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Current Volunteer Needs

Interested in becoming a Docent, Canyoneer, or Whaler?

While we are not currently onboarding for these programs, we encourage you to submit a volunteer application and select one (or more) of these as your Program(s) of interest in the meantime. We’ll be in touch in the early summer as we begin the rounds of interviews and onboarding ahead of the fall training season!

Want to get started in the meantime?

Our NATuralist program is a great way to jump in right away. Volunteers engage with visitors using hands-on carts (“kits”) that spark curiosity about nature and science, both inside the museum and in the Nature Trail Garden.

It’s also a great starting point for those interested in getting more involved, offering a chance to build engagement skills that carry into other volunteer roles across the organization.

Naturalist trainings are held every fourth Sunday at the Nat. Reserve your spot here.

To learn more about all of the public engagement volunteer roles listed above, please click here.

While we are not currently recruiting for our science departments, we welcome inquiries from individuals with educational or professional experience in Ornithology, Mammalogy, Entomology, Herpetology, Botany, Archaeology, Paleontology, or Library Science. Click here to learn about Science Volunteers or email volunteers@sdnhm.org.

Volunteer Application Process

Our volunteer application and onboarding process is simple and straightforward. All interested applicants must:

  • Submit an application
  • Attend a virtual orientation
  • Have follow-up program-specific conversations with our recruitment committees (as necessary)
  • Complete a background check
  • Submit necessary forms
  • Send your picture for your official ID Badge

Selected applicants will undergo program-specific training that is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful volunteers for The Nat.

If you would like to submit an application, please click on the button below. For more information or questions, please email volunteers@sdnhm.org.

Apply now