Community Engagement
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center relies on the enthusiastic commitment of our dedicated volunteers. As both a museum and a nature center we offer varied and exciting opportunities to support our Mission.
Join us in welcoming our many visitors and help them experience our wonderful world of nature, agriculture, museum exhibitions and art.
Work in areas such as animal care, light carpentry, family festivals and other special events, or assist our administrative staff with special projects and office work.
We encourage individuals and small groups to experience a fulfilling and rewarding service as a member of the SM&NC volunteer team.
Volunteer Today!
If you would like to volunteer at the SM&NC, please apply online today through our Volgistics volunteer application.
To learn more about specific areas of volunteerism at the SM&NC, please use the category quick links below.
Quick Links
For general volunteer information, contact Laura Schroeder.
Volunteering at Festivals & Special Events
We sincerely appreciate volunteer support at our SM&NC’s festivals and special events, and encourage High School students and adults alike to participate.
Volunteers will be asked to perform specific tasks needed to help with set-up, festival assignments, break-down, and/or other tasks. These efforts play a crucial role in the success of our events.
If you are interested learning more about volunteering in this capacity, please contact Luisa Santaniello.
Upcoming Event Volunteer Opportunities
Upcoming events needing Volunteer support are listed below. To sign up for a volunteer shift or role at an upcoming event, click on the event or the corresponding button. We're grateful for your help!
COMING SOON
Sundays, March 2, 9 & 16, 2025
Currently Seeking Volunteers to:
- Assist with our Game Zone
- Prepare and hand out giveaways to guests
- Supervise special attractions
- Help out with Children's Crafts
- Assist visitors at Heckscher WILD!
- Serve as Parking Attendants
- Assist with Admissions & More!
*New volunteers, please register here prior to signing up for a volunteer shift.
Volunteering in Education & Animal Care
Live Animals
Volunteers must be a minimum of age 11. For potential volunteers 11-13 years old, you must successfully complete an orientation program before volunteering at Heckscher Farm (Farm Animals) or Heckscher WILD! (Exotic animals; reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates). Registration for orientation classes can be found here.
Please fill out our volunteer application and a staff member will contact you. For volunteers 14 and up, staff will work to set up individual trainings, depending on availability of positions.
Volunteers are asked to commit to volunteering at least 1 shift per month for 6 months.
Junior Environmental Educators
Each summer, we offer opportunities for students ages 14-17 to volunteer in our summer camp program. More information can be found here. This program has a separate application and opens each year in March. For general questions, please contact Lisa Monachelli.
Internships
Internships are available for high school, college and graduate level students during the spring, summer and fall semesters in the areas of environmental education, media relations and marketing, and farm or exotic animal care.
Internships are generally 10 — 20 hours per week for 6-8 weeks and are unpaid, but course credit may be arranged. To express interest in a potential internship, contact Lisa Monachelli.
Coming Soon: Summer 2025 Green Girls Internships
Each summer we recruit 4 interns ages 14 –17 for our Green Girls internship program. Green Girls is a hands-on environmental career-geared internship that will gives participants a chance to work with our farm and exotic animals, help restore native ecosystems, learn about environmental education and more.
Corporate Volunteerism at the SM&NC
Corporate Volunteer Days
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is grateful for the continued support of area corporations who make time for their employees to contribute to our work and make a difference in our community.
Corporate volunteer groups participate in activities such as planting trees, creating flower beds and other landscaping projects; painting; installing fences and other small building projects; invasive plant removal; grounds clean up, and more.
SM&NC requests a donation from every corporation for participation in our volunteer program. Funds not only provide necessary supplies and tools for each event, but also cover the costs associated with SM&NC staff to plan, host and facilitate any on-site volunteer activity.
Please contact us at least two months in advance of the date you'd like to schedule your on-site volunteer event.
If you are interested in volunteering as a group, organization, or company, please contact Julie Siciliano.
