Austin Children's Museum

Volunteers are essential to the Museum’s operation and help extend the work we do. Because of our dedicated volunteers, we sustain both the quality and quantity of our services and programs. Volunteers greet visitors, assist with school tours, facilitate learning and help with a variety of administrative projects. Be a part of the growth and learning that take place when children and families interact through play. Join in the fun and help make an impact!

ACM offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for adults and teens. We look for individuals who are interested in working directly with visitors and those who would like to help out behind the scenes. Contact us at volunteer@austinkids.org.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Baby Bloomers Description: Join Gallery Educators in facilitating one of the Museum’s most popular and longest running programs. Baby Bloomers is a special time for children 0-3 and their caregivers. Baby Bloomers Volunteers assist in welcoming families with young children as well as presenting age appropriate educational activities for babies and toddlers. Activities include reading stories to groups, participating in sing-a-longs, facilitating learning in museum exhibits and guiding parents and children in sensory and play learning. Schedule: Monday mornings 9am-noon

Gallery Helper Description: Assist Museum staff in facilitating learning in the Museum Galleries. Primary tasks include supervising visitors at the Funstruction Zone Exhibit slide, working in the Design Center Exhibit, assisting with Story time and rotating through gallery spaces to keep them safe and fun. Schedule: Tuesday- Friday 12-4 / Saturday 12-5 / Sunday 1-5 Special Skills: Gallery Helper volunteers must be energetic and able to walk or stand for long periods.  Experience and/or interested in informal education preferred. Volunteers must be willing to perform some minor cleaning duties (sanitizing toys, exhibits and activity supplies as needed).  Comfort in working with adults and children of all ages, race, abilities and background required. Spanish fluency helpful.

Info Desk/Greeter
Description: Join our Gallery Educators and Customer Service staff in welcoming visitors into the Museum. Greet families in a cheerful and enthusiastic manner. Answer questions about the Museum, it’s programs and exhibits. 
Schedule: Tuesday- Friday 10-1/ Saturday 11-3 / Sunday 1-4
Special Skills: Info Desk and Greeter volunteers must be enthusiastic about assisting visitors and able to answer basic questions about ACM. Customer Service experience is helpful. Spanish fluency helpful.

School Tour Assistant
Description: School Program Tour Assistants work with Gallery Education staff to provide visiting school groups with engaging, effective, inquiry based learning experiences. Assistants work along side Tour Guides and provide support in all the duties of the Tour Guide.
Shifts: Tuesday – Friday 9:15-11:30 and 11:15-1:30 (availability tour shifts depends on tour reservation schedule- see whentohelp calendar for details)
Special Skills: Tour Assistant volunteers must be energetic and able to walk or stand for long periods.  Experience and/or interested in informal learning and science education preferred. Volunteers must be willing to perform some minor cleaning duties (sanitizing toys and activity supplies as needed).  Comfort in working with adults and children of all ages, race, abilities and background required. Spanish fluency helpful.

School Tour Guide Description: Tour Guides lead class groups (grades PreK- 3rd) through the museum exhibits and facilitate learning for students through questions, exploration and play.  Tour guides present exhibit information to groups of students as well as facilitate story times and science experiments. School Tour Guide volunteers must have completed 6 shifts as a School Tour Assistant and have approval of Gallery Education Manager. Shifts: Tuesday – Friday 9:15- 11:30 and 11:15- 1:30.  Special Skills: Tour Guide volunteers must be energetic and able to walk or stand for long periods.  Experience in informal learning and science education preferred. Volunteers must be willing to perform some minor cleaning duties (sanitizing toys and activity supplies as needed).  Comfort in working with adults and children of all ages, race, abilities and background required. Spanish fluency helpful.

Educational Programs Assistant Description: Educational Programs Assistants work closely with Museum staff to facilitate both planned and spontaneous learning experiences for program participants. Specific tasks include: facilitating science demonstrations, assisting children with hands-on activities, guiding learning in the Museum exhibits and preparing lesson materials. Programs include Summer and Spring Break Camps, Sleepovers, workshops and events. Schedule: Varies- see when to help volunteer calendar for specific dates and times

Materials Prep
Description: Assist the education team in preparing and sorting materials for exhibits and programs.  Tasks include sorting and organizing donated materials, preparing activity specific materials and other tasks on an as needed basis.
Schedule: Flexible. See calendar
Special Skills: Material prep volunteers must be able to work independently.  Attention to detail and good organizational skills a must.

Behind the Scenes
Description: Assist our administrative staff with a variety of office tasks. Duties range from data entry, mailing prep, filing, sorting, working with digital archives and other tasks as needed.
Schedule: Flexible. See calendar.
Special Skills: Experience with Microsoft Office software helpful but not necessary. Attention to detail, good organizational skills and ability to work independently a must.