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:

Animal Experiences - Interpretive Animal Collection

Volunteer Description:

The Interpretive Animal Collection (IAC) is dedicated to the husbandry and training of a diverse collection of birds, mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates presented through various interpretational demonstrations both on and off Museum grounds. The IAC Volunteer assists the staff with projects related to the daily care of the IAC animals, including but not limited to: cleaning animal enclosures, logging observations, animal handling & feeding (including non-venomous snakes), and implementing enrichment. Percent of time spent on various aspects of daily animal husbandry and care:

• 70% Cleaning of exhibits and enclosures (scrubbing, hosing, raking, sweeping)
• 10% Daily observations (visuals on animals and their surroundings)
• 10% Daily diet feeding/animal handling
• 10% Implementing animal enrichment

The IAC has Volunteers every day of the week including weekends and holidays. This is an in-depth program requiring a 4.5 hour per week commitment between 7:30am and 12:00pm. The shift has a constant day, and as an animal welfare position, we require an 85% attendance rate. We require at least an 8-month commitment to volunteer in IAC as it takes up to 4 months to become fully trained. With our 85% time commitment, we do ask that time off be requested as far ahead as possible to potentially find coverage.

Benefits:

This is an opportunity to learn about the husbandry involved in a hands-on environment with captive wild animals of the Sonoran desert in an AZA accredited institution. Great for resume building and career building experience. Active status volunteers receive numerous benefits including complimentary membership and discounts for the duration of their service.

Requirements:

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Volunteers in this role must be comfortable walking, standing, bending, kneeling, and balancing while performing a variety of volunteer duties, working outdoors throughout the year, and have the ability to lift and carry up to 25lbs for short distances. Applicants must possess good general communication skills, the ability to perform volunteer duties independently as well as in group settings, and interact well with people of all ages and backgrounds. For the safety of the animals, Volunteers in this role must be able to think and react quickly in demanding situations while adhering to Animal Experiences department protocols. Applicants should have a clear understanding of the boundaries related to animal interactions. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies. -Following the initial interviews, selected applicants will be invited back for a “working interview”. -Volunteers selected for this program will be required to complete a four-week probationary period.

Current Openings:

Fridays – 7:30am-12:00pm

Tortoise Adoption Program (TAP)

Volunteer Description:

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) established the Tortoise Adoption Program (TAP) to benefit the welfare of captive and wild tortoises and turtles. The program is sanctioned by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and designed to assist with the transfer of unwanted or surplus captive desert tortoises to qualified private custodians. Volunteers in this role assist staff with TAP participant communications and help with the tortoise placement process. 1. Checks phones and emails on an assigned weekday 2. Replies to calls and emails from TAP participants 3. Completes Yard Inspections for TAP participants (rare and not required) 4. Assists with coordinating tortoise placement

Benefits:

Contribute to wildlife conservation while interacting with passionate members of the community who are interested in gaining more knowledge about tortoise care. Great for resume building and career building experience. Active Status Museum Volunteers enjoy benefits which include free memberships, discounts in the gift shops and restaurants, and Service Merit Awards.

Requirements:

Physical requirements: Volunteers in this role must be able to move around yards to inspect tortoise areas and use technology for virtual inspections. Skills/knowledge required: Applicants must have access to phone and internet and have their own transportation. Background/Experience desired: None required, but knowledge of animals, especially tortoises, is a plus. Other Requirements: Applicants must be 18 years or older to participate. Applicants should also be willing to learn basic tortoise husbandry and be able to relay that information to others via phone or email. All Desert Museum Volunteers must be able to learn and retain the Desert Museum’s safety procedures and protocols, as well as position specific responsibilities and competencies.

Current Openings:

Wednesdays (hours flexible)

If a position aligns with your interests and availability, please fill out the following form:

Volunteer Application Form

If you're having trouble accessing the online application, please print this application form (PDF) and mail it to Volunteer & Internship Programs Coordinator (Mike Walker) 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 & Internship Programs Coordinator (Mike Walker) at: 520-883-3082 or at mwalker@desertmuseum.org.