Share your talent with the community, while helping to serve San Diego’s precious air and space heritage. If you are interested in pursuing a volunteer opportunity please complete the application below. 

Volunteer Forms

Volunteer Application - Online Form

Minor Volunteer Application - Online Form

Please take some time to learn more about our volunteer opportunities. 

GENERAL INFO:
Minimum Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 16 years old for all volunteer positions, with the exception of the Education department, which accepts students aged 14 and above.

Weekend Volunteering: Weekend volunteer opportunities are only available to Docents and at our Gillespie Annex, as well as Facilities on Saturdays as needed. On certain occasions, volunteers may be needed for a special events or in other departments as opportunities arise. 

DOCENTS
Docents serve as guides, subject-matter experts and interpreters at the Museum by guiding scheduled (as well as unscheduled) tours through the Museum and restoration area, and by making themselves available for occasional evening functions and special events. Prospective docents should possess a background in education, museum sciences, public relations, or aviation. Docents are required to complete an extensive training program, typically taking 6-12 months of training.  All docents must be 18 years or older. Available hours for volunteer service as a Docent is 9am - 5pm on weekdays and weekends.

RESTORATION
The Museum restoration shops (located in the Museum basement and at our Gillespie Field annex in El Cajon) enjoy an unmatched reputation among volunteer programs throughout the country, due in part to the exciting and exacting nature of the work. Restoration volunteers should possess a background in machine shop operations, aircraft construction, wood or metal fabrication, aircraft engine construction, or aircraft maintenance. Available hours for volunteer service in restoration are 8am to 3:30pm on weekdays.

COLLECTIONS CARE
Volunteers for collections care will inventory and manage Museums’ collections through accession, record keeping, documenting collections and supporting materials. These volunteers may also assist with curating exhibits that include related artifacts and draft label text. Volunteers should have a background in collections management and best practices. Please note that High School students are not eligible for volunteering in this department, and applicants must be 18 years or older to volunteer in this department. Available hours for collection care are 10am – 4pm on weekdays.

EDUCATION
Education volunteers assist with the Museum's various educational programs, including lectures, special exhibits, flight-related ground training, and community outreach classes as well as occasional classroom activities in the Museum’s Education Center. Volunteer experience in education or aviation training – including a teaching credential and current background check - is strongly desired. The minimum age for volunteering with Education is 14. 

FACILITIES
Volunteers for facilities will share in the responsibility of what is required to maintain the Museum. Work alongside a Building Mechanic to address building systems. General crafts experience for the Volunteers is very helpful; HVAC, electrical, painting, pressure washing, floor machines and equipment preventative maintenance. Available hours for volunteer service with Facilities are 10am - 2pm on Weekdays and Saturdays.

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES
Library & Archives volunteers should be familiar with, or have a strong interest in, aviation history, space exploration, library science, or have a research background, with writing and computer skills. The library is open from 10am - 4pm on weekdays only for volunteer service.

MODEL SHOP
At our Gillespie Field facility, we are seeking volunteers to work at our model shop. Volunteers should possess a strong model-building background. They must be willing to help instruct apprentices and enlighten groups about model making, display, and technology.

GRAPHIC DESIGN
There is a wide range of opportunities for volunteers in graphic design, ranging from artistic renderings to the more technical mechanical drawings. Volunteers can utilize their artistic skills to develop floor plans for exhibits, as well as promotional materials, brochures and flyers. Volunteers should have experience with InDesign, Photoshop or related software. Available hours for Volunteer service in Graphic Design are Tuesday - Friday from 10am - 3pm. 

EXHIBIT FABRICATION
Volunteers for exhibit fabrication will construct elements of exhibits, including but not limited to, cases, pedestals, framing and mounting posters, labels, and pictures. Volunteers should have experience with carpentry, milling, using power tools and basic construction, mounting and framing. Available hours for volunteer service in Exhibit Fabrication is 8am - 3:30 on weekdays.

STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
The Museum offers voluntary internships for high school, undergraduate and graduate level students in our Library & Archives, Graphics and Restoration departments. 
To apply for an internship, students are required to complete a volunteer application, and have their school's internship supervisor or professor initiate contact with the museum on their behalf. Please note that we only offer internships to individuals who need to complete an internship program for school credit. If you are not enrolled in such a program, we invite you to consider volunteering with us instead. Although internships at the Museum are unpaid, they can be completed for academic credit, depending upon school policy.

OTHER
Occasionally the Museum needs volunteers for special projects. Frequently, such projects support the Archives, Administrative, Marketing or Development areas. If you have special skills, knowledge, or experience that you would like to share in an area not outlined, please make note of it.

We hope you decide to join our elite volunteer team at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.