Check out our Riverfront Museum volunteer opportunities below! If you believe your personality and skills will benefit the visitor experience of the Museum please fill out the Volunteer Application and submit it to the Volunteer Coordinator via mail (222 SW Washington Street, Peoria, IL 61602) or email. Thank you!
Volunteer Training
Gallery Host Volunteer Training - Monday, July 24
6-6:30 pm
Museum Lobby
Volunteers interested gallery hosting with the Museum will be trained with our staff on the exhibitions, how equipment works, proper procedures for special exhibitions, and materials to review. Please RSVP for this training by July 21.
Volunteer Training
Front Desk Greeter Volunteer Training - Monday, July 24
6:30-7 pm
Museum Lobby
Volunteers interested in training to assist staff at the front desk by being an ambassador of the museum and properly greeting guests, providing general information about the museum, and providing directions to museum visitors. Our knowledgeable staff will train and provide you with necessary information at the training. Please RSVP for this training by July 21.
Educational Programming
Art-spiration: Kaleidoscope Suncatchers - Saturday, July 29
Volunteer Shift: 1:15-2:45 pm
Event: 1:30-2:30 pm
Volunteers Needed: 1-2
This one hour (1:30-2:30 pm) educational art-based program is free with general admission. Visitors are invited to participate with activity in the main lobby of the museum. The topic for Art-spiration is Kaleidoscope Suncatchers. The volunteer is responsible for arriving 15 minutes early to set up, run the program, and 15 minutes after the program to clean up. A museum staff member will provide the volunteer with the information and materials for the activity.
Special Event Programming
IGNITE Peoria 2017 - Saturday, August 12
Volunteer Shift: 8:30-11:30 am
Volunteer Shift: 11:30 am-2:30 pm
Volunteer Shift: 2:30-5:30 pm
Volunteers Needed: 5 per shift
Event: 9 am-5 pm
Volunteers will assist with the running of activities at the museum's booth at the Civic Center for IGNITE Peoria 2017!
Educational Programming
Partial Eclipse Viewing Party - Monday, August 21
Volunteer Shift: 11:30 am-1:45 pm
Event: 11:45 am-1:30 pm
Volunteers Needed: 3-5
Volunteers will join staff running the fun and educational activities on the Sun Plaza for viewing the partial eclipse!
Educational Programming
Art-spiration: Coffee Filter Rainbows - Saturday, August 26
Volunteer Shift: 1:15-2:45 pm
Event: 1:30-2:30 pm
Volunteers Needed: 1-2
This one hour (1:30-2:30 pm) educational art-based program is free with general admission. Visitors are invited to participate with activity in the main lobby of the museum. The topic for Art-spiration is Coffee Filters Rainbows. The volunteer is responsible for arriving 15 minutes early to set up, run the program, and 15 minutes after the program to clean up. A museum staff member will provide the volunteer with the information and materials for the activity.
Special Event
Museum After Dark: Light & Laser Party – Saturday, August 26
Volunteer Shift: 6:30-9:30 pm
Event: 7-9 pm
Volunteers Needed: 3-4
Volunteers will assist with lobby activities, serve as bartenders, or walk the galleries as gallery hosts throughout the evening.
Looking for a unique way to spend an evening? Come explore "Playing With Light" afterhours, an experience in the Dome Planetarium and spectacular light-related activities in the lobby! Enjoy a signature cocktail, light snacks, and a cash bar will be available.
Educational Programming
Science Rocks! - Saturday, September 9
Volunteer Shift: 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Event: 11 am-3 pm
Volunteers Needed: 5-8
Volunteer will assist with greeting guests, passing out stickers, gallery hosting, and other duties as needed.
Meet chemists and other scientists who will bring cool activities for you to enjoy. Activities will be held in the Museum Lobby from 11-2.
Special Event
Party on the Plaza - Saturday, September 9
Volunteer Shift: 5:30-10
Event: 6-10 pm
Volunteers Needed: 4 (2 bartenders, 2 food servers)
Volunteers will assist by serving food for caterers that aren’t able to attend or help as bartenders for the event.
