Open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Share Your Experience and Join the Museum Family

Volunteering at the Science Museum of Virginia gives you the opportunity to share your experience and knowledge, making science more inspiring for our guests.

The commitment and support of our volunteers provides valuable assistance in all areas of the Science Museum, from engaging with guests in the exhibits and labs to providing administrative support.

There are a number of volunteer positions available. Please review the opportunities below to learn more.

A male volunteer wearing a blue shirt is standing in the middle of four people: an adult woman to the left, two smaller children in the middle, and a teen girl to the right. They are all looking at the air hockey robot in the Speed exhibition.

Adult Volunteer Positions Available

Gallery Education Volunteer

Gallery Education Volunteers bring passion, skills, and special talents to work closely with Science Museum staff to provide a quality, fun, engaging, inclusive, science experience for guests - encouraging and assisting them as they interact with exhibits and in labs.

Time Commitment/Hours:

  • Must be able to commit to a consistent, regular schedule (once a week or once every other week) for a minimum of six months.
  • Shifts are 4 hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., on days the Science Museum is open.

Dome Usher

Dome Ushers greet, scan electronic tickets, answer questions and assist guests as they enter and exit the Dome. These volunteers are comfortable interacting with the public, reliable and able to work independently.

Time Commitment/Hours:

  • Must be able to commit to a consistent, regular schedule (once a week or once every other week) for a minimum of six months.
  • Shift times: 10:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m., on days the Science Museum is open.

Dome Console Operator

Console Operators assist in the Dome with operation of equipment, showing Giant Screen Movies and Cosmic Expeditions. They enjoy working with a variety of computer technologies and must be very reliable, punctual and patient, as well as comfortable with public speaking.

Time Commitment/Hours: 

  • Must be able to commit to a consistent, regular schedule (once a week or once every other week) for a minimum of six months.
  • Shift times: 10:00 a.m.– 2 p.m. and Noon–4 p.m., when the Science Museum is open.

A Museum employee is helping a guest use a drill in The Forge to make a canjo, a musical instrument out of a soup can. The boy is standing to the left holding the drill facing down and putting a hole into the side of the can. Another drill is on the table

The Forge Maker Challenge and Workshop Assistant

The Forge Maker Challenge and Workshop Assistant will help facilitate a variety of open-ended, design / engineering challenges during pre-scheduled Maker Challenge times (currently, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. daily, except Saturdays) and assist guests during focused, small group workshops (currently 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. daily, except Saturdays).

Time Commitment/Hours:

  • Must be able to commit to a consistent, regular schedule (once a week or once every other week) for a minimum of six months
  • Shift times: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., when the Science Museum is open, except Saturdays

The Forge Open Making Assistants

Forge Open Making Assistants will help guests take a deeper dive into a variety of subject matter during the Science Museum's Members only 2-hour Open Making blocks (currently on Saturdays). Open Making Assistants will be responsible for co-facilitating deeper engagements in electronics, woodworking, design, and textiles (and other general making problems / projects guests may have). This position will require in-depth interactions with guests and the necessity (and willingness) to solve a plethora of problems / questions as they arise.

Time Commitment/Hours: 

  • Must be able to commit to a consistent, regular schedule (once a week or once every other week) for a minimum of six months
  • 10:30–2:30 p.m. and 2:00–5:00 p.m., currently Saturdays only

Ready to Apply?
All candidates must complete and submit our adult volunteer application.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the program, we’d love to hear from you!

Contact Us
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A volunteer is standing to the right of the SR-71 pointing at to to the guest standing on the right. They are both in the Speed exhibition. Their side is to the camera and they are looking away and up at the jet hanging from the ceiling.

Are You a Teen?

We have teen volunteer opportunities just for you!

Learn More
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Teen volunteer assists guests in the Science Museum's Speed exhibition.