Volunteer Opportunities at ASDM
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!
For more information, select 'Raptor Free Flight' in the list below.
Volunteer Opportunities are available in the following areas:
- 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:
- Assist Botany staff with the development of the collection and the maintenance of Museum landscapes within our award winning gardens. Primary Specific Tasks: 1. Hand watering and fertilization 2. Develop gardens through planting, moving rock and soil, digging, and laying irrigation lines. 3. Weeding and cleaning gardens.
- Benefits:
- Volunteers gain horticulture knowledge, enjoy professional networking opportunities, and have chances to exercise creativity in garden design.
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be able to perform manual labor, including using pick, shovel, wheelbarrow; with the ability to lift and carry up to 50 lb; to do work on the knees, and able to stoop, bend, and squat. Volunteers must be willing to work in summer heat and winter cold.Plant growing experience required and a background/experience with irrigation systems, gardening preferred.Shift is one day a week, weekdays only.
- Current Openings:
- Tuesdays, 7:30am - noon
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position are stationed in the Ironwood Gallery; they act as friendly and knowledgeable representatives of the Museum while monitoring the gallery exhibition space. Duties include (but are not limited to): reinforcing gallery rules, assisting with clerical tasks, organizing materials, answering phone calls, assisting with the sale of artwork and maintaining a clean exhibit space.
- Benefits:
- This is a great opportunity for anyone who enjoys being around creative, like-minded people. Art Institute volunteers have the chance to interact with museum guests from around the world; they also receive first-hand access to new gallery exhibits, featured artists and special Art Institute programing. If you're looking for a position that offers the flexibility to work on your own projects (in between gallery visitors), this is the environment for you!
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be able to make a 3-6 month commitment, volunteering 3 hours, once a week. Applicants should be comfortable using technology and be open to selling (or learning how to sell) artwork.
- Current Openings:
- Thursdays (1:00pm - 4:00pm)
- Volunteer Description:
- The Raptor Free Flight program hosts two shows per day, during the fall and spring seasons. The RFF collection consists of birds of prey that are native to the Sonoran Desert; the RFF shows feature non-restrained birds in free-flight (birds are not presented on the glove). Volunteers assist with every aspect of the program, including: husbandry, demonstration setup, and active participation in the demonstration.
- Benefits:
- This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about birds of prey (their natural history, their behavior, proper handling techniques and what's needed to care for them in captivity). Raptor Free Flight volunteers get personal instruction and knowledge about falconry, recommended operant conditioning techniques and the philosophy of "power of choice training".
- Requirements:
- Applicants must be 18 years or older to participate. Volunteers in this position make a once a week commitment, between the months of September - mid- April (between the hours of 8:30am-3:00pm). Applicants must be able to crouch for a period of 45 minutes, stand upright quickly, run, and lift/carry up to 20 pounds (steadily). Applicants need to be open towards volunteering outdoors in all weather conditions in desert surroundings (cactus, loose footing, wild snakes, scorpions, etc.). 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. Applicants are asked to submit three references. Applicant interviews will be scheduled in August of 2019.
- Current Openings:
- Tuesdays, 8:30am - 3pm, Wednesdays, 8:30am - 3pm, Saturdays, 8:30am - 3pm, or Sundays, 8:30am - 3pm
- Volunteer Description:
- Volunteers in this position act as guides and liaisons for school groups that are visiting the Museum on field trips. Duties include (but are not limited to): greeting school groups upon arrival, facilitating lunch times for groups eating at the Museum, checking on/assisting the groups throughout their visit, and helping the Education department with various administrative tasks.
- Benefits:
- This is a chance to share your passion for the Sonoran Desert by facilitating educational experiences to future conservationist!
- Requirements:
- Applicants should be available between the months that school is in session (August - end of May); volunteering once a week is preferred but a flexible schedule can be accommodated. Applicants should have the ability to traverse the Museum grounds in all types of weather conditions (carrying a light bag with paperwork). Preference will be shown to applicants who are enthusiastic about volunteering with youth of all ages.
- Current Openings:
- Tuesdays
- 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:
- Tuesdays 12:30pm - 4:30pm, Wednesdays 8am - noon, Thursdays 12:30pm - 4:30pm, Saturdays 12:30pm - 4:30pm. We are asking for a minimum of 3 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 Manager 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 Manager at: 520-883-3071.
