
Volunteer
Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in joining the CMC team as a volunteer!
Due to the profound financial implications of Cincinnati Museum Center’s COVID-19 related closure and recent staff cuts, we are unable to process new volunteer applications at this time. Please check back in the future for updates.
Volunteers are a vital part of our institution
Thank you for your interest in helping Cincinnati Museum Center provide quality services, programs and education for the community! Without this special group of dedicated people, Cincinnati Museum Center would not be able to fulfill its mission to “inspire people of all ages to learn more about our world through science, regional history, and educational, engaging and meaningful experiences.”
Join us to find out about our current volunteer opportunities and how you can become part of our team! No prior volunteer experience is necessary—just enthusiasm and an avid interest in the activities and programs we offer.
Benefits
- Being a part of a FANTASTIC Cincinnati Museum Center team
- Becoming involved in an environment of life-long learning
- Free admission to all permanent CMC exhibits and access to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
- Free parking
- Discounts at food locations
- Invitations to select exhibit previews, special events and lectures
- Professional development, training opportunities and work experience
- Complimentary CMC membership with set hours contributions
- CMC Individual Membership — 100+ hours in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30)
- CMC Family Membership — 400+ hours in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30)
* Please note: for all positions, volunteers must attend a general orientation and participate in additional departmental training. Volunteers are provided with the necessary tools and resources to be a successful part of the Cincinnati Museum Center Volunteer Team.
Current volunteer opportunities
Exhibit – Model Shop Volunteer
This volunteer would primarily help with making wildflower and other plant models – being part of an assembly line including vacuum-forming, cutting out leaves, petals, etc., assembly (including small pieces), and painting.
Volunteer MUST:
- Have fine motor skills/steady hand for detail work. Good sense of scale and accuracy.
- Good sense of color and painting ability.
- Experience as an artist/craftsperson very helpful.
- Patience for the process – good attention span.
- Experience with an airbrush a plus!
Would be good to be able to work one or 2 days a week, depending on hours available per day (four to six hours a week would be good).
APPLY TODAYAnimal Resources – Bat Volunteer
The bat volunteer will assist the Animal Resources staff in feeding bats, cleaning enclosures, performing health checks, providing enrichment, and performing bat flight programs.
Volunteer MUST:
- Have a background in working with bats.
- A current rabies vaccine or titer is required.
Would be good to be able to work one or 2 days a week.
APPLY TODAYAnimal Resources Volunteer
The Animal Resources volunteer will assist the Animal Resources staff in feeding animals, cleaning enclosures, performing health checks, providing enrichment, and performing animal programs.
Volunteer MUST:
- Have a background in working with various animals, including snakes, turtles, and bugs.
Would be good to be able to work one or 2 days a week.
APPLY TODAYCollections and Research – Zoology Volunteer
Department: Collections and Research
Status: Ongoing
Term: Long-term
Volunteer Title: Study Skin Preparator
Purpose: to assist in the daily operations of the zoology department including, processing, cataloging, data entry, and on-going care/maintenance of zoology collections, and cleaning/organizing of collection and laboratory areas.
Background: Cincinnati Museum Center’s zoology collections include birds, mammals, herps (reptiles/amphibians), fish, insects, and shells. These collections include both dry and fluid preserved collections, with some specimens dating back over 100 years. Collections are managed for both research and education purposes, as well as potential exhibit. Volunteers are critical to help museum staff keep up with daily activities in the collections.
Location: Geier Collections and Research Center – 760 West Fifth St, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
Key Responsibilities:
- Preparing animal carcasses for inclusion in the collection.
- Maintaining catalog records.
- Monitor collections for evidence of pests, mold, damaged housing (cabinets, jars, etc.), missing labels, etc.
- Helping museum staff to keep work and collection areas clean and well-organized.
- Assist in electronic record keeping for the collection.
- Assist staff in preparation of specimens for loans and/or exhibits.
