Volunteer Opportunities at the Autry

Support the Autry National Center by joining our volunteer family. These are just some of the positions available at the Autry’s two campuses: Southwest Museum of the American Indian in Mt. Washington, and the Museum of the American West in Griffith Park. Volunteer hours are available weekdays, weekends, and Thursday nights. There is a volunteer opportunity for every schedule and interest.

All volunteer positions include training and supervision by museum staff. For more information, contact our Volunteer Services Manager, 323.667.2000, ext. 242.

Teaching Opportunities

Docents
Museum of the American West and the Southwest Museum of the American Indian
Weekdays and weekends

Docents provide interpretation of the artifacts and exhibitions in the museum galleries through guided tours, gallery talks, and classes.

In 2005-2006, Museum of the American West docent trainees learn about the diverse cultures that shaped the American West. Docent training classes run Thursdays from 1 to 4 pm, starting September 2005. Classes are taught by museum curators, university faculty, and education staff.

In the spring of 2006, docent trainees at the Southwest Museum of the American Indian will learn about Native Americans from the Plains and Northwest Coast regions.

Docents are required to serve actively once a week, September through July.

Early Opportunities Program Teachers (visit)
Museum of the American West
Weekdays

Guides work with kindergartners and first- and second-graders as they investigate replicas of objects and role-play to discover the history of Western communities, Plains Indians, and cowboys and cowgirls. Training is provided by education staff and docents. Click here to apply.

McCormick Tribune Foundation Family Discovery Gallery Teachers (visit)
Museum of the American West
Weekdays and weekends

Family Discovery Gallery Guides lead visitors through creative, object-based learning activities within an interactive, hands-on learning environment. Specific and ongoing training is provided by education staff. Click here to apply.

Gold Rush Teachers (visit)
Museum of the American West
Weekdays and weekends

Eureka! There are tales of gold in Trails West. Guides work with museum educators as they teach students, adults, and children about the California Gold Rush. Education staff provides training. This is an outdoor activity that has some physical components, including helping visitors as they pan for gold in our two sluices. Click here to apply.

Fur Trading Post Teachers (visit)
Museum of the American West
Weekdays and weekends

Work with students and the general public as they learn about blended families of the fur trade, the role of women, and how traders bargained with each other in a recreation of an actual fur-trading post from the 1840s. Education staff provides training. Click here to apply.

Special Exhibition Teachers
Museum of the American West
Weekdays and weekends

Tour students and adults through our rotating galleries. Training on each of the special exhibitions will be presented by curators and educators. Click here to apply.

Hands-On Cart Teachers (visit)
Museum of the American West
Weekdays and weekends

Toys, Mountain Men, Vaqueros, Plains, and Cahuilla, the native people of Southern California. These are the five hands-on carts used to engage our family and school visitors. Work with replica artifacts and the general public in the galleries to help bring the exhibits alive. Education staff and docents provide training. Click here to apply.

The Art Cart Teachers (visit)
Museum of the American West
Weekdays and weekends

The Art Cart is one of the newest additions to the Imagination Gallery at the Museum of the American West. The cart allows visitors to sketch in our galleries and learn more about the artists and artistic visions that inspired Western art. No art experience is necessary; you just need enthusiasm and the ability to engage visitors. Click here to apply.

Family Workshops Assistants (visit)
Museum of the American West and the Southwest Museum of the American Indian
Weekends

Let’s Make History introduce both children and adults to the world of the American West. Let’s Make History workshops include a short tour of a gallery or object followed by an art activity. Click here to apply.

StoryTime Readers (visit)
Museum of the American West and the Southwest Museum of the American Indian
Weekends

StoryTime readers use their imagination and excitement as they work with some of our youngest visitors. Click here to apply.

Administrative & Library Opportunities

Administrative Assistants (weekdays)
Administrative Assistants provide clerical assistance for professional staff in various departments throughout the museum. Departments include Development, Education, Membership, Human Resources, and Programs. Specific and ongoing volunteer training is provided by staff members in the assigned department. Click here to apply.

Library & Research Assistants (weekdays)
Library and research assistants help with the organization of the library collections. This position is available at the Institute for the Study of the American West and the Education Library. Click here to apply.

Store & Visitor Services Opportunities

Museum Store Assistants (weekdays and weekends)
Museum Store assistants help store staff in daily store operation including customer service and creating displays. Click here to apply.

Information Desk Greeters (weekdays and weekends)
Information Volunteers provide visitor-friendly service to the general public by greeting them when they come into the museum and offering to answer any questions they may have about the museum and exhibits. Information Volunteers are trained by Visitor Services staff. Click here to apply.

Youth Opportunities

Volunteer opportunities are available for students ages 12 to 17. Youth volunteers are needed to help with the McCormick Tribune Foundation Family Discovery Gallery, the Gold Rush Program, as Family Workshop Assistants, Hands-On Cart Teachers, and Administrative Assistants.

Visit Teaching Opportunities or contact the Volunteer Services Manager for further descriptions. Please call 323.667.2000 ext. 242. Click here to apply.

Additional Museum Volunteer Opportunities

Speakers Bureau Representatives (weekdays and weekends)
Speakers Bureau Representatives inform various members of clubs and civic organizations about the history, mission, and programs of the Autry National Center. Representatives must attend training sessions and commit to speaking engagement requests from the Education Division. Click here to apply.

Membership Assistants (weekdays and weekends)
Membership assistants provide information to visitors regarding Autry National Center membership. Works in conjunction with staff to process applications for membership. Click here to apply.

Conservation Department Assistants (weekdays)
Assist the Autry National Center’s conservation staff as they work to preserve the collection. Click here to apply.

Programs Assistants (weekends)
Programs assistants help staff with set-up for performances and lectures. Volunteers may also assist with registration and ticket handling.

Volunteer Application

Please click here to download our Volunteer Application. You may email, fax, or mail your completed application. If you are under 18 and would like to volunteer at the Autry National Center please download and submit the following three forms: youth volunteer application , parental consent form , and the emergency contact form .

E-mail:
volunteer@autrynationalcenter.org

Address:
Volunteer Services Manager
Autry National Center
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA, 90027

Fax:
323.666.2316