Volunteer
Drop-In Days – drop in at the Chico Museum at 141 Salem Street in Downtown Chico any Wednesday morning between 9-12 to explore volunteer opportunities or to participate in priorities of the moment!
We need and welcome all volunteers to keep our museums open and operating. There are opportunities to accommodate all ages, interests and schedules. We are currently seeking volunteers to staff our Welcome Desk, to work on exhibits and to expand our public outreach. If you have design or organizational skills or just a great smile, we would love to have your participation.
Chico Museum
General Volunteering:
We need all kinds of volunteers; our most urgent needs are profiled below.
Museum Staff
Reliable people to staff the Welcome Desk are essential to keeping the Chico Museum open to the public. We are looking for individuals to commit to two 2-hour shifts per month.
Our hours of operation are:
Wed – Sun 12 pm – 4 pm
Duties may include:
Welcoming People Visiting the Museum
Answering Phones
Providing Information on Membership, Upcoming Exhibits
Managing Store Sales
Docent role is optional but will include additional training
Volunteer at the Chico Museum
Office Angels
Maintaining Web Site/Technology
Updating Weekly Email
Entering Data
Making and Distributing Flyers
Writing/Sending PSAs
General Administrative Support
Event Volunteers
During events, we always need help with making the day successful. Depending on the event, activities can include transporting equipment, staffing tables, monitoring parking, and cleaning up. Without extra help, we cannot do the work we do! Our main events include the California Nut Festival (in April), the Annual Threshing Bee & Country Faire (in June) and the Museum Night Out fundraiser (in October). Specific volunteer needs can be identified by contacting one of our Event Chairs through the main office (530) 892-1525 or at office@farwestheritage.org.
Team Work
Teams have formed around on-going projects. Click here to learn more about these teams and contact us to get involved with a team.
Internships
The Far West Heritage Association also offers internships to Chico State and Butte College students each semester. We are open to almost any type of internship. Interning at the Chico Museum or with the Patrick Ranch Museum grounds and collection can be an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to work with the public, explore cultural resource management or communicate local history and culture to our community.
VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTIONS
Collections – work with artifacts & paper archives to complete
preliminary cataloging including labeling, description,
photodocumentation, data entry, and conservation cleaning & storage;
process paperwork for incoming & outgoing loans
Community Outreach – develop programs to complement Chico Museum
exhibits, coordinate communications with schools, senior centers,
civic & service organizations, develop educational resources for both
Chico Museum and Patrick Ranch Museum
Drop-In Days – drop in at the Chico Museum any Thursday morning
between 9-12 to explore volunteer opportunities or to participate in
priorities of the moment!
Events – participate in planning, staffing tables, overseeing parking,
set-up and clean-up for annual events including: California Nut
Festival, Annual Threshing Bee & Country Faire, Museum Night Out
Exhibits – participate in research, design and installation of
displays. Upcoming topics include: Circus Music, Circus Animals,
Chico Neighborhoods, Interactive Portraits, Quilting Traditions, Early
Sacramento Valley Agriculture, Maidu
Grounds – at Patrick Ranch: maintain garden, develop grounds, minor
construction
Museum Store – select & maintain inventory, arrange displays, manage
register
Newsletter – write articles, design layout, coordinate distribution of
quarterly publication (online & print)
Publicity – write press releases for exhibits and events, develop and
maintain distribution list, coordinate radio and tv spots, staff
information tables at other community events, write and/or design
brochures and invitations, work with web-coordinator to update webpage
and relevant community sites
Research – develop our resources on Sacramento Valley agriculture &
land-use, identify resources relevant to exhibits and Chico history,
research objects in collection
Volunteers – help to improve and streamline volunteer recruitment and
training, coordinate volunteer celebrations
Welcome Desk – welcome visitors, provide information on current and
upcoming shows.
For more information, contact us at:
Far West Heritage Association
Chico Museum & Patrick Ranch Museum
970 Boeing Avenue
Chico, CA 95973
(530) 892-1525
anne@farwestheritage.org
The new museum hours are: Wednesday through Sunday, 12 a.m. to 4 p.m.
