Our volunteers are the backbone of the Museum. We could not open our doors to the public without their gift of time, energy, and creativity. We have many different kinds of opportunities available. Our online Volunteer Application can be found HERE. See below to learn more about the types of volunteer positions we have and what they entail:

Front Desk/Reception/Gift Shop

This position involves day-to-day reception at the front desk.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

  • Greeting visitors
  • Recording visitor statistics – includes asking guests where they are visiting from, and inviting them to sign the guestbook
  • Answering the phone, directing calls, and taking messages
  • Operating the cash register and debit machine for Gift Shop sales
  • Opening/Closing front desk (Sales sheets and visitor statistics)
  • Answering basic visitor inquiries, or finding a staff member to assist

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Preferred experience working with public, making sales, and answering phones, but not required.

Collections Database Maintenance

*All Collections-based Volunteer Positions are accountable to the Collections Manager. All work and changes to the Collections Database MUST be pre-approved by the Collections Manager.

Duties include assisting the Collections Management Committee and Collections Manager with:

  • Inputting artifact locations
  • Inputting artifact measurements
  • Uploading Media relating to artifacts
  • Enriching artifact Description Field, Narrative Field (who owned it/why), and Object History Field (what is it)
  • Reviewing Made in Nova Scotia field (identify Manufacturers and Local businesses that are not yet in that field so that can be submitted to ANSM)
  • Review “A.I.F” files to ensure all information is properly saved within database records
  • Develop “Galleries” for NovaMuse (Requires prior review and approval by Collections Manager and Manager/Curator before being set to public)

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Experience working with computers and Collective Access program preferred.
  • Some experience with or knowledge of Collections best practices preferred.

Collections Inventory (Warehouse)

*All Collections-based Volunteer Positions are accountable to the Collections Manager. All work and changes to the Collection MUST be pre-approved by the Collections Manager, or designated person.

**Priority for these positions given to members of the Collections Management Committee.

Duties include:

  • Creating Lists and Descriptions of artifacts (including measurements, location, and condition)
  • Assist with the re-shelving of artifacts. This can include installing new shelving units, creating artifact mounts, and listing artifacts within their new locations and ensuring that this is updated onto the database
  • Photographing or Scanning Artifacts (prior approval by Collections Manager necessary)
  • Identification of artifacts that may have either lost their accession number label or appear as with no number

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Background in Museum Studies, Library Studies, Archival Studies and Antiquities is considered an asset.

Transcriptions of Archival Materials

NO OPENINGS CURRENTLY

*We are not currently looking for more transcription volunteers at this time.

Duties Include:

  • Transcription of handwritten letters, typed letters, newspaper articles and clippings, photo albums, etc.

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Experience with computers and typing an asset.
  • Familiarity with reading cursive an asset.

Committees

With the exception of the Collections Management Committee, the Fundraising Committee, and the Nominating Committee, committees are formed on an as-needed basis only, and thus ad-hoc committees require only casual commitment.

Duties include:

  • Attending committee meetings
  • Becoming familiar with the relevant committee Terms of Reference
  • Participating in committee activities (events, planning, set-up/tear-down, research, etc.)
  • Maintaining communication with relevant members and staff

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Subject to needs of specific committees.
  • Any preferred or required qualifications or experience will be specified in notification asking for volunteer committee members.

Event and Fundraising Support

This position primarily involves working with/assisting the Events and Marketing Coordinator with running and planning of events and fundraising opportunities.

Duties may include:

  • Setting up tables/chairs, and moving furniture
  • Maintaining communication with the Events and Marketing Coordinator
  • Making tea and other beverages, and/or bussing tables, refilling drink jugs/carafes
  • Supervising and assisting in programming for children – helping with crafts, escorting to/from washrooms, answering questions
  • Clean-up and tear-down, including washing dishes/surfaces/etc.
  • Possibility of wearing costumes/following volunteer dress-code for special events.
  • Aid in planning and execution of events
  • Poster/advertisement design and/or distribution
  • Ticket sales

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Experience with nonprofit and/or museum events and fundraising an asset.
  • Experience with children an asset.
  • Food safe handling experience may be required for certain events/fundraisers.
  • Criminal and Vulnerable sector checks may be required for events/fundraising involving children.