Party on the Plaza is a fundraising event for the Museum put on by the Associate Board. The Brazilionaires will be performing on the Sun Plaza. This year we are having 8 local caterers showcase their food for our guests. Guests will vote on their favorite caterer and the winner of the contest could potentially be a future Museum caterer.
Educational Programming
Light, Sketch, Doodle! - Sunday, September 10
Volunteer Shift: 2-4 pm
Event: 2:30-3:30 pm
Volunteers Needed: 1 volunteer
Volunteers will assist with this unique light-centered workshop!
Even though Playing with Light is only at the museum during the summer, you can still play with light (and shadow) all year round. You’ll get to experiment with sun print paper, design and capture shadows cast by the sun, playing with colorful bubbles, and painting rainbows! Come say goodbye to our summer exhibition with this family-friendly drop-in style workshop out on our sun-plaza!
Museum Store Volunteers provide many essential services to Museum visitors and patrons. Store volunteers work side-by-side with staff to help create an excellent customer experience by greeting and assisting guests who visit the Museum Store. Volunteers learn to work with the computerized cash register as well as help maintain a neat and tidy appearance in the Museum Store. You must be 18 years of age to serve as a Museum Store Volunteer. Please contact Rachael McArdle for more information.
Museum Gallery Host Volunteers provide many essential services to Museum visitors and patrons. Gallery Host volunteers help create an excellent customer experience by being cheerful and attentive to our guests; doing your best to answer questions while upholding the museum’s expectations for visitor behavior in the galleries and special exhibitions. Please contact Heather Placko, Volunteer Coordinator for more information.
The Museum Greeter serves as an ambassador of the museum by properly greeting, providing general information about the museum, and providing directions to museum visitors. Please contact Heather Placko, Volunteer Coordinator for more information.
Museum Docent Volunteers are responsible for presenting additional exhibit information to visitors of varying ages and interest levels of the Museum. Docents are important aspects of our exhibitions because often time visitors seek more information than what can be provided within the labels of the exhibition. Please contact Heather Placko, Volunteer Coordinator for more information.
Education Garden Volunteers will assist the program department staff with the maintenance and upkeep of the garden. Education Garden volunteers will work independently in the garden with guidelines for what is needed seasonally. Volunteers will assist with the planting of native species for educational classes, weeding, winterizing, and other tasks as assigned. Must have gardening experience and be able to bend down and kneel. Must be 18 years of age to serve as an Education Garden Volunteer. Please contact Heather Placko, Volunteer Coordinator for more information.
July 24-28 | Engineering Camp | STUDENT VOLUNTEERS - SUMMER CAMP
Volunteer shift: 8:45 am-3:15 pm, full day; 8:45 am-11:30 am, half day
Only open to campers entering 2nd-6th grades
Gears and motors and robots, oh my! This week will explore science and engineering using a variety of approaches. Campers will use a variety of tools and technology including Ozobots, K’NEX engineering sets, and video game builders to investigate challenges, design and build motorized cars, and even dabble in simple robotics and computer programming. Previous building experience is not necessary, but is definitely encouraged!
July 31-August 4 | Best of Summer Camp | STUDENT VOLUNTEERS - SUMMER CAMP
Volunteer shift: 8:45a-3:15p, full day; 8:45a-11:30a, half day
Say goodbye to summer by celebrating everything you love about camp at the Riverfront Museum! Each day will feature a new and exciting theme that represents the best this summer had to offer – dinosaurs, video games, slimy science, amazing art and more. Whether you want your camper to relive their favorite moments, experience the best of a week they missed, or just get a taste of what our camp program is all about, you won’t want to miss a moment of this fun-filled week!
VOLUNTEER CONTACT INFO:
If you are interested in any of the above mentioned volunteer opportunities, please fill out our standard volunteer application and contact our Volunteer Coordinator. If you're specifically interested in volunteering for Summer Camp at the Riverfront Museum, please fill out our separate summer camp volunteer application and contact our Volunteer Coordinator. Please write the volunteer opportunity in which you are interested in the subject line of your email. Thank you!
