Opportunities From: Connect Central Oregon

The Museum has many volunteer opportunities for you! Among our current selections are:

Admissions Greeter: Greet Museum visitors and start them on their journey. Guide them to the daily happenings and new exhibits.

Visitor Services: Help the Admissions Team welcome visitors to the Museum and ensure a positive, memorable visit. Answer any questions visitors have during their visit.

Education:  Assist in providing positive experiences for students, educators and chaperones to the High Desert Museum. Answer questions about content, educational materials, field trip logistics, and ensure schools are excited to return and feel welcomed into the Museum.

Nature Team:  Interpret the High Desert’s natural history, including the region’s plants, fungi, climate, geological features, ecosystems and human interactions within those ecosystems. Assist with various special events including the monthly Natural History Pub, exhibit openings, educational programs, weed pulling on the grounds and other initiatives.

Living History Docent: Engage visitors with activities that supplement exhibits relating to the lives of historical 19th and early 20th century people in the High Desert.

Wildlife Interpreter: Engage with visitor and deliver multiple scheduled wildlife talks throughout the day, from the High Desert Hooves talk to the Otter Encounter.

Wildlife Behind the Scenes: Assist Wildlife keepers with animal care and husbandry in specific areas including Desertarium and Birds of Prey.

Wildlife Gallery Attendant: Do you have a specialized skill or interest and wish to contribute to the Wildlife Department in unique ways? This may be the spot for you!

High Desert Ranger Station: Volunteers open and close the building, raise the flag when open, make sure displays are clean and available to guests, prepare and deliver information about the historic building, the role of the US Forest Service, and provide information about forest management and ecosystems in the current era.

Photography Team: Capture in still photography and video all of the fun and beauty found at the Museum. Photographers are sent to document special events and daily programs.

Silver Sage Trading Display: Silver Sage Trading Display Volunteers support store staff and visitor experiences by refilling the existing merchandise displays, replacing items moved by visitors, performing general cleaning tasks, and making note of any items the store is running low on. This opportunity would be a great fit for someone who is detail-oriented and enjoys interacting with visitors. This position requires frequent trips up and down stairs, as well as carrying items around the store. Display volunteers must be flexible and creative – displays in Silver Sage aren’t static! Learn more

Silver Sage Trading Inventory:  Silver Sage Trading Inventory Volunteers have the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at store operations and work closely with store staff to process new and incoming merchandise. Inventory Volunteers work closely with the Store Lead and other staff to open new boxes (it’s like opening a new present every day!), accurately price and label the items, and keep the stockroom organized. This opportunity would be a good fit for someone who is detail-oriented and enjoys methodical work.

Central Services Support: The Central Services Support Volunteers support our facilities staff to ensure the museum stays clean and presentable for visitors. This opportunity would be great for someone who enjoys physical labor and wants to volunteer while the visitors are away.

Trail Docent: The Trail Docent is responsible for making rounds inside the Museum and the outside trails while engaging visitors, answering questions, and notifying Museum staff of any safety and security concerns.

Changing Exhibits: Changing Exhibits Volunteers are responsible for guiding activities that supplement the interpretive opportunities available in our changing exhibits at the High Desert Museum. The primary function is to facilitate hands-on experiences, creating access for audiences, especially children, who might otherwise lack the prior knowledge necessary to engage fully with the passive interpretive elements of some of these exhibits. Volunteers will be available to answer questions about the exhibits and ensure visitors of all ages are excited to return and feel welcomed into the Museum.

New Volunteer Orientations are scheduled monthly September through May.

If you have additional questions, contact the Volunteer Coordinator by emailing: volunteer@highdesertmuseum.org

Position Summary

Behind the Scenes (BTS) Wildlife volunteers assist Wildlife keepers with animal care and husbandry in specific areas including Desertarium and Birds of Prey. Typical tasks include cleaning of enclosures, removal of fecal material, washing, disinfecting surfaces, and changing water. Volunteers help keep work areas clean and organized by doing laundry, washing dishes, sweeping, and mopping. Diet preparation including the processing of whole-animal foods for carnivore species is required. BTS volunteers may also be invited to assist keepers with animal training sessions, enrichment opportunities, minor veterinary procedures, or help with other special projects as necessary.

Qualifications

At least 18 years old·    Ability to perform physical tasks including but not limited to, lifting 50 pounds, carrying, stooping, bending, extensive walking, crawling, climbing, and working outside in the extreme weather conditions typical of Central Oregon

Responsibilities and Tasks 

Animal Welfare Conducts daily husbandry tasks including but not limited to, cleaning, diet preparation, feeding, watering, records-keeping, and habitat maintenance Dishwashing, laundry, sweeping and mopping of animal care areas Processes animal diets including whole-animal foods such as rats, mice, and poultry Feeds reptile and/or fish species as directed including live insects such as crickets or mealworms Assists staff in maintenance of feeder animal colonies Follows written safety procedures in accordance with all museum rules and guidelines

Physical Elements

Ability to work inside and outside in normal weather conditions typical of Central Oregon ● This position requires a once a week, long-term commitmentThis position requires a once a week, long-term commitment