Current Volunteer Opportunities
Docent/Tour Guide
Lead tours inside or outside of the museum during our regular public tour schedule or for specially scheduled school field trips and groups. A great way to share your love of history with others.
Research and Curation
Assist museum staff in special projects related to the creation of new exhibitions and educational materials. This offers a unique way to interact with the museum’s fascinating collection and history. Arrangements can be made for virtual opportunities in this field.
Maintenance & Construction Assistance
Help museum staff with tasks ranging from the set-up of new exhibitions to light cleaning work and everything in between, including working on our lovely garden! Perfect for people who like to work with their hands or would prefer a more “behind the scenes” role.
Museum Ambassador
Represent the museum at community events by providing attendees with information about the museum, answering questions, and distributing educational materials.
Assist at Special Events
Assist on the day of special events and help with set-up, greeting attendees, answering questions, recruiting volunteers for various programs, crowd management and/or setting up and tearing down equipment.
Statement of Ethics for Volunteers
Volunteer participation within the Erie Canal Museum is a strong and vital tradition, and Museum programs could not continue without the contributions and involvement of devoted volunteers. Museum employees will be supportive of volunteers, respect volunteers contributions, and willingly provide them with appropriate training and opportunity for their intellectual enrichment.
Volunteers have a responsibility to the Museum, especially those with access to collections, programs, and vital information. Access to Museum activities is a privilege, and the lack of material compensation for effort expended on behalf of the Museum in no way frees the volunteer from adherence to the standards that apply to Museum employees. Volunteers must work toward the betterment of the institution and not for personal gain other than the natural gratification, knowledge and enrichment inherent in Museum participation.
Volunteers should not accept gifts, favors, discounts, loans, or dispensation of things of value that accrue to them from other parties in connection with carrying out duties of the Museum. Conflict of interest restrictions and gift policies placed upon Museum employees must be explained to volunteers and observed by them. Volunteers must respect the confidentiality of any private or sensitive information to which their volunteer activities give them access.
