Discovery Ambassador: Museum Volunteer

Summary:   

The goal of the volunteer's role is to enhance and improve all Museum visitors’ experience. Volunteers will help visitors navigate the museum and help facilitate family-friendly activities. Discovery Ambassadors help with wayfinding, lead activities, greet visitors, welcoming them to the Museum, and help to shorten lines by scanning tickets when the Museum is busy.  

Volunteers can volunteer every day the Museum is open to the public Tuesday- Sunday 10am-5pm. We especially need volunteers help during weekends, and breaks such as Winter break and Spring break, when the Museum welcomes many more visitors through its doors. 

To apply to volunteer at the Museum go to this webpage and click "Fill out an application" in the top right corner.
Make sure to remember the username and password for Better Impact that you create when you apply. All museum volunteers use their Better Impact account to sign up for volunteer activities and record their volunteer hours.

Responsibilities: 

• Engage with families in a proactive way by welcoming them into the Museum and sharing what's happening today.  

• Introduce an activity table such as the leaf rubbing cart and encouraging kids or adults to join.  

• Offer wayfinding and problem solving 

• Represent the Museum in a professional and friendly way at all times. 

• Familiarize yourself with the Museum’s schedule of daily animal shows and other fun family friendly things to do to help answer visitors' questions. 

• Volunteers can sign up to help with any of the activities below to improve and enhance Museum visitors’ experience: 

• Floor Ambassador - Focused in a major intersection of the Museum, to encourage attendance to shows and current science, direct visitors to restrooms, travelling exhibit, lactation station, gift shop and live animal exhibits outdoors.

• Floor Activity Facilitator - lead a leaf rubbing activity or other activities with visitors. 

• Museum Greeter –greeting visitors upon arrival and helping them feel welcome. Sharing information about fun activities and help to orient them as they arrive and answer questions.  

• Ticket Scanner- Use iPods to scan visitors' tickets and verify documents qualifying visitors for discounts shorten the admission line on busy days. 

• Volunteer shifts are typically 2-4 hours long. We require all of our volunteers to use the Museum’ volunteer database system called Better Impact, to sign up for shifts and record their hours. Volunteers can sign up and log hours on the “My Impact’ phone app, the Museum iPad, or on their personal computers. 

Requirements: 

• A professional, friendly personality to greet the Museum’s guests and guide them through the Museum. 

Volunteer Opportunity Behavior Factors: 

• Communication: 

Communication and comfort starting conversations and engaging with visitors is a must. 

Able to engage in clear, concise and effective communication to varied audiences; able to empathize with others’ needs and respond sensitively; able to use good judgment when responding to objections successfully. 

Exhibit enthusiasm for museum by providing a welcoming presence. 

• Initiative: 

Able to adapt old methods for new uses or seek continuous improvement in procedures.  

• Professionalism: 

Able to remain calm and professional through stressful or ambiguous circumstances; able to objectively and calmly interpret information and solve problems 

• Teamwork: 

Able to show team spirit and treat team members with cooperation and respect; able to share useful information with team members; able to support and comply with decisions 

Physical Volunteering Conditions: 

• Most activities can be done from a wheelchair or seated instead of standing to accommodate volunteers with differing abilities. 

To apply to volunteer at the Museum go to this webpage and click "Fill out an application" in the top right corner.
Make sure to remember the username and password for Better Impact that you create when you apply.  All museum volunteers use their Better Impact account to sign up for volunteer activities and record their volunteer hours.