Requirements:
- Ability to access MyImpactPage.com (MIP) to self-manage your volunteer schedule and required training materials or otherwise arrange access through Volunteer & Intern Services.
- Scheduling flexibility and capacity to notify supervisor of sudden absences.
- Must be able to work as part of a team.
- Must be able to perform technical work, make careful observations and record data legibly and accurately.
- Must have strong organizational skills and be attentive to detail.
- Must be able to lift weight of at least 25 pounds.
Reports To: Dr. Heather Farrington – Curator of Zoology; Dr. Emily Imhoff – Zoology Collections Manager
Time Commitment: Minimum 40 hours per calendar year.
Benefits:
- Free admission to all permanent CMC exhibits and access to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
- Free parking at Cincinnati Museum Center locations.
- Discounts at food locations.
- Invitations to select exhibit previews, special events and lectures.
- Professional development, training opportunities and work experience.
- Complimentary CMC membership with set hour contributions.
- CMC Individual Membership: 100+ hours in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
Dress Code: Casual – clothes may get dusty/dirty
Age Requirement: Minimum – 18 years old
APPLY TODAYCollections and Research – Zoology Data Entry Volunteer
Department: Collections and Research
Status: Ongoing
Term: Long-term
Volunteer Title: Study Skin Preparator
Purpose: to assist Zoology staff in a long-term effort to digitize collection holdings for access by the global research community and the public.
Background: Cincinnati Museum Center’s zoology collections include birds, mammals, herps (reptiles/amphibians), fish, insects, and shells. These collections include both dry and fluid preserved collections, with some specimens dating back over 100 years. Collections are managed for both research and education purposes, as well as potential exhibit. Volunteers are critical to help museum staff keep up with daily activities in the collections.
Location: Geier Collections and Research Center – 760 West Fifth St, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
Key Responsibilities:
- Transcribing data from paper catalogs to digital format (currently Excel, but will ultimately use the museum’s internal database system).
- Updating outdated species designations to match current taxonomic assignments.
- For some collections, catalog data are incomplete, so volunteers must access original field notes and catalogs to collect specimen information.
- Linking digital images of specimens to their electronic records.
- Assist in electronic record keeping for the collection.
Requirements:
- Ability to access MyImpactPage.com (MIP) to self-manage your volunteer schedule and required training materials or otherwise arrange access through Volunteer & Intern Services.
- Scheduling flexibility and capacity to notify supervisor of sudden absences.
- Must be able to work as part of a team.
- Must be able to perform technical work, make careful observations and record data legibly and accurately.
- Must have strong organizational skills and be attentive to detail.
- Must be able to lift weight of at least 25 pounds.
Reports To: Dr. Heather Farrington – Curator of Zoology; Dr. Emily Imhoff – Zoology Collections Manager
Time Commitment: Minimum 40 hours per calendar year.
Benefits:
- Free admission to all permanent CMC exhibits and access to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
- Free parking at Cincinnati Museum Center locations.
- Discounts at food locations.
- Invitations to select exhibit previews, special events and lectures.
- Professional development, training opportunities and work experience.
- Complimentary CMC membership with set hour contributions.
- CMC Individual Membership: 100+ hours in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
Dress Code: Casual – clothes may get dusty/dirty
Age Requirement: Minimum – 18 years old
APPLY TODAYCollections and Research – Study Skin Preparator Volunteer
Department: Collections and Research
Status: Ongoing
Term: Long-term
Volunteer Title: Study Skin Preparator
Purpose: to assist Zoology staff in clearing the backlog of bird and mammal specimens that need to be prepared for inclusion in the collection.
Background: Cincinnati Museum Center’s zoology collections include birds, mammals, herps (reptiles/amphibians), fish, insects, and shells. These collections include both dry and fluid preserved collections, with some specimens dating back over 100 years. Collections are managed for both research and education purposes, as well as potential exhibit. Volunteers are critical to help museum staff keep up with daily activities in the collections.
