Help Wanted: Remote Volunteers

By Janet Hewitt, Guest Blogger

When Smithsonian Associates slipped out of the confines of physical classrooms last year due to Covid, a lot of things had to change. That change became transformative. It included re-visioning the job description for volunteers. Suddenly, it became more important to know your way around Zoom than around Ripley.

So what makes for good Associates volunteers in today’s brave new world?

I would say (and this is just me speaking) if you have more than a passing interest in black holes, Leonardo da Vinci, the Beat Generation, Egypt’s Middle Kingdom or watercolor painting, you are probably in the running. Remote volunteering was made for intellectually curious people like you.

When you think about it, remote volunteering for Associates is kind of like everyone’s dream job. There’s no commute. Your office is wherever you park your laptop. Your colleagues are the most creative people on the planet. And you would easily pay, for what they are letting you do for free.

And lucky for you, Jenna Jones, Volunteer Coordinator, is currently recruiting for remote volunteers who assist with live streamed programs.

A new training class is set to begin in September. And with a few hours of training, you can master Zoom and set off on your journey of exploration. So for all of you life-long learners out there, start your engines, please.