Group Volunteering

Group Service Projects

The Virginia Living Museum encourages community support in the form of volunteer service projects. If your organization has a group that would like to help our staff complete projects on a volunteer service basis, please submit a request from (see below).

Potential projects can be physically challenging, such as helping to keep the Museum grounds healthy by removing invasive plants or removing debris from natural areas. We also have special events throughout the year where volunteers interact with Museum guests.

Requests may take 7-10 business days to process and, as such, we request applications be submitted at least 30 days in advance. Please be aware that we may not be able to accommodate every request. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance.

There are no group opportunities that involve working directly with animals, school group classes or exhibit interpretation. We do welcome individual applications for these positions.

Group Project Opportunities

Grounds Keeping & Animal Exhibit Refurbishment

Weeding individual display gardens, mulching grounds and animal exhibits. Must be able to bend, stoop and kneel, be willing to get dirty.

Bring: work or garden gloves, shovels or pitchforks, if available
Age requirement: 11+ with an adult, 15+ to volunteer alone
# of volunteers: group of at least 4 people
Timeframe: 3-4 hours

Refurbishing Dinosaur Discovery Trail

Add mulch and sand to designated areas. Clean dinosaurs.

Bring: rakes and shovels, if available
Age requirement: 15+
# of volunteers: groups of at least 10 people

Night of the Living Museum (SEASONAL)

October from 4:30-8:00pm (4-10 people)
Interacting with Museum guests and helping children with their craft projects, direct outdoor and indoor games and activities for all ages during the event. This is a non-scary Halloween event for families with kids ages 12 and under – costumes and make-up must be family friendly!

Age requirement: 11+ with adult, 15+ to volunteer alone

Noon Years Eve (SEASONAL)

December 31 morning and afternoon

Daytime event for children to celebrate the countdown to 12 noon. Volunteers will be at various activity stations or crafts.

Age requirement: 11+ with adult, 15+ to volunteer alone

Wish List Items

Collect items on the Museum’s Wish List. Newspapers (no glossy pages) and towels (no holes) are used by our Living Exhibits Department. Please arrange drop-off in advance by emailing [email protected].

Group Volunteer Policies

Groups interested in volunteering at the Virginia Living Museum adhere to the following guidelines:

Volunteers must be 15 years or older to volunteer alone. Some projects accommodate participants 11+, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Certain special events require volunteers to be at least 21 years of age.
For volunteers under the age of 18, the group must provide one adult chaperone to every 10 youth volunteers.
Group volunteers must identify a group coordinator who is responsible for the safety and well-being of group members including providing the coordination and supervision for the group while volunteering.
It is the responsibility of the group coordinator to obtain a signed parental consent form for group members under the age of 18, which must be on file with the group coordinator. Organizational forms may be used.
The group understands that they will not receive any monetary compensation for their volunteer services.
Volunteers cannot take photographs or video images of any area behind-the-scenes or not accessible to the general public without consent of a Museum Manager. If given permission to take media images behind-the-scenes, volunteers may not share those images via social media.
Groups must adhere to the Museum’s dress code while on duty. Details will be provided after sign up.