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Volunteer Opportunities at ASDM
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!
Volunteer Opportunities are available in the following areas:
- Volunteer Description:
- The 27th Annual Gala is the last weekend of April 2020. We are looking for help with our set-up, day of event help, and tear down for our annual fundraising event. Volunteers who assist with set-up would be moving large tables and chairs on the day before the Gala on Saturday, April 25th from 2pm - 5pm. Volunteers who sign up for day of event would help with the silent auction set-up on Sunday, April 26th from 10:30am - 3pm. Volunteers who sign up for event tear down would help on Monday, April 27th from 7am - 10am.
- Benefits:
- Volunteers gain knowledge in event operations, enjoy professional networking opportunities, and help a non-profit.
- Requirements:
- This job is very physical and requires lifting, bending, stooping, and reaching.
- Current Openings:
- Saturday, April 25th from 2pm - 5pm, Sunday, April 26th from 10:30am - 3pm, or Monday, April 27th from 7am- 10am
- Volunteer Description:
- The volunteer in this position will assist in the promotion, sales, and marketing of books and other publications of the ASDM Press.
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity to acquire knowledge and gain experience in the book markets that the Desert Museum caters to (nature, conservation, travel, children's books, etc.) In addition, gain experience working with small press operations and the transition from print to other publishing platforms.
- Requirements:
- Applicants should have good communication and writing skills, initiative, and follow-through.Applicants should be comfortable working independently on assigned project and have familiarity with Word, Excel and Outlook. Physical requirement: ability lift up to 30lbs (or the weight of a box of books).
- Current Openings:
- Once a week on Tuesdays or Thursdays with flexible hours.
- Volunteer Description:
- Interested in helping the Desert Museum with an ongoing research project? Consider becoming a Citizen Scientists with our Pollinator Hotspots Program.
- Benefits:
- This citizen science opportunity is a fun way to contribute towards the identification of Pollinator Hotspots - areas of particularly high density across the Sonoran Desert landscape that provide essential resources for pollinators.
- Requirements:
- If you're interested in helping with this project, there is no need to submit a volunteer application; just visit the Pollinator Hotspots page for more information on getting involved!
- Current Openings:
- Flexible
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position inspect, service and/or repair the Museum's exhibits. Duties include (but are not limited to): circulating around grounds and inspecting exhibits, performing routine daily servicing, replenishing and cleaning stamp stations, reporting problems or damage and making small repairs as necessary.
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to volunteer with their hands and contribute to the maintenance of exhibits. Due to the nature of the position, volunteers in this role receive behind-the-scene access; they also get to experience the Museum in a way that few people have!
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be able to make a 12 month commitment, volunteering 4-5 hours once a week. Applicants must be able to maneuver around all exhibit areas. The ability to use basic hand tools such as hammers, screwdrivers and pliers is a plus (but not required). Applicants should feel comfortable being trained to drive an electric cart.
- Current Openings:
- Wednesdays (7:30 - 11:30)
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position are stationed around the Museum's front patio; they support Guest Service Staff by being a welcoming, friendly and helpful presence throughout a guest's visit.
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity to meet guests from around the world, while helping them enjoy their Desert Museum experience!
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be able to make a 3-6 month commitment, volunteering once a week. Applicants must also have the ability to maneuver around the front patio areas and be open to working during all types of weather. Applicants should demonstrate excellent customer service skills and be enthusiastic about interacting with diverse populations of guests (i.e.: age, race, gender, etc.); they should also be able to retain information that will be communicated to guests. Volunteers in this position are required to purchase an official volunteer t-shirt ($10-$15).
- Current Openings:
- Mondays 12pm-4pm, Wednesdays 12pm-4pm, Fridays 8am-12pm or 12pm-4pm, Saturdays 8am-12pm or 12pm-4pm, or Sundays 8am-12pm or 12pm-4pm
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position assist with the daily care of animals in the Interpretive Animal Collection. IAC animals include: arthropods, reptiles and birds. Duties include (but are not limited to): cleaning animal enclosures, preparing animal diets, participating back stage at live animal theater demonstrations and tracking data based on animal observations.
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, working with live animals in captivity.
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to volunteer with the animals. Applicants must be able to make at least a 12 month commitment, volunteering once a week for a full day (7:30am-3:30pm). Applicants must have the ability to bend, kneel and balance while performing a variety of tasks; they should be able to work outdoors throughout the year and lift up to 25 lbs. For the safety of the animals, applicants must be able to think quickly in demanding situations and communicate decisions related to animal needs. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the boundaries related to animal interactions.
- Current Openings:
- Wednesdays (7:30am-3:30pm) or Thursdays (7:30am - 3:30pm)
- Volunteer Description:
- Packrat Playhouse Volunteers will help facilitate informal learning in a dynamic family-driven play space inside the Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum's newest exhibit Packrat Playhouse.
- Benefits:
- Packrat Playhouse Greeters welcome visitors and provide an orientation to the exhibit. Greeters will also be trained to engage families through science based games and activities and interpret the ecology of the Sonoran Desert, primarily as it pertains to packrat behavior and interactions with other animals and plants. Greeters work with children of all ages, use and expand upon public speaking, customer service relations and interpretive skills, while working in a fun, informal educational setting.
- Requirements:
- Applicants should have a passion for working with children in non-traditional educational settings. A positive and upbeat attitude. Applicants should be willing and comfortable to stand, bend and squat for the shift. Volunteer commitment is for a minimum of 5 months.
- Current Openings:
- Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays for 3 hour shifts: 10am-1pm, 11am-2pm, or 1pm-4pm.
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position are assigned but not limited to support of the Stingray Touch Exhibit under the HIIZ (Herpetology, Ichthyology & Invertebrate Zoology) Department. Volunteers are support for the animal Keeper staff. Additionally, volunteers in this role will engage and guide guests with instructions, guidelines, interpretation and animal contact. This includes the guest feeding experience and other husbandry-related tasks and activities. Volunteers may also help behind the scenes with the HIIZ (Herpetology, Ichthyology & Invertebrate Zoology) Department.
Primary Specific Tasks:
- Assist HIIZ Keeper staff,
- Assist with basic stingray husbandry (i.e., logging observations, AM diet prep),
- Interact with Museum visitors,
- Help facilitate guest entry and guest services while at the stingray exhibit,
- Assure the safety of both the stingrays and guests at all times,
- Stingray pool-related tasks,
- Assist with enrichment activities,
- Other tasks may be assigned.
- Benefits:
- This is a unique opportunity to volunteer with stingrays and other HIIZ collection animals at an AZA accredited, world-class institution. Volunteers receive the opportunity to expand upon their public speaking skills while gaining hands-on experience. Great for resume building and career building experience.
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Volunteers must have the ability to bend, kneel and balance while doing a variety of tasks; they must also be comfortable lifting up to 25 lbs. Applicants should be comfortable helping outdoors throughout the year and have the ability to work cooperatively with others in a complex and busy social environment. Having a positive attitude is very important, and must be willing to follow directions. Preference will be shown to applicants who can demonstrate good general communication skills. For the safety of the animals, applicants must be able to think quickly in demanding situations while adhering to HIIZ department protocol. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the boundaries related to animal interactions.
- Current Openings:
- Wednesdays 8am -noon or Thursdays 12:30pm - 4:30pm. We are asking for a minimum of 5 months commitment.
Volunteer Application Form
If the position aligns with your interests and availability, please fill out the following form:
If you're having trouble accessing the online application, please print this application form (PDF) and mail it to Volunteer & Internship Programs Supervisor at: 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to call the Volunteer Programs Supervisor at: 520-883-3071.
