Volunteer Opportunities

The Natural History Museum currently has a three webpages that discuss the types of volunteer opportunities, requirements, and application forms: Volunteer, Internships, and Behind-the-Scenes.

Lists of specific projects for both volunteers and interns can be found here and here (once at either of these two pages just scroll down for the list).  Please note that the list of projects found on the Intern page are suitable for all volunteers of any age, not just for students. So please don't fail to view both webpages.

The Voluneering and Intership pages are a good place to start. However, the Behind-the-Scenes office maintains a larger, unpublished list of projects available and will work with you by matching volunteer qualifications, interests, knowledge, and availability with project needs. You can find contact information at the above Behind-the-Scenes link.

For most projects the Department of Paleobiology a minimum time commitment of 6 hours per week during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, is required. Projects can be short term or long-term. Volunteers and interns must be over 16 years of age.

Volunteer Amenities

Volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend department and museum lectures and talks that are not open to the public.

Volunteers get 20% discounts in all Smithsonian museum gift shops and restaurants, as well as those at the National Gallery of Art.

Volunteers are the honored guests at the annual SI Volunteer Reception, and also receive a subscription to The Torch newsletter, an in-house newsletter.

Volunteers can attend free IMAX movie previews, and are eligible for free admission at participating museums around the world.