Volunteering
Volunteering
When you volunteer with us, you expand your horizons and meet interesting people. Surround yourself with our world-class research collection of more than 22 million specimens and artifacts. Understand and explore the amazing history of our natural world and its inhabitants.
Who can volunteer?
Volunteer opportunities exist for teens, college students, and adults of all ages. Opportunities are always changing depending on the needs of the museums. If you are interested in volunteering, please review this information and submit an application. We make every effort to connect qualified volunteers with rewarding experiences and match your interests to the museums’ needs, but please understand that volunteer opportunities are limited. Adult volunteers are expected to provide or pay for background checks and clearances.
Volunteering at Carnegie Museum of
Natural History
Volunteers support almost every department of the museum. Volunteers assist with children's activities and classes and welcome families to the Discovery Room for hands-on learning. Volunteers greet visitors at Information desks, conduct data entry for researchers, work behind-the-scenes in offices, conduct marketing and exhibition surveys, and help with various projects and programs. Some volunteers work with outreach programs and bring the Museum of Natural History to schools, hospitals, and senior centers.
Opportunities for Teens
Teens ages 13 and up may become Carnegie Museum of Natural History Teen Docents. Teen Docents staff Exploration Stations and educational activities throughout the museum that focus on natural history topics. The deadline for the Teen Docent program is January 15 each year.
Teens ages 14 and up may assist with museum summer camps. A minimum commitment of three weeks over the summer is required.
Volunteering at Powdermill Nature Reserve
Volunteers have always played a major part at Powdermill Nature Reserve, the environmental research center of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Volunteers help with mailings, data management, summer children’s programs, trail grooming, and cleanup days. Volunteers also assist in a variety of ways at our bird banding station.
How to apply for a volunteer position
You can apply to volunteer several ways:
Click here to apply online.
To receive an application, call the Volunteer Office at 412.622.3359, email Volunteers@carnegiemuseums.org, or click here to download a printable volunteer application. Send the completed application to:
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Volunteer Office
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Placements are determined by matching volunteer qualifications, knowledge, interests, and availability with current opportunities. A personal interview will be scheduled as opportunities become available
Internships
A small number of unpaid internships is also available at Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Powdermill Nature Reserve. Internships are highly competitive and placement may take up to 12 months, so please apply as early as possible. We make every effort to match potential interns with the limited opportunities that are available. Application deadlines for internships are:
Summer; April 17
Fall: July 17
Spring: November 17
To apply, call the Volunteer Office at 412.622.3359, email volunteers@carnegiemuseums.org, or click here to download a printable intern application. Send the completed form to:
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Volunteer Office
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Volunteer and intern benefits
All volunteers enjoy free admission to all four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh; a subscription to Carnegie magazine; discounts on parking, classes, food service, and gift shops; networking, recognition, enrichment, and social opportunities; education sessions and training; and the opportunity to share skills and gain new ones while finding new friends and peers with similar interests.
Questions? Contact us at: volunteers@carnegiemuseums.org or 412.622.3359
