Volunteer
You want to volunteer at Burpee? Awesome! We are excited to have you here.
Join Our Team!
Join the Burpee crew of Volunteers taking on a variety of roles, from working in the fossil preparation lab, to animal care and enrichment, to sharing fun facts with visitors, to helping scientists with research, and to working behind the scenes. Our volunteer crew is critical to the success of all departments across the Museum and contributes to our mission to inspire lifelong learning about the natural sciences.
Volunteer Program Information
Why Volunteer?
Did you know research has shown that volunteering is associated with improved health and well-being? Volunteering is associated with increased longevity, adoption of healthy lifestyles and reduction in depression and stress!
At Burpee Museum, volunteers have the opportunity to bring their hobbies and passions to life as they help share the beauty of our Earth’s with visitors!
Gain valuable experience in your area of choice that can help you choose careers, build your resume, and even build connections.
From providing animal enrichment to sharing animal stories with the public to supporting our researchers behind the scenes working directly with our natural, there is something for everyone at Burpee Museum!
What is Available?
Burpee has both visitor-facing and behind-the-scenes volunteer roles.
The opportunities either fall within Education and Exhibits, Zoology, or Research & Collections. There are amazing opportunities for all!
All available volunteer positions are listed below.
All applicants must apply and interview before potential acceptance into the program. Applying to the volunteer program does not automatically guarantee acceptance or placement. Volunteer service is not intended or guaranteed in any way to lead to paid employment.
What are Scheduling Requirements?
This is a flexible volunteer program. While there are not shift/hour requirments for current volunteers, new volunteers need to attend training before their first shift. Additionally, current volunteers seeking to increase their credentials will sign up for specific training sessions at specific times.
Many of our volunteers spend 3 – 5 hours volunteering per shift. We suggest a 10:00am-12:30 shift or a 1:30-4:00pm shift for new volunteers. The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We can chat about each teams’ requirements during your volunteer interview or group audition.
What Ages are Volunteers?
Burpee Volunteer Programing is designed for ability promotion rather than just age restrictions.
Students as young as 8 years old are welcome to apply. Our youngest voluteers must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian until graduation from our scaffolding program.
Students must be at least 14 years old to train for the collections and paleo lab positions.
Notice:
Burpee’s volunteer program is evolving! We’re introducing merit-based promotion levels instead of age-based tiers. Plus, scheduling will soon be easier with a new interface.
For now, email elizabeth.coleman@burpee.org to sign up for slots.
Open Position Catagories:
Education & Exhibits Volunteers
Current Roles:
Helping Hand Volunteer
First time volunteering? Not sure what you enjoy? Join us for some simple, but much needed tasks such as folding maps, restocking the SPROUTS learning lab, restocking the rubbing tables, and more.
Have a special skill? We are always looking for help building, electrical, HVAC, woodworking, deisng, and more!! Put your talents to use where Burpee needs help the most!
✔️ Start with meaningful contributions to Burpee
✔️ Assist in needed preparation for event days such as PaleoFest or Haunted Burpee
✔️ Assist in repairing or creating new exhibits
✔️ Opportunity to explore a wide range of topics, from dinosaurs to insects
Requirements:
- Enthusiasm community service
- Must be at least 12 years old or 8-11 (with an accompanying adult until individually approved)
Discovery Docent
If you love talking with people and sharing cool science facts, this is the perfect role for you! Discovery Squad volunteers use museum specimens, fossils, and models to spark curiosity and conversation with visitors.
✔️ Engage visitors and present scientific content
✔️ Work in pairs with other volunteers
✔️ Assist in major event days such as PaleoFest or Haunted Burpee
✔️ Opportunity to explore a wide range of topics, from dinosaurs to insects
Requirements:
- Enthusiasm for science and education
- Comfort interacting with guests of all ages
- Ability to handle specimens
- Must be at least 12 years old or 8-11 (with an accompanying adult until individually approved)
SPROUTS Learning Lab Docent
Spark curiosity in Burpee’s youngest visitors by leading hands-on activities in our interactive early childhood space. Volunteers help create a nurturing environment where young learners can explore and discover.
