Volunteer
Whether it’s greeting visitors and taking their tickets to helping preserve precious items in our collections, dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers and interns are a vital part of the Putnam’s existence!
There are many exciting opportunities to get involved at our Museum and Science Center and we’re always looking for friendly faces to help in any of the Museum’s many departments and programs.
Click here to download Volunteer Application Form - please email application &
disclosure form to
volunteers@putnam.org.
Volunteer your expertise at the next Putnam exhibit
On January 26, 2019, the Putnam Museum and Science Center will open its newest nationally traveled exhibit, Race: Are We So Different?
Visitors to the exhibit have the opportunity to explore race through three lenses: The History of Race; The Science of Race; and the Recent Experience of Race in the U.S.
The Putnam’s goal is to ensure this exhibit is fully utilized as a springboard to conversation and deeper understanding of equity and inclusion during its four-month run in our community.
How would you like to be a part of this community experience?
Discussion Circle Facilitator
Do you have group discussion facilitation skills and a positive outlook? Are you a mediator by nature or training? Can you be open to a variety of viewpoints? Then, please consider donating your time to facilitate hour-long discussions with Putnam visitors who have just experienced the Race: Are We So Different? exhibit.
Discussion Facilitators are needed to support visitors’ scheduled discussions. The exhibit runs until June 2, 2019. A half-day training session for facilitators will be scheduled in January prior to exhibit’s opening.
TO APPLY: Please download and complete the application and Disclosure and Authorization form and return to the visitor services counter during regular museum hours. Completed documents may also be sent to Christine Chandler at cchandler@putnam.org.
exhibit host
Are you a good listener, comfortable speaking with people and willing to engage visitors in conversation? Then, please consider donating a number of mornings or afternoons of your time to serve as an exhibit host.
Hosts are needed to be on hand to support visitors and answer their questions as they explore the exhibit. Hosts may guide visitors to other resources offered by the museum such as registering to attend a group discussion. They also perform random checks to insure that the exhibit’s components are running properly.
Weekend shifts (normally 3 hours) are especially helpful. The exhibit runs until June 2, 2019. A half-day training session for hosts will be scheduled in January prior to exhibit’s opening.
TO APPLY: Please download and complete the application and Disclosure and Authorization form and return to the visitor services counter during regular museum hours. Completed documents may also be sent to Christine Chandler at cchandler@putnam.org.
Membership Details
School Group Host
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.
Event Volunteers
Ever wondered what goes on when planning large public events? Volunteer to help plan and execute events held at the Putnam today!
Collections Volunteers
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/Cart Volunteers
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.
Explorers and Explorers Jr. Assistant
The Putnam offers a class to youth pre-K to 6th 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.
FabLab Attendant
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.
GIANT Screen Theater Hosts
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.
Membership Volunteers
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!
Museum Activity Cart Volunteers
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.
Museum Entrance Volunteers
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.
Museum Store Volunteers
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.
Summer Camp Volunteer Assistants
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.
Scouting Event Assistants
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.
Way-Finders in Grand Lobby & Exhibit Halls
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.