Volunteer Opportunities

Help serve as a gateway for community engagement, education, and inspiration by preserving and sharing Central Florida’s continually unfolding story.

We’d love to have you join us!

The Orange County Regional History Center is looking for cheerful, friendly volunteers, interested in engaging guests with museum exploration and event activities.

Help bring History Alive!

The History Center offers event volunteering opportunities at public programming events, youth & family days and sensory friendly afternoons.

We also offer volunteer opportunities as department interns, school tour guides, and collection assistants in the Joseph L. Brechner Research Center.

¿Habla español? ¡Apreciamos voluntarios bilingües!

For more information, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Diane Masciale, at 407-836-8523 or e-mail her at Diane.Masciale@ocfl.net.

Apply

Please note: Final candidates must pass a background check and must live and be able to work in the United States.

Benefits for active volunteers include:

  • An engaging, rewarding experience
  • Curator-led tours of exhibitions
  • Free parking validation during scheduled volunteer shifts
  • Complimentary virtual access to monthly Lunch & Learn programs
  • Monthly volunteer e-newsletter
  • After 50 hours of volunteer service: Complimentary individual volunteer membership
  • After 100 hours of volunteer service: Complimentary individual enhanced volunteer membership and eligibility for President’s Volunteer Service Award
  • Volunteer outings
  • Recognition during National Volunteer Appreciation Week each April
  • Annual Volunteer Appreciation event

Please note: Final candidates must pass a background check and must live and be able to work in the United States.

School-Tour Guides

These volunteers lead groups of children and adults on a fun exploration through the museum’s galleries. History Center tours explore Florida’s natural environment, indigenous peoples, pioneers, the cattle and citrus industries, transportation, tourism, and African American history. Volunteers also facilitate mock courtroom trials, STEM challenges, and classroom workshops. Volunteer shifts for tour guides take place on Mondays through Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers commit to an average of one day per week for tours, preferably for a minimum of nine months.

Events

Event volunteers assist with youth and family programs, adult programs, and outreach events. Duties include setting up and breaking down equipment, managing supplies, providing instructions, and facilitating activities. Duties may also include serving as a lobby host during events to assist guests with directions and distribute literature or programs. Volunteers commit to one to two events per season.

No internship vacancies at this time.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions assistance may include creating and installing panels, scanning and enhancing images, research, writing, light construction and fabrication, digital programming, graphic design, and assisting the exhibitions team with overall project support. Volunteers commit to three to four shifts per month, for a period of nine months or until project is completed.

Collections

Under the guidance of the History Center’s collections manager, volunteer assistants help care for the Historical Society of Central Florida’s collections, handling all materials according to standard museum practices. Volunteers assist with processing materials, creating collection inventories, digitizing historical documents and photographs, and assisting with research requests. Volunteers commit to three to four shifts per month, for a period of nine months or until the project is completed.

Calling Volunteers for Summer Camp 2024 May 28 – August 2

The Orange County Regional History Center is looking for friendly and responsible high school students, ages 15 – 17, to help with our Adventures in History Summer Camp program. This is a great way to earn 50 community-service hours. Volunteers must be available for two full weeks of camp.

Shifts

Camp volunteers are scheduled Monday through Friday, with varying timeframes between the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Youth volunteers are scheduled for five hours per day, and shift availability may vary on days when campers attend field trips.

Duties

Assist camp teachers and children with camp games, crafts, activities, breaks, museum exploration, and offsite field trips. Follow all camp rules and serve as role models.

Requirements

Application deadline is March 22, 2024 Email teacher’s letter of recommendation to Diane.Masciale@ocfl.net by March 22, 2024. After receiving a link, complete an online application with your guardian. Guardian and student volunteer must attend a mandatory Screening Registration session. Student volunteers must attend a mandatory Summer Camp Orientation session. Student volunteers must attend a mandatory background-screening appointment as required by Orange County and the state of Florida. Student volunteers must be able to provide a valid ID and Social Security card.

Museum Education Interns assist the education department in providing engaging instruction for all education-based programming. Interns will gain experience applicable to a wide variety of education careers, including facilitating school field trips, outreach events, and public programming.
This position requires availability on weekdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Education Interns must commit to a regular weekly schedule. This is an unpaid internship. Parking will be provided by the History Center.
*Final candidates must pass a criminal background check
Application Process: Please email resume and cover letter to Diane Masciale, diane.masciale@ocfl.net, with the subject line “Museum Education Internship – Your Name”