✔️ Engage with children and families through play-based learning
✔️ Assist in maintaining play areas by putting away toys and prepping activities
✔️ Introduce visitors to Burpee’s live animals
Requirements:
- Basic animal care training module
- Must be at least 12 years old or 8-11 (with an accompanying adult until individually approved)
- Patience and enthusiasm for early childhood education
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, interactive setting (particularly weekends and holidays)
Zoology Volunteers
These roles are perfect for volunteers passionate about animals and their care. Volunteers assist with feeding, enrichment, and maintaining healthy habitats.
Current Zoology Roles:
Animal Enrichment Volunteer
Want to help care for Burpee’s reptiles and arthropods? This is a great opportunity to learn animal husbandry, care, and interact with wonderful specimens! Animal Enrichment required for Animal Care Apprenticeship
Requirements:
- Basic Animal care training module
- Typically ages 14 & Up (or 8+ with an accompanying adult until individually approved)
- Interest in working with live animals
- Willingness to follow safety and care protocols
Time Commitment:
- Weekend & Weekday shifts available
Animal Care Apprentice
For dedicated animal lovers, this opportunity provides hands-on training in advanced animal care. Volunteers assist with cleaning enclosures, preparing animal meals, and leading enrichment activities.
✔️ Work closely with museum staff to care for animals
✔️ Assist junior animal care volunteers
✔️ Gain experience in animal husbandry and public education
Requirements:
- Basic Animal Care training module
- Apprentice Animal training module
- Ages typically 14+ (or younger with accompanying adult until individually approved)
- Ability to follow detailed care instructions
- Must commit to regular shifts
Time Commitment:
- Weekday and weekend shifts available
Collections & Research Volunteers
You will work in our collections department to help maintain the permanent collection, add additional pieces to the collection, prepare fossils, and more.
Current Research Roles:
Collections Apprenticeship
Work behind the scenes with Burpee Museum’s collections team to help preserve and organize artifacts, specimens, and historical records.
✔️ Assist with cataloging, data entry, and specimen handling
✔️ Gain experience in museum collections management
Requirements:
- Collections Training Module
- Detail-oriented individuals with an interest in science and history
- Ability to handle fragile specimens with care
- Must be at least 14 years old
Notice:
Weekdays only – This is a position that requires support and training from a Burpee Employee Mentor. No weekend hours are available at this time.
(there are after school 3pm-5pm opportunities)
Collections Associate
Work behind the scenes with Burpee Museum’s collections team to help preserve and organize artifacts, specimens, and historical records.
✔️ Deepen skills with cataloging, data entry, and specimen handling
✔️ Work independently on collection projects
Requirements:
- Collections Training Module
- Collections Apprenticeship Completed
- Detail-oriented individuals with an interest in science and history
- Ability to handle fragile specimens with care
- Must be at least 14 years old
PaleoLab Apprenticeship
Work behind the scenes with Burpee Museum’s team to prepare fossils from our Utah and Montana site for museum storage and display
✔️ Assist with cataloging, data entry, and specimen handling
✔️ Gain experience fossil preparation
Requirements:
- Collections Training Module
- Fossil Preparation Training Module
- Fossil Preparation hands-on training (weekday only)
- Detail-oriented individuals with an interest in science and history
- Ability to handle fragile specimens with care
- Must be at least 14 years old and have written approval of Director of Paleontology (Dr. Josh Mathews)
Notice:
Weekdays only – This is a position that requires support and training from a Burpee Employee Mentor. No weekend hours are available at this time.
(there are after school 3pm-5pm opportunities)
PaleoLab Volunteer Associate
Work behind the scenes with Burpee Museum’s team to prepare fossils from our Utah and Montana site for museum storage and display
✔️ Assist with cataloging, data entry, and specimen handling
✔️Work independently on fossil preparation projects
Requirements:
- Collections Training Module
- Fossil Preparation Training Module
- Fossil Preparation hands on training (weekday only)
- COMPLETED PaleoLab Volunteer Apprenticeship
- Detail-oriented individuals with an interest in science and history
- Ability to handle fragile specimens with care
- Must be at least 14 years old and have approval of Director of Paleontology
How to Apply:
To ensure the best fit, all volunteers must complete an application and interview process. Placement is based on availability, interest, and alignment with the museum’s needs.
We appreciate your interest in becoming part of the Burpee Museum team! Volunteering with us is a unique opportunity to inspire curiosity, support science education, and engage with visitors of all ages.
