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.

Exhibition and Cart Volunteers bring the museum to life for visitors.   Volunteers work in exhibitions covering science, history or culture topics and apply information and/or activities developed by the Museum education staff. Examples include leading a guessing activity around the mummification process, engaging in pretend play in Uwe’ Warumi (the trading post exhibition) and demonstrating how energy moves through the body with energy sticks. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to share expertise you may already have or stretch your skills by learning a new topic. The ideal volunteers for this position are outgoing, comfortable speaking with people and are willing to engage Museum visitors in discussions and activities. Exhibition/Cart Volunteers are independent, able to work with little assistance after training and can make content relatable to a variety of age groups. Weekday shifts during field trip season (generally Tues, Thurs, Fri. as needed), 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or weekend shifts (year-round) 1:00- 4:00 p.m.; volunteers work as available.

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. 

The Hubbell-Waterman FabLab is a newer addition at the Putnam. This lab is a unique experience for visitors – particularly youth in grades five and up – to explore prototyping and high-end technology in our informal education setting. The lab, which is in a classroom space, contains 3D printers, a 3D scanner, VEX robotics, two SmartBoards, a laser cutter, vinyl cutter and many more tools that visitors can use to create unique items and even prototypes. FabLab Attendants have a terrific opportunity in this lab to highlight interesting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) equipment that visitors may not have previously encountered, as well as work with the technology in the room. 

The ideal volunteers for this position are outgoing, comfortable speaking with people and are willing to engage Museum visitors in discussions and activities. FabLab Attendants are independent, follow safety protocols carefully, are able to work with little assistance after training and are comfortable with new technology.  Weekend shifts are especially valuable, including the third weekend of the month when FabLab classes are held for the general public; volunteers work as 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!

Become a part of the Putnam Museum! Volunteer at one of our educational, fun and hands-on activity carts all around our exhibit halls. You'll interact with our Museum visitors and perhaps teach them something they never knew. We are looking for volunteers for mainly on the weekends when we are busiest, but weekdays are available, too. Volunteers work during Museum hours, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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.

The Putnam Museum offers a variety of opportunities to local Scouts and our unique, exciting events are becoming more popular all the time. We need 12-20 volunteers (depending on the size of the event) to make each of these fun events successful. Scout volunteers man a themed activity station in the Museum that is visited throughout the evening by scout troops as they travel through the Putnam. Topics and activities are pre-determined by Putnam educators who are on-hand and instructions are provided. The volunteers work well with youth, are comfortable giving instructions and can handle a fast-paced environment. Volunteers may work one or several events as they are available.

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.