volunteer roles
Museum Guide: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Museum Guides play a key role in guest relations, providing engaging information about the museum’s history, aircraft, exhibits, and artifacts. Comprehensive training is provided, including classes, self-study materials, and on-the-job experience.
Exhibit and Hangar Monitor: Scheduled and flexible shifts and on-the-job training are provided. Exhibit and Hangar Monitors provide essential support on the museum floor, helping ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. In this role, you’ll walk through exhibits, assist guests if needed and help maintain a welcoming environment by monitoring visitor activity and gently reminding guests of museum guidelines. This position does not involve giving tours, but you’ll play a key role in connecting visitors with the right person for more detailed assistance. On-the-job training and classes will be provided.
Gift Shop and Admissions Support: Scheduled shifts. Support in the gift shop includes helping with daily operations, processing in-store and online orders, and assisting with admissions as needed. A screening interview is required, and on-the-job training will be provided.
Special Event Support: Special Event support helps assist with a variety of tasks before, during, and after events. This includes setting up and breaking down event spaces, greeting and directing guests, providing information, and supporting staff. This position is hands-on and flexible, offering the chance to be part of exciting events such as the Central Coast AirFest and other museum programs. Training and guidance will be provided.
Living Historian: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Living Historians are individuals who wear historical clothing or military uniforms and interact with the public to help history come alive. They complete a basic level of training and provide their own historical "impressions" (i.e. clothing, gear) to explain concepts, historical items or events.
Education Program Assistant: Scheduled and flexible shifts. As an Educational Program Assistant, you’ll help support a variety of educational events, including Hangar Talks and other interactive programs. In this role, you’ll assist with event setup and guest engagement, helping ensure visitors have an informative and memorable experience. This is a hands-on opportunity to be part of unique, educational experiences that bring aviation history to life. Training and guidance will be provided.
Youth Program Guides: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Youth Programs Guides conduct aviation-related arts and crafts projects, demonstrations of basic aeronautic principles, and answer questions related to aviation technologies and aviation careers. Youth Programs Guides must be able to work with children of all ages. Training classes, self-study, and on-the-job training provided. Volunteers ages of 16 and 17 are accepted provided that they work with parent or guardian supervision.
Library and Research: Scheduled and flexible shifts. Library and Research staff catalog our ever-growing number of books and periodicals and assist visitors in using the library. They also conduct historical research on behalf of the Museum for use in displays and presentations.
Aircraft Detailer: Flexible hours are available on Saturday's initially, with potential for weekday shifts. Aircraft detailers focus on the care and cleaning of the Museum’s static aircraft displays, helping preserve these historic planes for all visitors to enjoy. Training is required and will be provided, and volunteers must complete a screening interview. There is room to advance to more complex static aircraft maintenance as additional courses are completed. Volunteers ages 16 and 17 are welcome when working under parent or guardian supervision.
