Volunteer Opportunities: Help Wanted!
We love our volunteers!
Are you looking for a fun, engaging project that will give you great satisfaction? Are you up for taking a leadership role in a program that will provide a vital service to the community? Then we’re looking for you. We’re a small staff with a big job to do, so we need your help to keep this Museum running full steam ahead!
You can choose one of a number of projects that matches your interest and work with us to fill a vital need in a way that’s fun and involving for you. We have an exciting year ahead; as the McNasby Oyster Company building is now open and our community service programs expand, it’s crucial that we find dedicated volunteer leadership to grab hold of these projects and carry them through to success.
education program
lighthouse tour docent training
wooden boat crew
docent training
cataloging artifacts
sock burning
Here are just a few of the available positions:
Museum Docents – You can inspire our visitors with our unique maritime heritage and our connection to the Chesapeake Bay. You’ll learn the elements of the Museum’s award-winning interpretive plan and the skills you need to involve visitors of all ages with this area’s history, from Capt. John Smith’s voyage of discovery in 1608 to Annapolis’ current status as America’s Sailing Capital. The Museum needs volunteers to staff the newly renovated McNasby Oyster Company building for public hours, Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. each day. Volunteers will be trained to interpret the Museum’s current and upcoming exhibits, themes and education programs to Museum visitors, including children, adults and families.
Docents must be enthusiastic, cheerful, and willing to learn. They should have an interest in working with people, and be willing to become actively involved with the programs of the Museum. Experience or education in history, maritime heritage, or teaching is helpful, though not required. You can even sign up on line for a preferred time. Call the Museum at 410-295-0104 or email volunteer@amaritime.org.
Buildings & Grounds Manager – If you’re a do-it-yourself-er with a green thumb and a golden hammer, you can take charge of the Museum buildings and grounds, recruiting, training and supervising volunteers to maintain Capt. Herbie Sadler Park, the Barge House, the piers and the McNasby Oyster Company building.
Sock Burning – If you haven’t been to one of these quirky rites of spring, you’re in for a treat. We will need volunteers to help next year in the spring of 2010.
Education programs – There’s nothing more inspiring than to see kids form a connection with the Chesapeake Bay and our unique maritime heritage. The Museum has four separate programs for 4th and 8th graders, including "Treasure Our Waters," in partnership with Watermark Cruises. You can work with our education committees to help in this crucial element of the Museum’s mission.
Lighthouse Tours – We’ve planned six weekends of public tours out to the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse between June and August, and we need committed docents to lead these tours. You’ll learn the significance this National Historic Landmark, how to share this information with visitors, and get a unique insider’s-only view of this icon of the Chesapeake Bay.
Wooden Boat Crew – Whether you’re a skilled boatwright or just handy with a paintbrush, we need your help to keep the Museum’s skipjack Lydia D, the deadrise Honey Do, and the three land-based wooden workboats shipshape in Bristol fashion. We also need USCG licensed captains and other salts to sail the boat to the Summertime Maritime Concert series at Annapolis City Dock and other special events.
Collections & Archives – The Museum currently has two major collections: the oyster packing and processing equipment from the Merideth & Merideth oyster house on the Eastern Shore, and the tools and from the Willard Marina, one of the last family-owned working boatyards in the county. Each one of the thousands of objects in these two collections needs to be catalogued, documented, photographed and preserved. These collections will be consolidated into one central facility, which means there's a lot of work to do! Roll up your sleeves and join the fun.
Retail Sales – If you’ve got experience in sales & marketing, AMM needs your guidance in developing a new gift shop in the restored McNasby building.
To contribute your time, talent and expertise, send an email to Volunteer Coordinator Viola McAvey or call 410-295-0104.