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.-
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Upcoming Events
- Home School Day: A Culture in Motion – The Harlem Renaissance Friday(February 10, 2023), 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- History Book Club: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston Thursday(February 16, 2023), 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
- Celebrating Black Arts and Culture Saturday(February 18, 2023), 10:00 am - 3:00 pm