Volunteer Opportunity
Museum Guide
We are accepting applications for this role now, but training will not begin until October 2019.
Are you inquisitive? Do you love to learn? Do you like talking to new people? Do others consider you dependable? Maybe you have a special interest in history, artifacts, or sharing stories. If any of these things describes you, then you we’d love to have you as a museum guide.
Museum guides design and lead tours and programs for audiences of all ages and backgrounds, including university and K-12 students, families, and adults. They also use objects from the Museum’s teaching collection as well as craft supplies and other materials to facilitate hands-on activities at Spurlock Museum programs.
Museum guides:
- learn about world cultures,
- use the skills they learn during training sessions to engage visitors,
- speak to groups of various ages and backgrounds, and
- embrace trying new ways of supporting different types of visitors.
Guides work mostly in the galleries and the Museum's Zahn Learning Center multipurpose classroom space.
Our Expectations
- Volunteers commit to at least 1 year (an academic year for students).
- Volunteers attend the 3-hour weekly intensive training sessions (October–November).
- Volunteers deliver 2 tours or help facilitate 2 programs each month after completing the intensive training sessions.
The museum guide volunteer position is especially great for individuals with flexible schedules, an interest in history, anthropology, education, or world cultures.
Museum guides report to the Volunteer Coordinator and other Education staff.
Museum Guide Training Sessions
Volunteer museum guides attend an 7-week intensive training each Sunday 1:00 pm–4:00 pm 10/6/2019–11/17/2019.
Application
To apply, please complete and submit the online application.
For additional information about volunteering, email us at spurlock-volunteers@illinois.edu (email link).