|
|
|
          
|
AVAILABLE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS The Maryland Science Center has opportunities for people with all interests—whether directly related to scientific disciplines or simply helping with the day-to-day operations of the building. We’re seeking help greeting school buses and greeting guests at our main entrance--assisting in our retail store or with details in our administrative offices.
Duties: Stands in designated areas of the lobby and welcomes guests into the building; handles crowd control; distributes guides and answers questions; engages guests in dialogue to help them plan their visit; fills out pre-order sheets when lines are long; moves stanchions in the lobby throughout the day to direct the flow of traffic when necessary. Skills: Friendly and outgoing; willing to learn about the exhibits and the Maryland Science Center; must enjoy working with the public, especially school age children; excellent communication skills; must be able to stand for long periods of time. Training: Provided by Guest Services.
Duties: Board buses and inform students and chaperones of the Science Center visitor guidelines; provide a brief overview of the featured exhibits; direct lines promptly to exhibit floors or IMAX Theater; assist the teacher in charge with the check-in process. Skills: Excellent communication and customer service; patience with working with school-age children; able to stand for extended periods of time. Training: Provided by Volunteer Coordinator.
Duties: Provide excellent customer service; learn to operate cash register and make change accurately; stock and price merchandise; straighten and maintain work area. Skills: Cash handling experience necessary; energetic and outgoing personality; good communication; patience with children; ability to stand for extended periods of time. Training: Provided by Science Store staff.
ON THE FLOOR LOBBY AMBASSADOR Duties: Stands in designated areas of the lobby and welcomes guests into the building; handles crowd control; distributes guides and answers questions; engages guests in dialogue to help them plan their visit; fills out pre-order sheets when lines are long; moves stanchions in the lobby throughout the day to direct the flow of traffic when necessary. Skills: Friendly and outgoing; willing to learn about the exhibits and the Maryland Science Center; must enjoy working with the public, especially school age children; excellent communication skills; must be able to stand for long periods of time. Training: Provided by Guest Services.
HUMAN BODY ASSISTANT IMAX THEATER USHER Duties: Assist visitors into the IMAX Theater; collect tickets; seat groups; observe audiences during shows; clean and maintain theater area between shows. Skills: Good communication; excellent customer service; dependability; ability to stand for long periods of time and frequently climb steps. Training: Provided by Guest Services.
KIDS ROOM ASSISTANT Duties: Greet and explain Kids Room rules to visitors; monitor activity to ensure safety and fun; exercise discretionary judgment to intervene during situations that may occur; demonstrate patience and firmness when necessary. Skills: Fondness for children and comfort with high energy environment; friendly and open manner; excellent communication skills; creativity a plus. Training: Provided by Kids Room staff.
OBSERVATORY ASSISTANT Duties: Usher visitors to/from the Observatory; assist Staff in running public programs; provide general explanations to visitors regarding astronomy topics; operate main or subsidiary telescopes. Skills: Ability to speak to and deal with public in courteous and friendly manner; outgoing; creative; prior knowledge of astronomy and telescopes great, but willingness to learn perfectly acceptable substitute; capable of answering questions visitors may have on astronomy, physics, etc. Training: Provided by Observatory staff, where you will learn how to run the 1927, 8" Alvan Clark refracting telescope, as well as other telescopes at our disposal. Perks: Allowed to schedule private observing sessions on non-event days/hours (once training is complete).
PLANETARIUM ASSISTANT Duties: Deliver presentations to public audiences and visiting school groups; assist operators with ushering responsibilities and running public programs. Skills: Comfort before audiences; ability to deal with the public in a courteous and friendly manner; an interest in providing assistance in various facets of planetarium show production including visual, audio, and technical aspects; interest in or knowledge of astronomy a plus. Training: Provided by Planetarium staff.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS SCIENCE EDUCATOR SCIENCE STORE CLERK Duties: Provide excellent customer service; learn to operate cash register and make change accurately; stock and price merchandise; straighten and maintain work area. Skills: Cash handling experience necessary; energetic and outgoing personality; good communication; patience with children; ability to stand for extended periods of time. Training: Provided by Science Store staff.
