Volunteers

Volunteers are a vital part of the MKIM community. From local senior citizens to foreign

college students there is something meaningful to be a part of at MKIM all year round. Our volunteers help with everything from public outreach and special events to behind the scenes efforts all year round. Volunteers are united by a desire to give back to their communities while Individually representing a variety of backgrounds and interests. Whether volunteers are teachers, accountants, stay-at home parents, Native Americans or non-Natives, each person contributes to our circle, while sharing a common interest in our mission. When volunteers donate some of their time to help achieve that mission their lives, the Museum, and the visitors we serve are all enriched.

Join us! Here are some ways to get involved. Training or guidance is provided as needed. The amount of time required varies, as some volunteer tasks are annual while others are on-going. To apply as a volunteer: contact MKIM’s Volunteer Manager at 456-2600, ext. 226, or mkim.volunteer@tds.net. You may be asked to complete an interest and skills form, or meet with the manager so that we can best match your interests with our needs.

Volunteer Position Descriptions

Gallery Host – Share your love of the Museum with others by assisting museum visitors during festivals and special events.  Gallery Hosts walk the museum and assist visitors with questions they may have about the artifacts, interacting with hands-on displays, and maintaining proper museum etiquette…always with a smile!  Gallery Hosts will receive training to familiarize them with some of the more common questions asked by visitors as well as to deepen their own knowledge of museum customs and courtesies. You are not expected to know all the facts about the artifacts!

Set Up/Clean Up Crews – We can’t get started or call it a successful day without you!  Set Up/Clean Up Crew members help Mt. Kearsarge staff members make sure that tables, chairs, rooms, displays, and whatnot are properly arranged prior to events and put away at the end of the day.  No special skills required other than willing hands and hearts.

“Give Away” People – Can you bake or cook?  Your skills are needed!  Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum hosts events where people come together from hours away.  It’s nice to welcome guests with a bite to eat.  We often need people to bake ahead, serve food, or flip burgers, so showcase your skills and help the Museum raise a little ‘dough’.

Children’s Craft Assistant – Help the next generation learn the ways of past generations and continue the circle.  Children’s Craft Guides work with younger guests to inspire creativity and understanding through hands on demonstrations of Native American arts, crafts and games.  Share your knowledge or learn crafting and games from one of our experts, and pass on the tradition.  Volunteers must be willing to laugh at least as much as the children, if not more.

Parking Assistant – Did you ever want to tell someone where to go?  This may be the job for you.  During high volume turnout events, Mt. Kearsarge must have volunteers able to maximize the most of our limited parking area.  Getting people to arrive, park, and leave in a safe and expeditious fashion is the goal.  Radios and vests will be provided.

Visitor Comfort/Admissions Assistant – Be the helpful person that you are! 

Visitor Comfort /Admissions Assistant personnel perform ticketing duties, hand stamping, and passing out event brochures.  Additional duties may include tending “Lost and Found”, providing water, and light first aid.

Helping Hands – Among the things that make Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum unique are its grounds and facilities, but they need care and upkeep.  Helping Hands share their time with general housekeeping and maintenance issues.  Medicine Woods Trail upkeep, planting, gardening, painting, and interior projects help keep the museum property a warm and welcoming environment for all.

Library Assistant – Do you love books? Help maintain the largest Native American book collection in the state.  Process donated books, help the public locate books of interest and assist with research requests.  Available year round.

Office Assistant – Data entry is my thing! I like to file more than anything! Type, copy, file, online research, preparing mailings, and all things related. Available year round.

Outreach Ambassador – Travel to exotic places like Manchester, Nashua and Lincoln! Get free admission to events! Meet and greet the public at the MKIM information and membership booth at fairs and events.  Available year round.

Publicity Assistant – Having top notch collections and exciting programs/events won’t make a difference if no one knows about them.  Put your artistic talents and computer skills to work creating flyers, designing advertisements, writing press releases and drafting newsletters.  Help is also needed to post flyers in the local area prior to events.   Available year round.

Volunteer Opportunities for 2010

TBD -- Medicine Woods Trail Project

Helping Hands

Friday, July 9 –11th Annual Intertribal Powwow

Set Up Crews, “Give Away” People

Saturday, July 10 – 11th Annual Intertribal Powwow

Parking Assistants, Visitor Comfort/Admissions Assistants, Gallery Hosts, Children’s Craft Guides

Sunday, July 11 – 11th Annual Intertribal Powwow

Parking Assistants, Visitor Comfort/Admissions Assistants, Gallery Hosts, Children’s Craft Guides, Clean Up Crews

Sunday, October 3 – Harvest Moon Festival

“Give Away” People, Visitor Comfort/Admissions Assistants, Gallery Hosts, Children’s Craft Guide, Clean Up Crews

Saturday, December 11 – Annual Winter Celebration

“Give Away” People, Set Up Crews, Visitor Comfort/Admissions Assistants, Gallery Hosts, Children’s Craft Guide, Clean Up Crews

Youth Group Service Projects

We can help you or your group meet your service requirements (available year round).

Internships

Education Intern

• Available year round
• Duties (opportunities vary with the season and may include any of the following): Help lead student/youth groups on museum tours, teach at Turtle Island Day Camp (summer only), promote MKIM at outreach events such as fairs, work with classroom teachers to enhance MKIM school tours and educational materials, develop a project of lasting value for the museum such as an exhibit, program prop, teacher resource, etc.
• Time: during a school semester or summer, minimum of 80 hours/semester.
• Qualifications: upper level undergraduate or graduate student, experience working with children, some knowledge of Native American culture helpful, good communication skills (written and oral), strong work ethic, self-motivated.
• Compensation: opportunity to work with experienced museum education staff and experienced volunteers (including Native Americans), discount in museum store, potential reference for future job or school applications.

Collections Intern

• Available year round
• Duties (opportunities vary with the season and may include any of the following): Help maintain and catalog new and existing Native American artifacts, assist with assessment of climatic conditions of galleries, work with education staff on exhibits and displays.
• Time: during a school semester or summer, minimum of 80 hours/semester.
• Qualifications: upper level undergraduate or graduate student, some knowledge of Native American culture helpful, respect for artifacts, detail oriented, strong work ethic, self-motivated
• Compensation: opportunity to work with experienced museum staff and experienced volunteers (including Native Americans), training in use of Past Perfect museum software, discount in museum store, potential reference for future job or school applications

Marketing/Publicity Intern

• Available year round
• Duties (opportunities vary with the season and may include any of the following): Help create advertisements and flyers for special events, help upgrade marketing plan and media schedule, promote MKIM at outreach events such as fairs, upgrade marketing materials, design MKIM "swag", create MKIM publications, assist store manager in promoting online store, develop a marketing project of lasting value for the museum.
• Time: during a school semester or summer, minimum of 80 hours/semester.
• Qualifications: upper level undergraduate or graduate student, some knowledge of Native American culture helpful, good communication skills (written and oral), strong work ethic, self-motivated.
• Compensation: opportunity to work with experienced museum staff and volunteers, discount in museum store, potential reference for future job or school applications.

To apply for an Internship:

Contact the Volunteer Manager at mkim.volunteer@tds.net, or MKIM, PO Box 142, Warner NH  03278, 603-456-2600 ext. 226.. Please provide your degree program, areas of interest and background and goals that you (and your school) have for an internship. An interview and reference checks will be conducted prior to acceptance of interns (a background check will also be conducted if the position involves working with children).