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The Sam Noble Museum at The University of Oklahoma inspires minds to understand the world through collection-based research, interpretation, and education.

Oklahoma’s Museum of Natural History

Adult Volunteers

Home / Get Involved / Volunteer / Adult Volunteers

How Do I Become a Volunteer?

  1. Discover our volunteer opportunities by clicking front of the house or back of the house or click here to be a Virtual Volunteer!
  2. Fill out an application form here. Or visit the volunteer office at the museum for an application form.
  3. Receive confirmation email and schedule a meeting.
  4. Attend new volunteer training session and complete all required paperwork and background check.
  5. Select an area of volunteer service and attend area-specific training if needed.
  6. Begin volunteering!
Apply Now to Volunteer!

Contact

Email: volunteer.samnoblemuseum@ou.edu

Phone: (405) 325-1652

Volunteer Benefits: 

  • Complimentary Family Tier Membership
  • Gift Shop Discounts
  • Access to the Volunteer Lounge and Bookclub
  • Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
  • Monthly Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture

Volunteer Positions

Available positions vary throughout the year, and not all departments are actively seeking volunteers. 

Public-Facing Roles

  • Education
    Education volunteers work alongside museum educators to provide informative programs to school-age visitors at the museum. Education volunteers can assist with the Discovery Room, public programs, camps, and field trip classes.
  • Docents
    Docents provide meaningful learning experiences for visitors in the museum galleries. Their primary goal is to help visitors interpret the materials in the exhibits in an interactive and engaging manner. All docents must complete docent training that is offered twice a year. 
  • Visitor Services
    Visitor Services volunteers work with the visitor services department to provide additional support. Assignments can include assisting with public programs, outreach events, working in the museum gift shop, and providing an extra set of hands for short-term projects. 
Ethnology

Collections

This category of volunteers provides aid in one of the museum’s research collections. Volunteers will receive hands-on training so there is no specialized expertise needed prior to beginning. This is a great way to expand your knowledge of the museums collections and museum practices. These positions typically do not interact with visitors. 

Typical tasks include: Recording inventory, digitizing records, organizing, preparing and photographing specimens.

Time Commitment: 2-4 hours per week during Collection Hours (M-F from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)