Education
Several key volunteer opportunities in our education department include: Guides/interpreters for our school age programs, such as Hands on History; research assistants, and special event assistants to our educator. We also have a Youth Advisory Board for high school through college age students to plan and help staff special events and projects.
Our annual tours for third grade students will begin in October and run through November. The sessions run from 9:45 – 11:15 and 12:30 – 2:00 pm. Two guides per session are required.
Students visit the museum, the Hadley Valley School and the Dee Log Cabin. The program covers the settlement of Olmsted County, the cyclone of 1883, the history of the Mayo Clinic and Mayo surgical suite. Students also learn about early life in Olmsted County, including a contrast between the present day at school with a day in a one room school house.
Scripts and training are provided.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Gallery Docents (3-10): Learn the stories of Olmsted County history and lead gallery tours, adding interest and vitality to the gallery exhibits. One to two half days per week year round.
Historic Interpreters (5-10) Spring and Fall school tours. Learn the histories of early Olmsted County. Dress in period clothes to lead school tours of the Dee Cabin, the George Stoppel farmstead, and the Hadley Valley Schoolhouse. Retired educators and farmers are encouraged to apply!
Children’s Storytime Readers (2-3). Dress in the style of the Ingalls family and read chapters of the Little House book series in our original Dee Cabin throughout the summer. Volunteers must commit at least 1.5 hours most Thursdays from mid June to mid Aug. Three reading times are offered daily at 10 AM, 2PM, and 5PM, with demonstrations of pioneer tools, arts, and lifestyles. Families and teens are welcome to apply for this!
Bluebird trail monitors (1-2): Learn the process for monitoring and recording the History Center Bluebird Trail. Responsible for monitoring and leading a weekly tour to demonstrate the process to visitors. ½ to 1 day per week plus a few added hours for misc. monitoring chores. Families and organizations welcome to apply!
Hand Press Printing Volunteers (4) to learn the craft of hand press printing utilizing the History Center printing press equipment. Would offer demonstrations during the summer and on the week-end of Days of Yesteryear in August. May also help with printing projects and programs throughout the year.
Broom makers (1-3). Volunteers willing to be trained to make brooms on the History Center equipment and demonstrate the craft two to three Saturdays during the summer and during Days of Yesteryear in August.
History Camp Volunteers (4): Volunteers will learn and help implement the History Camp curriculum. This summer’s topic “History that Stinks!: Trash Camp” Includes archeology, history of municipal garbage practices and policy, and the cool new technologies designed to get rid of waste. 20 hours per week July 6-8, and July 25-29th. 40 hours per week, July 11-15 and July 18-22. This is going to be FUN!
Demonstrators: We need a variety of volunteers to share their talents in quilting, darning, crochet, knitting, tatting, spinning, weaving, cooper, soap making, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, wheat weaving, storytelling, cornhusk doll making, and making hair flowers. We also need Native American art demonstrators for beadwork, leatherwork, flint napping, drum making, native dance and drumming.
If you are interested in these opportunities or have other skills or talents that you are interested in demonstrating at the History Center during the summer please contact Janet Timmerman at 507-282-9447, ext. 115 or at director@olmstedhistory.com
