Volunteering at the Academy
Volunteers have been integral to the success of the Academy for 200 years. Nearly 400 volunteers, from ages 14 to 80+, contribute their time each year toward our mission. Dedicated volunteers assist visitors throughout the museum's exhibit spaces and provide critical support behind the scenes in research departments and offices.
Becoming a Volunteer
- The minimum age is 14; there is no upper limit.
- You must provide a regular commitment of time, ranging from one-half day to several days per week, for at least one year (although longer commitments are sometimes required for certain positions).
- All applicants must complete our online application. Once you have completed the application, you may also contact us directly regarding specific openings listed below.
Volunteer Opportunities
Academy Camp Counselors-In-Training (CITs) (minimum 16 years old)
CITs with the Academy Camp program assist educators in providing a fun and educational summer experience for campers at the Academy. CITs will be trained to engage campers in informal, hands-on activities both in the museum and on weekly field trips throughout the Delaware Valley. You will also engage campers with arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor games, and free play. Volunteer opportunities begin in late June and go until the end of August. We can be flexible in setting up a schedule with you but prefer a commitment to at least 2 consecutive weeks during the run of the camp.
Live Animal Center volunteers (minimum 17 years old)
Volunteers are a vital part of our animal programs team. In assisting the keepers in the day-to-day care of our live animal collection (cage cleaning, food preparation, etc.), as well as the maintenance of the center and exhibits (washing windows, doing laundry, cleaning tanks etc.) they gain unique skills in animal husbandry. Volunteering with Animal Programs offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge and skills, and to explore careers in live animal care.
Outside/In Exhibit Volunteers (minimum 14 years old)
Interested applicants should be outgoing, scientifically minded, and kid friendly. Volunteers greet visitors, make them welcome, explain a few special rules for visiting Outside-In, and encourage their active exploration by circulating informally around the exhibit, interacting with them, and using an inquiry approach to help them become involved with the hundreds of objects and animals in the room. If you love and want to learn about animals of all kinds, volunteering in Outside-In will be a very rewarding experience. (Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4:30pm)
Collections Assistants
Botany, Diatom Herbarium, Entomology, Ichthyology, Invertebrate Paleontology, Library & Archives, Malacology, Ornithology, Vertebrate Zoology. (Weekdays only 9am-5pm)
Mediated Experiences Volunteers
Special Exhibits, Dino Hall, Dioramas, Science Live
Special Events Volunteers
Dinos After Dark, Bug Fest, and Members Night.
Patrick Center for Environmental Research Volunteers
Lab and technical support volunteers.
Civic Engagement
Bird Safe Philly & Lights-Out Philly
Monitors and Bird Transporters. For more information visit: https://www.birdsafephilly.org/get-involved
https://www.birdsafephilly.org/lights-out
Plastic-Free Philly
Tabling and Education. For more information visit: https://ansp.org/get-involved/plastic-free-philly/
Outdoors for Everyone
Naturalists of all interests and experience. Do you use iNaturalist or eBird? Are you interested in supporting nature walks and encounters where accessibility is paramount? Join our crew of citizen scientists! This series is in partnership with Disability Pride PA https://www.disabilitypridepa.org/
Internships
Public Programs Intern (minimum 16 years old)
Public Programs Interns are trained in techniques of informal interpretation for the public spaces of the museum to learn skills to educate guests of all ages about exhibits and natural science topics using hands-on activities. Interns also learn how to develop programming, lesson plans, and activities for museum guests and school groups. They will also work under the supervision of Experience and Engagement staff to gain experience with volunteer trainings and educational material maintenance. A weekly commitment of 20-24 hours (3 regular days) for 10 weeks is required, encompassing at least one full weekday and 1 full weekend day each week. Candidates must be available from Memorial Day through the second weekend of August for 10 weeks.
Paid Summer High School internships are available through the following opportunities:
To learn more about becoming a volunteer at the Academy, please contact us at 215-299-1029 or volunteers@ansp.org
Volunteer Awards
We offer three awards for excellence in volunteering.
Learn more
Volunteer Benefits
The biggest benefit for volunteers at the Academy of Natural Sciences is the opportunity to learn and share that learning with others.
Learn more