Volunteer
SCIENCE NEEDS YOU
As a volunteer at McWane Science Center and IMAX® Dome Theater, discovery, exploration, creativity, learning, and fun await you. Plunge into the World of Water and help a group learn about more than 50 species of saltwater life; explore the mysteries of space with a school group in Challenger Learning Center Alabama; educate a young inventor with the building blocks of science in ScienceQuest; and welcome a family to the IMAX® Dome Theater, where larger-than-life images and amazing sound engulf them. Whether your interest is in learning and discovery or service and assistance, you are sure to find exciting challenges and rewarding adventures as a McWane Science Center volunteer. |
Volunteer Open House
Tuesday, Sept 21
Begins at 6:30 PM
Volunteer Opportunities
In appreciation for the vital work our interns and volunteers perform, McWane Science Center extends valuable benefits including: free parking while on duty, references and academic credit, recognition events, membership discounts, and discounts in the museum store and café. Please scroll down to view all current volunteer opportunites.
Adult Volunteer Program
McWane Science Center offers a variety of rewarding volunteer experiences for adults who want to give back, learn something new, and educate visitors. Opportunities include presenting science experiments, greeting visitors, helping with camps and so much more! Please call the Volunteer Department at (205) 714-8272 today if you are interested in volunteering or want to learn more about the program opportunities.
Application Process
Admission to the Volunteer program is by application and interview.
All applicants, including new and returning volunteers, must submit an application to be admitted into the volunteer program. In addition to the application, you must submit a letter of recommendation from a non-relative, resume and an essay. The essay topic is “Why do you want to be a McWane Science Center volunteer?”
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Service and Assistance Volunteers
Volunteers in this program are adults who enjoy welcoming visitors to McWane Science Center and provide information and answer questions about daily happenings.
Discovery and Learning Volunteers
If you want to step into the science museum educator role but are still not ready to present our full educational programs this is the category for you. You will be trained in exhibit interpretation and small scale science activities to present to small groups of visitors throughout the museum.
Docents
To be accepted in the McWane Science Center Docent program, you must be an adult volunteer who has completed six months and/or 100 hours of service. A Docent’s major responsibility is presenting small and large scale science demonstrations and programs to our visitors. Docents are required to attend monthly trainings and play a major role in helping our visitors gain a better understanding of science and the world around them. Click here to learn more about becoming a McWane Science Center Docent.
Family Volunteers
Family volunteering provides a unique outlet for you and your family to contribute to the community while working together. Children 10-13 are welcome to volunteer as members of a family group alongside a participating adult.
Specialized Placements
Volunteer Camp-In Host
McWane Science Center hosts overnight camp-In programs year-round for schools, churches, Scouts, families and other groups. Camp-in volunteers will assist the camp-in staff in preparing for and facilitating overnight stays in the science center.
Exhibits Shop Volunteer
The dynamic exhibits at McWane Science Center play a huge role in overall visitor satisfaction—they are a large part of our “Wow!” factor. The primary responsibility for this volunteer position will be assisting the exhibits shop manager in light-duty exhibit repairs and maintenance. The extent of work will be based on individual’s abilities and skill level.
Volunteer IMAX® Theater Host
The Volunteer IMAX Dome Theater Host helps ensure that the IMAX Dome Theater and surrounding Museum areas operate smoothly and offer the highest possible presentation quality and visitor satisfaction. The IMAX Dome Theater Host also cross-trains in other areas of operation on as as-needed basis.
Volunteer Birthday Party Host
Do you love birthday parties? Then this is the volunteer position for you. The volunteer birthday party host will assist with the preparation and hosting of birthday parties at McWane Science Center.
Volunteer Store Cashier
Do you love to shop? Do you love to help people find exactly the right souvenir for themselves or special gifts for the important people in their lives? Then you would enjoy helping with the day-to-day operations of Really Cool Stuff, McWane Science Center’s terrific gift store.
Volunteer Lunch Room Assistant
Each day hundreds of school children and visitors with other groups attend McWane Science Center. Most of these groups reserve a specific time in our lunchroom for eating the lunch that they have brought or the lunch they have ordered from our Smart Café. This volunteer will assist staff with the set up, operation, and clean up of the lunchrooms for these visiting groups.
Volunteer Aquarist
If you love marine and fresh water animals then this is the job for you! Aquarist volunteers will assist aquarists in maintenance of fresh and saltwater fish, invertebrate, and reptile species and the systems these animals inhabit. Daily, weekly, and monthly husbandry duties required in keeping these animals alive and exhibits looking great will also be a significant part of this position.
Internships
Membership and Marketing Intern
McWane Science Center’s Marketing and Development Departments offer many exciting and rewarding ways to volunteer, including assisting with special events and media relations. Other duties include assisting with membership services, data entry and database management, membership processing, mailings, phone and on-site sales. This internship is perfect for a candidate currently pursuing a major in business management and/or marketing.
Smart Café Intern
If you are a foodie, this is the volunteer position for you. The Smart Café intern plays a key role in the development and implementation of Smart Café educational programming. The Café Intern will work closely with the Education Department and external organizations to find and assist in the development short programming segments that can be offered in the Smart Café. The Café Intern needs to be energetic and cheerful about the nutritional and educational goals of the Smart Café. This person must follow all rules of Jefferson County Health Department. Light cleaning services that support daily operations are also required.
Aquarist Intern
If you are interested in a career with marine and fresh water animals then this is the internship for you! The primary responsibility for this intern position will be assisting the aquarists in maintenance of fresh and saltwater fish, invertebrate, and reptile species and the systems these animals inhabit. The intern will learn daily, weekly, and monthly husbandry duties required to keep these animals alive and exhibits looking great.
Financial Analyst Intern
The current economic climate emphasizes the need for financial expertise as well as the ability to provide innovative ideas and solutions in trying financial times. This internship offers the chance to gain valuable financial experience as well as enhance your qualifications on your resume. The financial analyst intern will develop forecasting and modeling programs so that management will be able to analyze trends in certain lines of business and be able to perform “what if” scenarios based on different business conditions.
Finance and Human Resources Internship
This internship offers invaluable real-world financial experience, which is crucial in our current economic climate. For finance majors who want to help out in their community, this position offers the opportunity to go behind the scenes in the finance and human resources departments of the McWane Science Center.
|