Location: Geier Collections and Research Center – 760 West Fifth St, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
Key Responsibilities:
- Preparing animal carcasses for inclusion in the collection – including preparation of skins, spread wings, skeletal material, and/or tissue samples.
- Helping to maintain freezer inventories and log in new specimen donations.
- Assist in maintaining our skeleton prep facility by monitoring/caring for our dermestid beetle colony and/or maceration set-up.
- Maintaining catalog/electronic records for prepared specimens.
- Rotating specimens through freezer quarantine and filing newly prepared specimens into permanent storage.
Requirements:
- Ability to access MyImpactPage.com (MIP) to self-manage your volunteer schedule and required training materials or otherwise arrange access through Volunteer & Intern Services.
- Scheduling flexibility and capacity to notify supervisor of sudden absences.
- Must be able to work as part of a team.
- Must be able to perform technical work, make careful observations and record data legibly and accurately.
- Must have strong organizational skills and be attentive to detail.
- Must be able to lift weight of at least 25 pounds.
Reports To: Dr. Heather Farrington – Curator of Zoology; Dr. Emily Imhoff – Zoology Collections Manager
Time Commitment: Minimum 40 hours per calendar year.
Benefits:
- Free admission to all permanent CMC exhibits and access to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
- Free parking at Cincinnati Museum Center locations.
- Discounts at food locations.
- Invitations to select exhibit previews, special events and lectures.
- Professional development, training opportunities and work experience.
- Complimentary CMC membership with set hour contributions.
- CMC Individual Membership: 100+ hours in a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
Dress Code: Casual – clothes may get dusty/dirty
Age Requirement: Minimum – 18 years old
APPLY TODAY“When people ask me why I volunteer at the Museum Center, I just tell them that I get a lot more than I can ever give back...The Museum Center is just one more nice asset the City of Cincinnati can brag about."



Volunteer Milestones
Each year we recognize CMC volunteers who have achieved significant years of service milestones.
5 Years
Andrew Adkins
Michael Burlingham
Ed Clancy
Terry Clark
Brooke Crowley
Lee Drake
Jon Goins
David Greulich
Dee Mason
Jerry McAfee
Tom McMackin
Sue Mehne
William Schulter
Debbi Silverman
Ed Umbach
Sally Umbach
Lisa Beyer
Rubin Dastoor
Mel DeWitt
Jude DeWitt
Lynn Dougherty
Don Fox
Danny Hildebrand
Pamela King
David Mason
Diann Myers
Lois Rezabek
John Ripberger
Lee Schmidt
Carol Sinclair
Larry Stulz
Jim Thompson
10 Years
Robb Andriot
Barb Bolten
Holly Crawford
Don Frey
Brian Rohling
Ken Skirtz
Tom Flege
Dick Kaesemeyer
Tom Palmer
Steve Rolfes
Mike Schmidt
Mark Zigoris
15 Years
Bob Bergstein
Bebe Hales
Donna Levi
Brian Porter
Blanche Sullivan
Pat Brennan
Ray Fiedler
Brenda Hauser
Dennis Johnson
Bob Limoseth
David Moccia
Diane Moccia
Al Morgan
Regeana Morgan
Mary Lou Osterfeld
Richard Rastani
Joe Vaughan
Nancy Vaughan
20 Years
Janice Forte
Cathy Hansel
Marion Mitchell
J. Harry Rapien
Mike Schaen
Charollet Schworer
Ursula Umberg
25 Years
Janet Mott
Ruth Smith
Philip Yannarella
35 Years
Lory Greenland
40 Years
Terry Huizing
45 Years
Cathy Chapman
School and Teacher Partnerships
Do you love engaging groups of school aged children in science, art, culture and history? Are you an amazing group greeter and wayfinder? Work alongside our School and Teacher Partnerships team to deliver content that connects to our galleries, exhibits and school curriculum. Volunteers must be MAP trained.
Museum Ambassador Program (MAP)
All museum gallery volunteers begin here!
We need welcoming, informed, guest-oriented and engaging Museum Ambassadors to make a difference in our visitors’ experience.
