Adult Volunteers

How do I become a volunteer?

Volunteering at the museum is rather informal. After contacting the museum attendant, you will be asked to stop by the museum when it is open on either Wednesday (4:00 pm to 7:00 pm) or Saturday (10:00 am to 3:00 pm). You will be given a tour of the museum to help familiarize you with the aircraft and displays. Then there is a brief form with some basic personal information and a general liability waiver to take home and fill out. When you bring that back in, we will consider you a volunteer!

What type of roles to volunteer perform?

Volunteers normally act as docents. They give tours to visitors who want one and are available to answer the odd question from those who don’t. If that’s not your thing, there are other opportunities to help out. They include running the front desk, helping to open and close the museum at the beginning and end of each day, and preparing for and cleaning up after special events throughout the year. Finally, the museum will periodically fly to local airshows, in which case volunteers are encouraged to attend to help interpret the airplanes for the public, sell merchandise, and enjoy the show.

Volunteers do not restore, maintain or fly aircraft as the museum has paid mechanics and pilots on staff. Furthermore, as the aircraft are airworthy, the museum prefers that its mechanics either have an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration or are working towards one. (For those interested in obtaining such a certificate, Laurel Oaks in Wilmington, Cincinnati State in Harrison and Butler Tech in Middletown offer programs.)

What are the requirements?

As far as commitments from you, there isn’t all that much. The museum normally requires that volunteers come in at least two times a month, but there is no set schedule for which days they are. It also asks that each volunteer purchase a yellow polo shirt with their name and a museum logo to wear while they are here. That’s basically it.

Those wanting to know more may wish to read the volunteer handbook linked at the bottom of the page.

What if I’m not familiar with the subject matter?

If you don’t have a background in aviation or find the level of historical detail intimidating, don’t worry. As long as you are willing to learn, the museum has a number of resources available to help. Your first few times at the museum you can shadow an experienced volunteer around to pick up on some of the basic facts. In addition, background information about the museum’s aircraft as well as answers to common questions by visitors will be provided via email upon your start at the museum. Lastly, the museum’s library with over 1,000 books is available during open hours.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email the Collections Manager and Museum Attendant, Noah. We look forward to seeing you!