Volunteer

Come and play a vital role during our busy spring field trip season. School Groups Hosts welcome and assist visiting school groups during field trips to the Putnam. Provide teacher guidance for check-in and take your group though a “meet and greet,” highlighting both the student rules of the Museum and some of the interesting facts, exhibition features and information. Assist groups with their schedule, get them to and from special programs and generally help their visit go smoothly.

Volunteers in this role are comfortable speaking to large groups and are able to memorize a short script as well as learn the Museum and Science Center layout. School Groups Hosts can also serve as exhibition volunteers and are trained by an educator prior to working alone. This position is a weekday shift (generally Tues, Thurs, Fri. as needed) from 9:30am-11:30am.  2-3 volunteers per day desired; volunteers work as they are available.

Ever wondered what goes on when planning large public events? Volunteer to help plan and execute events held at the Putnam today!

Go behind the scenes at the Putnam by volunteering in our Collections department! Help with cataloging, researching and preserving the community’s priceless treasures.

The Putnam offers a class to youth pre-K to 6^th grade one weekend per month. With exciting STEM themes ranging from building and rockets to chemistry and dinosaurs, there’s always something new to discover. We need 4-6 volunteers per session to assist youth during the classroom experience with hands-on activities and experiments as well as to facilitate explorations throughout the Museum and Science Center. Topics and activities are pre-determined by Putnam educators who are on-hand and instructions are provided. These volunteers work well with youth, are comfortable giving instructions and can handle a fast-paced environment.  Volunteers may work one or several workshops as they are available. 

For those interested in customer service work: greet and provide direction to guests of the theater in 3 to 4 hour shifts. Staff support available during shifts. Greets visitors and tears tickets to movies, hands out 3D glasses (if needed) makes a brief greeting at the opening and closing announcements in the theatre to our visitors.

You Belong Here! Help our Membership Department keep up to date information flowing to our valuable members by volunteering to assist with mailings, member events and more!

Be the first to welcome guests to our Exhibit Halls. Take admission tickets, give out maps to visitors, share any special happenings in the museum, answer visitor questions and assist with answering phone calls to the Museum. We need volunteers Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Our Museum Store features fun and unique gifts, and we need volunteers who are personable, have cash-handling and computer experience. Previous retail or merchandising experience is also helpful. Volunteers work in four- to-five-hour shifts.

Our highly successful summer camp program is a great opportunity for volunteers who enjoy getting to spend time with a smaller group. Camp themes range from Harry Potter and Rube Goldberg to butterflies, the human body and engineering. Make the camp experience special for our campers (ages 5-13) by providing assistance with themed summer camp activities, assist staff with preparation of materials, check-in process, lunch and break-time activities. A Museum educator is always available to offer guidance and support.

Volunteers who enjoy and are comfortable with children, handle multiple environments (outside, museum exhibit halls, classroom) with ease and enjoy variety would be well-suited for this position. We offer camps that are a single day or a full-week; commitment for the duration of the camp is preferred but not required. Weekday summers, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and/or 1p.m. – 4 p.m. Additionally, volunteers are also needed to assist with before care (8-9 a.m., M-F) and after care (4-5 p.m., M-F) for those campers who join us for an extended day.

Getting around our Museum can be a little confusing for new visitors. We need volunteers to help direct visitors all over our Museum. We will have one volunteer at the main entrance in the Grand Lobby and one in the "middle" of our main level exhibit halls helping lost visitors get to where they want to be. Volunteers are need for weekends only, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.