Museum of Science and Industry

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Guest-Facing Volunteer Teams

Questions about Guest-Facing Volunteer opportunities? Email Rudy Albsmeyer, Coordinator of Guest Facing Volunteer Programs. To apply, click here.

U-505 Team
Share with guests your first-hand experience about life on a real submarine. What is it like living on a sub? Do men and women still live on submarines? Facilitators provide interactive and educational-based material to guests by using exhibit interactive and displays. Many retired submariners facilitate this exhibit!

Imagine handing someone a piece of a historical war memorial. U-505 cartifacts volunteers lead a cart presentation designed to explain the history and uses of artifacts found onboard the submarine. These artifacts include a sonar sensor, a firearm magazine, a torpedo gyroscope and the binoculars from the conning tower.

Great Train Story Team
Where in Chicago can you still see Cows on Parade? The Great Train Story, of course. Volunteers escort guests on a trip from downtown Chicago to Seattle, Washington and explain the differences in past and present rail cars. The Great Train Story is a HO-scale model exhibit which contains 34 running trains, 1400 feet of track, and more than 500 scale structures and custom-made buildings. Volunteers are provided resources and materials to lead informal mini-tours, challenge guests to “spy” numerous scenes such as the Presidential motorcade, cows on parade, forest elves, and more!

Science Connections Team
Science Connection facilitators incorporate hands-on activities to connect the science found throughout our exhibits. You'll introduce Museum guests to specific concepts in a fun, engaging and entertaining way through 5-10 minute interactive activities. A science or teaching background is helpful but not required. An interest is science is necessary. This program requires additional training and a volunteer time commitment of one year. Science Connections topic units include: Genetics, Microscopy, Flight, Science Storms, Human Body and Submarine. Begin your training by selecting one unit.

Science Storms Team
Volunteers will facilitate in the Billion Color Booth in the Science Storms exhibit. The Billion Color Booth teaches guests how the colors of light are absorbed or reflect off each object we see. In addition, each volunteer will spend time leading facilitation on the Science Storms trivia wheel, which allows guests the chance to share their knowledge of everything from avalanches to atoms and all things physics and fun! Interested volunteers should have previous experience working with kids ages 8-13, be extremely high-energy with a voice that can carry, and be able to stand for long periods of time. Volunteers should be able to commit to volunteering in Science Storms a minimum of twice a month for a total of 40 hours per year.

YOU! The Experience Team
One of the keys to improving health and longevity is the ever-advancing field of medicine. The Medical Innovations section of YOU! The Experience showcases some of the latest breakthroughs, celebrates the innovative thinking that will shape our future care, and sparks some thought-provoking dialogue about the role of medical technology in our lives. Volunteers in the YOU! The Experience exhibit engage our guests in discussions about the human body (organs, muscles, nervous system, and more!) A medical background is helpful, but not required.

A la Cart Team
The a la Cart program gives our guests a peek inside the Museum’s collections artifacts. This unique activity cart promotes critical thinking as guests examine objects from our collection and determine what they are and how they were used. This is a great volunteer opportunity for history gurus.

CASE Team
Do you love working in a classroom setting? Each week during the school year, student groups experience the thrill of scientific discovery in the Museum’s Learning Labs. Led by a Museum educator, labs are focused, hands-on, multidisciplinary programs for school groups that align with Illinois Learning Standards in science. Volunteers assist Museum educators by helping students answer questions and complete Lab activities. Experience in teaching is helpful; a passion for education is required!

Administrative Volunteer Programs

Questions about Administrative Volunteer opportunities? Email Penny Aulston, Manager, Volunteer Administrative Programs. To apply, click here.

Office Assistant

Are you friendly, outgoing and enjoy meeting people? Volunteer one day per week to assist volunteer administrators, volunteers and team captains. Duties will include greeting, filing, mailing, data entry, copying and phone calls. Intermediate knowledge of the latest version of Microsoft Office Suite is a must, as is being adaptable to new data systems. If you have good communication skills, are organized and detail-oriented, please apply for this great weekly volunteer opportunity.

Team Captain, Volunteer Office Assistant Team

Department: Volunteer Office
Volunteer Hours: Minimum of 4 hrs./1 weekday per week in the volunteer office

Overview
The Museum of Science and Industry has over 600 volunteers who donate more than 40,000 hours annually on the Guest-facing and Administrative Service teams. The Guest-facing teams are guest focused as live-science and classroom facilitators. Administrative volunteers provide technical talent that assist with many events, programs and services to our guests and community.

Responsibilities

• Consistently develop creative ways to motivate the office assistants.
• Participate in monthly leadership committee meetings.
• Assist the Team Captains with administrative tasks.
• Train the office assistants on the Volunteer Handbook and MSI procedures to affectively answer volunteer questions.
• Conduct exercises to build team spirit, encourage creativity, and enhance listening and quick thinking skills.
• Recruit and train new office assistants.
• Create partnerships with reliable institutions that can provide high-quality volunteers.
• Conduct periodic meetings with office assistants.
• Track office assistants work schedules, training, assignments and absences.
• Stay aware of new exhibits, Omnimax films, and Museum events.
• Ability to engage guest in questions, Wayfinding and expedite comments related to the exhibits and Museum.
• Assist guest that appear lost and who have problems.
• Maintain a guest-focused spirit.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent administrative science experience.
• Possess a strong interest and knowledge of administrative sciences, executive support and training.
• Must be positive to innovative methodologies.
• Must be flexible to changing environments and schedules.
• Available to volunteer at least one weekday per week in the volunteer office.
• Communicate to team members throughout the week from outside of the office.
• Ability to lead a team of seven or more volunteers.
• Excellent organization skills, detailed oriented and able to manage numerous projects.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in a cross-generational environment with diverse cultures and physical abilities.
• Knowledge of the latest version of Microsoft Office Suite is a must.
• Comfortable using database business applications.
• Must have the technical equipment to periodically work from home.
• Knowledge of volunteer management systems is a plus.
• Knowledge of Microsoft SharePoint and Publisher is a plus.

Questions?

See if we've covered your question (or contact us if we haven't) on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Ready to Volunteer?

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