Volunteer

Volunteerism is the foundation of the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Without the dedication of the community, many programs and projects would not be possible. Over 200,000 patrons visit the Museum annually. Positive visitor experiences are very often the result of interaction with volunteers.

We welcome you to join our Museum family and help keep the North Carolina Maritime Museum one of the best attractions in the state! Many opportunities and schedules are available for diverse interests. Subject areas include history, natural science, special events and boatbuilding. Whether getting out and meeting new people is your interest or sharing your craft with another, we have a place for you.

Flexible Scheduling:
Monday - Saturday; 3 Shifts: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 12 - 3 p.m. and 3 - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 - 3 p.m., or 3 - 5 p.m.
Evenings / Weekends: Special Events

For more information, contact the Museum at 252-728-7317.

 Beaufort Volunteer Form (160.13 kB)

Internship Opportunities

Volunteer Internship

Project Description: The Education Department at the North Carolina Maritime Museum offers two types of internships:

• The general museum internship is designed for undergraduate students and students exploring their interests in public history. The selected intern will be introduced to the field of museum education and the role of museum educators. The intern will gain an understanding of the various sections within the museum setting and will help develop and implement on-site programs; research objects in the museum collection; and conduct educational programs and tours. Opportunity exists to undertake an independent historical research project to support interpretation, develop materials for school programs, or develop and conduct visitor surveys. The student's interests and abilities will drive the specific type and scope of project.

• The project-based internship is for undergraduate, graduate students and students with previous public history experience. The intern will gain experience in museum education by writing articles for the volunteer newsletter or other museum publications; researching, developing, and implementing educational programs; and answering research requests from staff and museum visitors.

Qualifications: Candidates from all backgrounds with a demonstrated interest in museum work are encouraged to apply. Preference given to History, Public History, Education, English, or Marine Science majors. Computer skills are essential. Accuracy and strong attention to detail are crucial.

Work Schedule: The intern must be able to volunteer a total of at least 50 hours during the course of the internship. Weekly schedule is negotiable within normal operating hours.

Museum Education Program Assistant

NC DOA Paid Internship*  http://www.doa.state.nc.us/yaio/interns.aspx

Undergraduate Major(s): American Studies, Museum Studies, Education, Marine Sciences, Environmental Studies/Sciences, Recreation and Tourism

Project Description: The intern will receive a general introduction to museum education programs. He or she will learn about the facility and all museum departments including collections, research, and exhibit design. The intern will gain professional experience as a program assistant to education curators for public and group programs and summer camps for kids. Finally, he or she will utilize their interests, skills, and knowledge to create an original program, offer it to a public audience, and evaluate its effectiveness.

Major Tasks: The intern will assist staff educators by conducting/assisting existing programs both in the museum and the field. Examples of programs include artifact-based presentations, estuary trail hikes, and guided museum tours. He or she would also research and create an original education program, and offer it to a public audience. The intern would also be in charge of documenting and evaluating existing education programs.

Final Product or Outcome: The intern will gain valuable experience in educational program design, presentation and evaluation. The museum will be able to increase the scope and depth of its educational services. The visiting public is provided with more learning opportunities during their museum visit due to the assistance of the additional staff during the museum's busiest months.

*Visit http://www.doa.state.nc.us/yaio/interns.aspx for details and/or to apply for this internship.

Curatorial Research Intern

NC DOA Paid Internship* http://www.doa.state.nc.us/yaio/interns.aspx

Undergraduate Major(s): History, Public History, Museum Studies, Art, Archaeology, Library Science, American Studies

Project Description: Based in the Museum’s Collections (Curatorial) Department, the intern will learn to research, catalog, clean, mark, and house a variety of artifacts. This internship will serve as a practical introduction for any student considering a career in museum or archival work.

Major Tasks: After selecting a group of artifacts (woodworking tools or flags, e.g.), the intern will conduct research, identify, mark (label), and catalog information into the Proficio/ReDiscovery collections management database. Next, the student will review the larger collection of similar artifacts and produce a summary describing the group of items and recommendations for other examples to enhance the collection. In addition to this hands-on work, the student is invited to participate in field trips, lectures, meetings, and visits to the other departments of the museum. If interested, there will be opportunities to research and process archival collections, particularly photographs at the museum.

Final Product or Outcome: The intern will leave with a much better understanding of the daily operations of a small history museum, particularly the specific responsibilities of staff who take care of and document the diverse collections.

*Visit http://www.doa.state.nc.us/yaio/interns.aspx for details and/or to apply for this internship.