Volunteer

The docent position is the most visible and interactive role at the museum. They warmly welcome guests and offer a deeper understanding of the local history of the Methow Valley. This position is great for people that love interacting with guests of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds. Most importantly, our docents inspire connection to the past and make memorable experiences for our guests. No previous historical knowledge is required, all you need to get started is a friendly and welcoming attitude!

 Responsibilities:

- Talking & interacting with all kinds of people: children, adults, elders, families, locals & tourists with a courteous, friendly and professional approach.

- Opening or closing buildings (depending on shift time).

- Light cleaning & tidying in the museum area, including wiping down glass cases, sweeping walks, etc. to care for the museum objects & spaces.

- Gift shop sales of books & materials.

Schedule:

The museum is open May-September. Our docent shifts are 3.5 hours long with the option of the morning shift (10am-1:30pm) or the afternoon shift (1:30-5pm). Docents are invited to offer their time:

1.      Regularly, preferred (e.g. every Tuesday, every other Sunday, 1 day each month)

2.      As needed (could also include hosting special events/field trips)

3.      Once

We will work with you to find a schedule. Of course, it's expected that docents will need time away for travel, vacation, visitors, etc. - it is summer after all!

Qualifications:

Docents must be at least 16 years of age to volunteer alone. We also welcome families with children ages 8+ to serve together.

Must possess the ability to navigate uneven terrain and steps.

Feel comfortable in an outdoor setting. This position requires you to be outdoors or in buildings without air conditioning or heating. You will not be asked to volunteer during times of excessive heat and/or smoke.

Requirements:

Attend one 2-hour training session to learn about the museum buildings, procedures and Methow Valley history. After the training session you will shadow a docent for one 3.5 hour shift, but as long as needed to feel comfortable hosting alone.

Benefits:

You’ll receive a complimentary individual membership, 10% discount in the gift shop, invites to museum events, and you’ll discover more about the place where you live, and amaze your friends and family with the local facts and trivia you learn!

Questions? Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at docent@shafermuseum.org

Are you seeking a rewarding and enriching experience for your whole family? Are you looking for ways to teach your children about responsibility and civic engagement? You can do all of that and more when you volunteer as a family to serve as a host for the Shafer Historical Museum! No prior historical knowledge is required.

 Responsibilities:

- Warmly greet & interact with all kinds of people: children, adults, elders, families, locals & tourists with a courteous, friendly and professional approach.

- Assess visitors’ interest level in interaction and respond appropriately (i.e. share stories and insights with those that seem interested, allow people who want to browse on their own to do so).

- Light cleaning & tidying in the museum area as needed, including wiping down glass cases, sweeping walks, etc. to care for the museum objects & spaces.

Schedule:

Our museum host (aka docent) hours are mostly staffed by volunteers who serve regularly scheduled shifts. When hosting as a family we will work with your schedule to find a time and frequency that works best for you. Want to volunteer just a few hours for one day? No problem! Interested in serving a few hours each month? Even better! Just let us know what you prefer and we’ll work something out.

Qualifications:

We welcome families with children ages 8+ to serve together.

Must possess the ability to navigate uneven terrain and steps.

Feel comfortable in an outdoor setting. This position requires you to be outdoors or in buildings without air conditioning or heating. You will not be asked to volunteer during times of excessive heat and/or smoke.

Requirements:

Complete a short online training tutorial that offers a brief Methow Valley history lesson and covers expectations of hosts. 

Benefits:

Teach your children valuable lessons about responsibility, compassion and civic engagement. Enjoy observing them interact with a wide variety of people from all over the world in a beautiful park-like setting. Gain a better understanding of Methow Valley history, deepen your connection to the people that lived and worked here and foster a stronger sense of place. 

Questions? Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at docent@shafermuseum.org

Our archivists enjoy organizing, learning and have a strong attention to detail. This important role works to preserve our collection digitally so that others can search for photos and artifacts online. This allows researchers to learn more about stories and events of the past in the Methow Valley. Archivists also help descendants to learn about their ancestors who lived in the Methow Valley. Your responsibilities will vary based on whether you work in our office or remotely from home. We will train you on the software program and the archiving procedures. Learn about your community, its history and relevance to today and share it with others! 

Responsibilities:

- Scanning images and small artifacts into the museum's digital collection system

- Organizing and cataloging items with the appropriate identification numbers and accurate descriptions

- Keeping physical artifacts organized in the storage area

Schedule:

We ask for 1-3 hours per week, but the schedule is very flexible and can work around your needs.

Qualifications:

You will need good computer skills, (good-enough) eyesight; strong grammar, vocabulary, and spelling; attention to detail; ability to follow the instructions that are given to you.

Requirements:

You will train with one of our current archivists until you are ready to work alone. Typically this requires about 2-3 hours of training.

Benefits:

You’ll receive a complimentary individual membership, 10% discount in the gift shop, invites to museum events, and you’ll discover more about the place where you live, and amaze your friends and family with the local facts and trivia you learn!

Questions? Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at docent@shafermuseum.org

Many hands make light work when we have special projects to complete. A special project could be a clean up day or applying natural treatments to our log cabins to preserve them or a unique project that you suggest based on your particular skills. These special projects are not regularly scheduled, but we can keep you on our list of interested volunteers and reach out when we need your help. No experience is necessary. If you can wield a hose, a brush or paint, you can do this job! 

Special projects could also include offering photography, videography, playing live music, hosting live demonstrations of traditional skills or storytelling. If you have a passion for helping the museum, we want to hear about it!

Questions? Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at docent@shafermuseum.org