Gardening/Grounds Maintenance

Requires volunteers for both Quaker and Evergreen Houses. Experience is an asset. Grass cutting for Evergreen is managed by HRM.

Duties include:

  • Weed pulling and management
  • Planting and watering
  • Trimming (bushes and flowers)
  • Fertilizing plants
  • Growing herbs and other edibles (Quaker House primarily)
  • Raking leaves
  • Mowing lawn at Quaker House

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Ability to work independently with little to no direct supervision
  • Ability to work outdoors in hot/cold weather
  • Precedence given to those with prior knowledge and experience maintaining landscaping and the growing of herbs and vegetables

Costume Creation and Repairs

Primarily for Quaker House, which is open seasonally.

Duties include:

  • Repairing existing costumes
  • Sewing new costumes from available patterns, specifically: Sewing additional Quaker men’s costumes, and larger sizes for both women’s and men’s costumes.
  • Creation of padded hangers for textiles collection (at the direction of the Collections Manager)

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Requires experience in sewing and using patterns.
  • Preference given to volunteers with access to sewing machines.

IT – Technology Assistant

Position can be filled remotely if needed, given volunteer has access to computer and internet.

Duties include:

  • Updating website information as directed by Staff.
  • Help maintain cohesive and consistent email marketing.
  • Aid staff and volunteers with small, simple technical issues (i.e. connectivity issues, printer problems, etc.)

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Requires some experience with websites and/or email marketing
  • Prefer some experience with YouTube and video editing

*As DHM is currently in the process of complete website re-design, requirements of experience and qualifications may be updated as needed.

General/Casual/Heavy Lifting

Opportunity for physically demanding volunteering.

Duties May Include:

  • Moving heavy, delicate artifacts (furniture) for exhibit set-up/tear-down
  • Moving tables and chairs for events/talks/concerts/etc.
  • Occasional opportunities for helping with other volunteer areas, as needed.

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Experience in proper heavy lifting procedures (lifting with legs, etc.)
  • Ability to safely lift up to and in excess of 50lbs.
  • Knowledge of careful lifting and movement of antique and potentially delicate objects an asset.

Handy Persons

Position primarily focused on small and simple repairs not requiring fully licensed professionals.

Duties include:

  • Small repairs to furniture (any repairs to furniture in the collection needs to be approved and supervised by the Collections Manager)
  • Paint touch-ups
  • Securing/building/installing displays/bookshelves/ramps or assembling other ready-to-build furniture

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Must have experience with using hand and power tools safely and according to instructions.

And one or more of:

  • Some knowledge of, and experience with, woodworking and carpentry.
  • Experience in painting – especially small touch-ups or exterior painting.
  • Knowledge of safe and secure installation practices for furniture (ex: securing bookshelves to wall with brackets to avoid potential injury, finding studs in walls, etc.)

Photography

Primarily works with Events and Marketing Coordinator.

Duties include:

  • Attending events and other functions to photograph for marketing purposes (websites, social media)
  • Photographing new/existing exhibits
  • Taking behind-the-scenes photos for social media

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Some experience in photography and own camera preferred.
  • Preference given to those with prior experience in professional photography and/or editing photos.

Tour Guides

Guides will generally not be required in the summer months (or at Quaker House), when students are hired as interpreters.

Duties include:

  • Take visitors through the museum, providing clear and accurate interpretation of artifacts and exhibits (training provided).
  • Adapting tour length and focus depending on the visitor’s interests and demographics (Children tend to prefer shorter tours, etc.)

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Guides should be at least somewhat comfortable speaking to groups.
  • Criminal and Vulnerable sector checks may be required.

School Programming

This will primarily involve assisting with programs delivered off-site at schools.

Duties May Include:

  • Assisting staff members with delivering programming to students of different grades
  • Assist in set-up/take-down
  • Transportation of materials and artifacts to and from schools

Qualifications/Experience:

  • Experience working with school-aged children an asset.
  • Criminal and Vulnerable sector checks required.

If you wish to join our team, please fill out the online Volunteer Application Form. We also have paper applications available in person at Evergreen House. We will contact volunteer applicants when a position is open.

Thank you again for your interest!