Every volunteer begins by learning about our Quality Standards, welcoming everyone we interact with and maintaining a safe and clean environment for our guests. Spend time across all our museums, from our late-Jurassic Galeamopus to our historical Public Landing or help our smallest guests in Little Sprouts Farm. The ability to engage vibrantly with toddler through high-school ages is a must-have skill for Museum Ambassadors and Track volunteers.
Looking to dive a little deeper, to work along our educational team in learning and interpretation? After you complete the Museum Ambassador training, you may choose to continue growing your volunteer experience by selecting one of three museum tracks.
Gallery Activities Track
Love sharing your knowledge of science, art and Cincinnati history to guests of all ages? Gallery track volunteers work alongside staff to deliver quality programs to families, adults and children of all ages. After completing MAP, you will be introduced to simple, easily-presented concepts for guests. You’ll then continue working with our team to deliver more-complex, object-based and hands-on learning experiences for our guests. With advance training, you may even have the opportunity to handle our live animals!
Shows & Interpretation Track
Do you love to dress in period costumes? Are science stage-shows your jam? Does the thought of being on a stage float your boat? Volunteers in this track work closely with our staff to deliver quality exhibit interpretations by giving context and a personal touch to the information presented. With additional training, volunteers may dress out in period clothing, recite short scripts or plays, deliver engaging storytelling or assist with our spectacular science stage shows. Behind-the-scenes help is welcome for those with costume repair and script-writing experience.
Labs & Maker Track
Are you overflowing with creative ideas? Do you love bringing looks of awe and wonder to guests’ faces through hands-on activities? Curiosity and the inclination for experimentation are traits that artists and scientists share. Volunteers in this track facilitate open-ended, process-based experiences in our creative play lab KidSPACE, conduct experiments in our STEM lab and dive deep into historical Cincinnati makers in our History in the Making Classroom. You will work alongside our staff to take your talents in science, art and making to the next level with our guests.
APPLY TODAYGuest & Member Services Volunteers
Help our guests make the most of every visit by assisting the Guest Experience Team! Whether you prefer greeting guests as they enter the Grand Rotunda or granting our guests entry into our permanent museums and featured exhibits, the Guest Experience Team has an opportunity for you. Individuals must be outgoing, friendly and possess the ability to communicate with groups of all sizes and abilities.
Greeter
Assist the Guest Experience department by welcoming guests, answering questions, and providing directions so that our guests can dive right in to the epic experience that awaits them.
Discovery Attendant
Assist the Guest Experience department by providing superior customer service from first impressions to farewells by admitting guests and CMC Members into Cincinnati Museum Center’s three museums and featured exhibit spaces.
APPLY TODAYFeatured Exhibits Volunteers
Do you love learning new things and sharing that knowledge? Featured Exhibits may be the place for you! Featured Exhibit volunteers work alongside staff to welcome and engage with guests in our temporary and traveling exhibits. We host exhibits that cover a wide range of topics: art, science and technology, history, and much, much more. Exhibits change regularly so there is always something exciting and new.
Duties include interacting with guests, answering content and directional questions, and ensuring the safety of artifacts.
APPLY TODAYCorporate Volunteers
Interested groups please contact Volunteer & Intern Services at volunteer@cincymuseum.org. Opportunities include those listed above for individuals seeking long-term/consistent weekly, biweekly, or monthly opportunities, and special event volunteering for groups interested in short-term/one-off opportunities.
APPLY TODAYQuestions?
For more information, contact the Volunteer & Intern Services Office at volunteer@cincymuseum.org or call (513) 287-7025.
Internships
Interested in learning more about current and upcoming internship opportunities?
Youth Program Volunteers
Interested in learning more about current and upcoming youth program volunteer opportunities?
Apply Today
STEP 1
Download, print, sign and scan the Inquiry Release Form to agree to a background check.
If you are unable to scan or take a photo of your signed Inquiry Release Form to upload, continue to Step 2 and we will provide directions.