families 
• Friendly and responsible 
• Flexible and able to adjust to last minute changes 

Learn More About General Requirements and Training for all Museum Volunteers

Volunteer Position Title: School Programs Volunteer

Location: National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

Reports To: Holt Scholars Program Specialist

We are not recruiting for this position at the moment.

Position Overview: 
School Programs Volunteers will engage the Museum’s K-8 audiences in facilitated, hands-on 45-60 minute engineering and design experiences ranging in content from space exploration, rocketry, the human body in space, geology, and aerodynamics. Volunteers will co-teach this new type of programming that will correspond with the Museum’s unique resources, objects, and expertise to spark interest and empower students to build new skills and connect with Museum content. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Assist in set up and break down of on-site programming 
• Learn content for Engineering & Design Challenges and co-teach programming to K-8th grade audiences. Each program will have two facilitators, one to manage program logistics and support students, the other to deliver an introduction to the content. 
• Brief teachers/chaperones in supporting classroom management efforts, ensure students are adhering to the program timeline, and engage with students during the hands-on discovery portion of the program. This person will also be responsible for answering teacher questions, providing itineraries for Holt groups, and ensuring that programs finish on time.
• Provide the program’s briefing and wrap up to the students, as well as support students during the hands-on discovery portion of the program 
• Use inquiry-based learning strategies to facilitate conversations with school groups 
• Differentiate engagement strategies to meet the interests and needs of diverse students 
• Enforce the procedures for proper collections handling when appropriate  
• Encourage school audiences to interact with the technology, collections, and activities 
• Support Explainer staff and other volunteers 

Volunteer Training: 
In addition to the Museum’s required training, volunteers will participate in a day-long content training (10am-3pm). This training is mandatory for all volunteers and will take place during a weekday morning. By the end of the training volunteers will: 

• Feel confident and comfortable in the new National Air and Space Museum classroom spaces 
• Better understand air and space content related to school programming 
• Better understanding of inquiry and collections-based interactions 
• Understand visitors’ perspectives, with particular attention to K-8 audiences 
• Understand how the engineering and design process works 
• Know how exhibit connects to program content 
• Gain a general understanding of best practices in informal education 
• Understand best practices in delivering engineering and design challenges 
• Learn best practices for co-teaching 
• Understand how to use objects and technology in the classroom spaces 
• Receive interpretive plans and background information to support program implementation 

After training, volunteers will complete 1-2 observation shifts before supporting programs. 

Time Commitment and Typical Shifts: 
Volunteers are required to commit to working two shifts per month. Shifts currently run from 11:30am-2:15pm.   

Qualifications: 

• Enjoy interacting with a diverse audience, with a focus on young children 
• Willingness to support and build a collaborative environment amongst facilitators and with teachers 
• Friendly and responsible 
• Flexible and able to adjust to last minute changes 
• Interest in inspiring others to learn 

• Must be 16 years or older for Blue Crew, Discovery Station, and Astronomy volunteering, and 18 years or older for all other volunteer positions.
• Must create and keep account in Vsys (the Museum’s volunteer management software). Be able to sign-up for volunteer shifts, check-in, and sign-out of shifts
• Follow specific procedures and protocols of their specific volunteer group.
• Follow Volunteer Code of Conduct and all National Air and Space Museum and Smithsonian guidelines
• Keep an open line of communication with staff supervisor
• Must maintain a working email address
• Select the Volunteer Position you are interested in to see specific requirements for that position.

• Maintain professional manner while volunteering and be respectful of staff, volunteers, students, teachers, chaperones, and other visitors
• Communicate in a timely manner with staff if issues arise that limit your ability to come in and volunteer
• Perform all tasks in full compliance with Institutional, Museum, and Departmental policies and procedures
• Check in and out with staff at the beginning and end of shifts
• Adhere to Museum dress code shared during training
• Do not use cellphones on the Museum floor 

In order to volunteer at the Museum in any capacity, volunteers must: 

• Attend the Orientation & Vsys Orientations during volunteer training and sign a Vsys agreement
• Complete three trainings online:
  • Protection of Minors
  • Informational Security Awareness Training
  • Prevention of Workplace Harassment (EEO)
• Attend training(s) specific to selected volunteer assignment
• Sign a Program Volunteer Agreement 

• Trainings, both general and specific to an assignment, are ongoing to provide continued support for volunteers
• The Weekly National Air and Space Museum Volunteer Email Newsletter, The Friday Flyby, provides Museum updates and news, upcoming programs, and special volunteer opportunities
• Vsys Volunteer Database support
• Increased understanding and growth in the day-to-day logistics of volunteering
• Onsite enrichment opportunities as available 

There are many benefits to volunteering for the National Air and Space Museum. They include, but are not limited to:

• Access to special lectures, events, and training about the Museum's collections
• Discounts at the Museum Stores and select food court areas
• Discounts on IMAX movies and Planetarium shows
• Behind-the-scenes perspective on the world’s most visited museum
• Free parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center