Current Volunteer Opportunities:
RAYS – Reading Awakens Young Scientists – offered during the school day most often.
This program is presented in K-5 classrooms and adapted for other settings, i.e. libraries.
Story Tellers-RAYS Program – You will become familiar with a children’s book and retell it with excitement to elementary students as a motivational activity before a related science lesson. The story will be rehearsed and “acted out”. This is a great job for actors and story tellers! (Time Commitment: Dependent on number of RAYS program you sign-up for. Each program, which are conducted approximately 3 times per month, is approximately 2 hours in length.)
Science Teacher-RAYS – You will lead the class science lesson after the story is told. The lesson is already lightly scripted.Teaching experience is helpful. (Time Commitment: Dependent on number of RAYS program you sign-up for. Each program, which are conducted approximately 3 times per month, is approximately 2 hours in length.)
Classroom Volunteers-RAYS – Teaching assistant. You will have fun working with the kids, set up and pass out materials, and help the students with their experiments. No teaching experience is necessary. (Time Commitment: Dependent on number of RAYS program you sign-up for. Each program, which are conducted approximately 3 times per month, is approximately 2 hours in length.)
Family Science Night – generally Thursdays 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on the evening of the event.
Volunteers-You will facilitate hands-on science and engineering activities for the students. The volunteer’s job is to encourage the students to make observations and to think about what is going on in the activity. Volunteers do not necessarily need a strong science background. Training and resources will be provided. (Time Commitment: Dependent on number of FSN programs you sign-up for. Each program, which occurs monthly, is approximately 3 hours in length.)
Discovery Center Teens– an educational service club for teenagers (grades 8-12) DC Teens meet monthly for programs on STEM Careers, fun doing hands-on science, training for community service. DC Teens help out at Family Science Nights and community events.
Communications and Administration Assistant– Assist the program directors in communications with speakers, prospective members, parents and school personnel Assist in preparation for meetings and events. Maintain records for the organization including student applications. Requires very good organization and communications skills. (Time Commitment: Approximately 5 hours per month, August through June)
Mobile Planetarium– an inflatable, portable planetarium that travels to schools
Astronomy Presenter– Do you have a background and passion for astronomy? You will guide exploration of the night sky with children/adults inside of the portable planetarium. Lesson plans are provided. A passion for astronomy and a degree of comfort with technology are required to set up and facilitate this popular program. (Time Commitment: Dependent on number of Star Lab programs you sign-up for. Each program, which are conducted approximately 3 times per month, is approximately 2 hours in length.)
Volunteer Administrator – You will help with the intake of volunteer applications and inquiries, ensure appropriate volunteer paperwork is submitted, and help answer questions/direct volunteers to The Discovery Center programs of interest. (Time Commitment: Approximately 5-8 hours per month.)
Grant Writers – You will work with Discovery Center leadership to identify appropriate funding opportunities and assist in writing applications for funding. This is a chance to develop a skill that will serve you in your career! (Time Commitment: Flexible to meet time available of volunteer.)
Community Event Coordinator – You will help out at various community events by setting up hands-on activities and displays, interacting with Discovery Center volunteers, program directors, and community members. (Time Commitment: Approximately 3 events per year requiring 15 hours per event.)
Get Involved Now
If you enjoy helping kids learn, or working with great people, or love science, engineering, arts or math, or, have a desire to build a better future for individuals, community and country, please volunteer!
Click here for more information or call our volunteer office at 818/879-2021.
* All volunteers and staff working directly with young people and/or DC database or financial information are required to have a background check.