Jensen Arctic Museum

Volunteering at the Jensen Arctic Museum

Volunteers are the STRENGTH and CONTINUITY of the Jensen Arctic Museum.

Volunteers are at the core of the museum’s daily operations. It is through our volunteers that we carry out our mission of education and preservation and share it with visitors of all ages. We rely on our volunteers to provide the continuity that is essential to our success. Volunteers are extremely valuable to us.

Volunteer Ray Erkson teaching visitors how to use the Eskimo Yo-Yos.

Although the museum is “staffed” predominantly by part-time work-study students from Western Oregon University, student schedules often conflict with the museum's main tour and visitation times. This offers volunteers the opportunity to participate at a high level of involvement, if desired.

In the past, volunteers have worked as visitor greeters, tour guides (docents), helped to fabricate exhibit components, aided with archival projects, assisted with inventory of the gift shop, written articles for the newsletter, served on the advisory board and staffed public outreach events — in short, volunteers are an integral and essential to maintaining the museum.

For our part, the staff of the Jensen Arctic Museum attempts to create a positive and friendly environment…one in which volunteers will want to work. Everyone in the museum — staff, students and volunteers — is constantly learning new ways and best practices. We hope you will become a part of the museum’s volunteer program as we head into the future.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or just want more information, please contact Roben Jack Larrison at 503-838-8468 or e-mail arctic@wou.edu.

Currently Available Volunteer Positions

Research Library Assistants
The Jensen Arctic Museum is seeking library volunteers for its Research Library to assist with acquisitions, serials, archival work, data entry, etc. Flexible work schedule available.

Exhibit Interpreters
Exhibit Interpreters are needed for the Jensen Arctic Museum's school and adult programs. With the help of exhibits and several interactive areas, volunteer exhibit interpreters will help children and adults explore Arctic culture and ecology. Volunteers are expected to work a minimum of two tours per month, with available slots 4 days a week. The minimum age is 12 and training is provided. Community service letters will be given to students upon completion of their hours, if needed.

Visitor Services and Retail - Museum Associates
The Jensen Arctic Museum is always looking for outgoing, energetic individuals, who enjoy interacting with the public to volunteer as Museum Associates. These volunteers greet the visitors, provide information, complete retail transactions in the museum's gift shop and are the face of the museum. Cash handling and customer service experience is a plus.

Collection Management Assistant

Collection management is important to keep the museum collection safe. This position requires working behind the scenes with objects.  The primary tasks of collection management are doing condition reports, photography and information management using Past Perfect, maintaining storage areas, and monitoring for pest control.  Begin work promptly unless one requires additional instruction.

Exhibit Management Assistant

The exhibits educate guests about the Arctic. Exhibit Management Assistant is responsible for researching the Arctic, writing exhibit text, designing, installing and maintaining exhibits. Begin work promptly unless one requires additional instruction.

Routine Museum Management Assistant

Museum management assistant maintains student and volunteer work schedules, schedules and assists with tours, opens and/or closes the building with Campus Public Safety, restocks gift shop inventory, helps as needed with general tasks. Begin work promptly unless one requires needed directions.

Docent, Visitor Management Assistant

A museum docent works primarily with guests and tour groups on a daily basis. This includes greeting scheduled and unscheduled visitors, leading tour groups, providing groups with pre-tour information if requested, gaining knowledge about the Arctic to provide accurate information and enhance guests’ experiences at the Jensen Arctic Museum. Begin work promptly unless one requires additional instruction.

Contact

Jensen Arctic Museum 503-838-8468 | or e-mail: arctic@wou.edu