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Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature
Close.Volunteering with Museum Visitors
These positions are based at the museum in Ottawa, Ontario.
Family Programs
What you would do:
- As part of a team, support the engagement of families in the exploration of our natural world at the museum
- Assist with nature-themed activities and crafts
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At Nature Trade:
- Help visitors identify and trade natural objects
- Assist staff with sorting, organizing, labelling and recording natural objects
- Data entry and maintenance of database
- Knowledge of geology/mineralogy and/or palaeontology is required
- Participate in initial and subsequent training.
Good for people with:
- An outgoing and friendly attitude
- An ability to think on their feet
- An affinity for children
- Background or knowledge of the natural world (or the passion to learn)
Languages:
- Fluency in English and French is a strong asset
- An ability to speak another language may come in handy.
Time commitment:
- All year
- Saturday, Sundays and/or holidays
- Half-day shifts.
Visit Planning
What you would do:
- Share your passion for the museum with visitors while helping them plan their exploration of the museum
- Greet visitors and get them started on their experience
- Help visitors navigate the museum
- Highlight points of interest
- Inform visitors about the day's activities and events
- Hand out floor plans
- Answer questions
- Participate in initial training.
Good for people with:
- An outgoing and friendly personality
- An ability to quickly connect with people
- An ability to think on your feet.
Languages:
- Fluency in English and French is a strong asset
- An ability to speak another language may come in handy.
Time commitment:
- Busy periods, especially summer and school breaks.
Science in Action
What you would do:
-
Botany Station:
- Prepare botanical specimens for the museum's plant library, the National Herbarium of Canada
- Answer visitors' questions about the National Herbarium
- Assist visitors with a plant-related activity
-
Palaeontology Station:
- Assist museum technicians
- Help visitors, especially children, with a fossil-excavation activity
- Answer questions from the public
Good for people with:
- A background knowledge in natural history, palaeontology, or botany
- An outgoing and friendly personality
- An ability to answer questions from the public
- An ability to lead activities.
Languages:
- Fluency in both French and English is required
- An ability to speak another language may come in handy.
Time commitment:
- All year
- Palaeontology Station: Saturday afternoons
- Botany Station: Sunday afternoons.
Adult Programs and Special Events
What you would do:
- Assist staff in welcoming visitors to Nature Nocturne, Nature Tastes, special events, lectures, workshops, etc.
- Actively participate in logistical tasks (ticket-taking, directional assistance, answering questions and evaluation).
Good for people with:
- A flexible schedule
- An outgoing and friendly personality
Languages:
- Fluency in English and French is a strong asset
- An ability to speak another language may come in handy.
Time commitment:
- All year
- Variable schedule, especially evenings and weekends.