Volunteer Opportunities

Your time and talents can truly make a difference

The Orange County Regional History Center seeks active, vibrant volunteers for facilitating school field trips and guiding students through the museum galleries, as well as within other departments.

Help us bring the past to life

The rewards are rich as you help future generations learn and grow. We also offer volunteer opportunities as department interns, hosts at our events, and assistants in the Joseph L. Brechner Research Center.

Apply

We’re Recruiting Volunteers!

Fall 2023 Volunteer Information Open Houses

Monday, August 21, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Friday, August 25, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wednesday, August 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

You are invited to meet with our volunteer coordinator, Diane Masciale, to learn more about current volunteer opportunities.

We offer engaging opportunities as a museum ambassador, including school-tour guide, event volunteer, or assistant for our exhibitions 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.

We offer free admission to the museum and parking validation for those attending an open house.

Please email Diane.Masciale@ocfl.net for further information and to RSVP.

School-Tour Guides at the History Center

Help us make history come alive!

School-tour guides are essential to helping the History Center realize its mission as we engage young learners with important lessons about the past. Guides engage students of all ages to share important lessons from our past and make a difference in our community!

Fall 2023 School-Tour Training Sessions

New school-tour guides must complete all four training sessions and must commit to participating in two tours per month (weekly participation is preferred).

Wednesday, September 6, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wednesday, September 13, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wednesday, September 20, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wednesday, September 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

For more information and to register, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Diane Masciale, at 407-836-8523 or email her at 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

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.

High School Volunteers

All positions have been filled.

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”