Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in volunteering. We would love to have you join us in our mission “to serve as the gateway for community engagement, education, and inspiration by preserving and sharing Central Florida’s continually unfolding story.”

The Orange County Regional History Center offers engaging volunteer opportunities as a museum ambassador, including school-tour guide (docent), events volunteer, or assistant for the exhibits or collections staffs. In addition, high school students may earn community-service hours by assisting our education programs. Internships are available for undergraduate and graduate students.

To join our volunteer team, please complete the application in the link below. You are encouraged to select all volunteer positions in which you may be interested.

Apply

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

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

*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.

High School Volunteers

Calling Volunteers for Summer Camp 2023 May 30 – August 4

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 Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (AM shift) Mondays through Fridays, 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (PM shift)

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

REQUIREMENTS Apply by March 25, 2023. Email teacher’s letter of recommendation to Diane.Masciale@ocfl.net. After receiving a link, complete an online application with your guardian. Attend Summer Camp Orientation (mandatory). Attend background-screening appointment as required by Orange County and the state of Florida (mandatory).

Safety Is Our Top Priority To help ensure the safety and well-being of campers and staff, we follow current guidelines from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, as well and current state, and local guidelines, which may include implementation of social-distancing strategies, cleaning and disinfecting, and no-contact curbside drop off and pick up as necessary.

Classroom and education spaces at the History Center are not accessible by the public.

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 1p.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 Shannon Elliston, Shannon.elliston@ocfl.net with the subject line “Museum Education Internship – Your Name”