SPACELINK ASSISTANT Duties: Interact with the public in a courteous and friendly manner; encourage them to experience aspects of the exhibits and answer their questions; assist the SpaceLink staff. Skills: Comfort in front of an audience; ability to deal with the public in a friendly and courteous manner; knowledge and/or interest in space sciences; an interest in staying updated with latest happenings in space science. Training: Provided by SpaceLink staff.
TERRALINK ASSISTANT Duties: Interacting with the public and assisting with the explanation of interactive exhibits, computer stations, and up dateable video screens; assist staff; stay current with Earth science discoveries on ongoing research. Skills: Comfort before audiences; ability to deal with the public in a friendly and courteous manner; an interest in staying updated with the latest happenings in Earth science; interest in or knowledge of Earth science or related field a plus. Training: Provided by TerraLink staff.
TRAVELING EXHIBIT ASSISTANT Duties: Greet visitors as they enter the traveling exhibit areas and answer any questions they may have; explain how to operate the interactive exhibits; create a hands-on, friendly atmosphere to increase the visitor experience; visually inspect for malfunctioning exhibits and/or housekeeping needs and notify the Manager of the Day. Skills: Friendly and outgoing; willing to learn about the exhibits and MSC; must enjoy working with the public, especially school-aged children. Training: Provided by Exhibits Department. WETLAB/BODYLINK ASSISTANT BEHIND THE SCENES ARCHIVE ASSISTANT Duties: Scanning, sorting, organizing, cataloging, and copying of documents and photographs. Providing assistance to those who request historical museum information. Skills: Excellent computer skills including data entry; ability to work unsupervised; dependability; knowledge of office practices and machines; some clerical experience. Training: Provided by Volunteer Coordinator.
CLERICAL ASSISTANT Duties: Answer telephones and take messages when needed; operate photocopying machine; assist with mailings; file documents and any other task assigned by supervisor. Skills: Good communication and telephone etiquette; knowledge of office practices and machines; some clerical/computer experience helpful. Training: Provided by specific department.
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT Duties: Organizing and filing Development materials; data entry; stuffing, stamping, sealing, sorting special mailings, help set up and greet for special events; prepare for the phonathon and help wrap up the phonathon after all calls are completed; work on special projects with the Development staff as needed. Skills: Good communication/people skills; organized; some clerical/computer experience helpful. Training: Provided by Development Department.
EXHIBIT TECHNICIAN/DEVELOPER Duties: Assist in the repair of Science Center exhibits; assist in the development of components for new interactive exhibits; regularly test, check and repair on-floor exhibits; assist in the maintenance of fabrication workshops. Skills: Any of the following skills are helpful: building electrical and electronic components, carpentry/cabinet making, laminating, machining, building mechanical components. Training: Provided by Exhibits Department.
IT ASSISTANT Duties: Assist the Maryland Science Center's Information Technology staff with various technological updates and computer programming. Skills: Ability to take direction well; 1-2 years basic computing experience required; experience in MS Word a plus. Training: Provided by the Information Technology Staff.
MAILING GROUP Skills: Good communication/people skills; organized; ability to follow directions well. Training: Provided by the Mailing Group.
Duties: Board buses and inform students and chaperones of the Science Center visitor guidelines; provide a brief overview of the featured exhibits; direct lines promptly to exhibit floors or IMAX Theater; assist the teacher in charge with the check-in process. Skills: Excellent communication and customer service; patience with working with school-age children; able to stand for extended periods of time. Training: Provided by Volunteer Coordinator.
Duties: Volunteers will help with check-in, meals, workshops, and the preparation of workshop activities. Volunteers may earn up to six service hour credits per event. Volunteers must be at least high school sophomores. Skills: The ability to work well with children and teenagers; excellent communication skills; able to follow directions well; positive attitude. Training: Provided by Camp-In staff.
Please print and complete the Volunteer Application Form (25 KB PDF file; Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for free, necessary to view this file). Mail completed form to Volunteer Office, Maryland Science Center, 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 or fax to 410-545-5974. Please contact the Volunteer Office at 410-545-5982 to volunteer.
|
  Volunteer Program FAQs |
| Partners | Support Maryland Science Center | Site Map | Privacy Policy ©2005, Maryland Science Center | 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 24 Hour Information Line: 410-685-5225 | Talk to a Science Center Operator: 410-685-2370 |
||
