Volunteering with Rochester Museum & Science Center


Welcome and thank you for your interest in volunteering with RMSC! 

Volunteers are essential to the success of the Rochester Museum & Science Center. 

The involvement of of passionate, talented, committed volunteers greatly extends the range, quality, and variety of what we provide as Genesee-Finger Lakes regional hub for hands-on science education. RMSC volunteers are guided by the principles of engagement, community, passion, and lifelong learning. Volunteers place a focus on the visitor, create a welcoming environment, help us build connections within the community, and support RMSC and our mission in innumerable ways.

We have a variety of diverse volunteer opportunities across several volunteer departments (also known as "programs"). Read about our volunteer groups below!

 

Ask-It Explainers

Volunteers interested in customer service, education, and visitor engagement are best suited for the Ask-It Explainer program. These welcoming, informed, guest-oriented and engaging volunteers make a difference in the experience of visitors to the RMSC Science Museum. This is an ideal opportunity for individuals seeking long-term, consistent weekly, biweekly or monthly opportunities.

Ask-It Volunteers are part of the Education Department team. They help create an environment for excellent visitor experiences throughout all of RMSC’s exhibits and galleries. Ask-It Volunteers are directly involved with visitor engagement and assist in the delivery of programming, interact with visitors and groups, and help to maintain the museum galleries for a safe and clean visitor environment.


Curiosity Camp Volunteers

Curiosity Camp Youth Volunteers (ages 15-17) are essential to the educational mission of the RMSC’s Curiosity Camps. They are energetic, enthusiastic, and hardworking and provide support by helping campers with a wide variety of projects, activities, and science experiments. Curiosity Camp Volunteers help provide a fun and safe camp experience while sharing in the exploration of science!


Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

RMSC continuously explores ideas to create new hands-on, interactive science and technology exhibits. This requires science and engineering expertise beyond current staff capacity. The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) helps fill that gap with volunteers who have experience in building, engineering and other STEM-based trades.

TAG volunteers partner with RMSC Exhibits staff to conceive, design, review, recommend and construct new hands-on exhibits that captivate the imagination while educating. TAG membership is diverse, drawing from the considerable technical skill base of the community, including scientists, electricians, engineers, science teachers, university faculty, and students.

Joe Wilson Science Consultant Program

The Joe Wilson Science Consultant Program, powered by Xerox, matches pairs of science experts with RCSD and WCSD 4th-grade classrooms to teach students and inspire them to get excited about STEM. Consultants travel with provided lessons and materials to area schools, and are enthusiastic about working with students and engaging them in hands-on STEM content. 

Consultants are well-versed in at least one STEM content area, such as biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering. They are comfortable teaching provided lessons, answering student questions, and completing setup/cleanup of activities.
 
Assisting consultants are excited to learn more about at least one STEM content area. They are comfortable working with students to complete provided activities, assisting the lead consultant during the lesson, and completing setup/cleanup of activities.

Docents

Docents are outgoing, enthusiastic educators and communicators who are willing to learn and share their knowledge of the museum's exhibits and collections. As volunteers who are trained to further the public's understanding of science, technology, the natural environment, and our region's cultural heritage, Docents share their knowledge and passion through guided tours and programs for both the public and visiting school groups. 


RMSC Council

Founded in 1941, the RMSC Council is a volunteer service organization that supports the RMSC by organizing special events and fundraising activities. The council provides its members the opportunities for educational growth and social interaction. We have monthly programs on the second Tuesday of each month from September – May, which includes a business meeting, guest speaker, and luncheon.

A few of the activities that the RMSC Council organizes are the Beautiful Blooms Sale, Fantastic Findings Sale, and the Annual Holiday Bazaar Arts and Crafts Sale.


Cumming Nature Center Volunteers

Cumming Nature Center is a 900-acre environmental education and recreational facility located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. Enjoy a hike along our 15 miles of trails as you traverse wetlands, meadows, and forests.

Cumming Nature Center offers a variety of educational programs, along with family-oriented public programming and volunteer opportunities. Attend a public event such as Maple Sugaring, Yoga in the Pines, or Blacksmithing!

For specific CNC volunteer opportunities, be sure to select "Environment" as on of your Causes when you create an account on the site.