Help bring science to life every day!
Griffin MSI volunteers work to support our programming, helping us achieve our mission to inspire the inventive genius in everyone. You can find them assisting visitors at the Information Desk, engaging guests in live science experiences, sharing details from their professional careers, or contributing their time and talents to behind-the-scenes administrative areas. Our volunteers come from all walks of life; they are scientists, teachers, stay-at-home parents, students, engineers and more. In 2024, our dedicated volunteers donated 13,697 hours to help make science accessible and exciting for all. You don’t have to be an expert to be a volunteer — if you are passionate about STE(A)M, flourish in a team environment and love talking with and helping others, we’d be honored to have you at Griffin MSI. You must be 18 and over to volunteer.
Volunteer opportunities
Support Griffin MSI by donating your time and talents! Below are some of the ways our volunteers engage with our guests. Volunteer for one position or many!
Information Desk
Information Desk volunteers are front and center, right in the middle of the Museum’s day-to-day operations. These volunteers engage hundreds of guests a day, help shape their visits and ensure they have a rich and memorable learning experience. If you want to help people have the best day at the Museum, this is the volunteer role for you.
Live Science experiences
Engage guests at Griffin MSI’s portable Science Carts located in the Rotunda. The two carts, “Investigating the Microworld” (a cart full of microscopes and specimens) and “Inventing the Future” (featuring age-old communication and media devices) inspire guests to discover things beyond their imaginations and always lead to fascinating conversations.
Episodic events
Volunteers can also donate their time to episodic events, including our very popular overnight Science Snoozeums, Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light projects, and various STE(A)M festivals occurring at the Museum and throughout Chicagoland. We are always looking for energetic volunteers to support these events.
Learning Lab team
Do you love working in a classroom setting? Volunteers assist Museum educators leading hands-on, multidisciplinary programs for school groups by helping students answer questions and complete lab activities. Experience in teaching is helpful; a passion for education is required!
Exhibit engagements
Interact with guests throughout some of the Museum’s most iconic exhibits, including YOU! The Experience, The Great Train Story and the viewing floors of the U-505. Engage guests in science and start conversations on topics ranging from medical innovations, how railroads drive the economy, to the incredible and inventive capture of the U-505 German submarine.
Behind-the-scenes team
Running a Museum takes a large amount of administrative support. Help behind the scenes with office tasks, data entry and other episodic requests.
How to apply
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis for adult volunteers (age 18 and older). The Volunteer Office contacts prospective volunteers as positions become available. Please fill out and submit the adult volunteer application as instructed below. Prospective adult volunteers choose between Guest Facing and Administrative roles. Please be sure to complete the entire form. Please note: background checks will be run on all volunteers.
Frequently asked questions
If we don’t cover your question below, please email the Volunteer Office for more details.
Volunteers are required to donate a minimum of 40 hours per calendar year. Following onboarding, new volunteers will start their volunteer service at The Information Desk for their first 20 hours of volunteering. Training provided by Volunteer Office staff ensures that all volunteers will have a successful and enjoyable experience.
This is a flexible volunteer program regarding most roles; many of our volunteers spend three to five hours volunteering per shift. The Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. (Extended hours apply in the summer and during some holidays.) Certain volunteer opportunities like the Information Desk, Learning Labs, or special events have set schedules. Guest-facing facilitations like Live Science Experiences and Exhibit facilitations are much more flexible.
Volunteers support the Museum by donating their time and talent. Volunteering is an unpaid position, and does not ensure you a job at the Museum. If you are interested in a paid position, please visit our Job Opportunities page.
Guest-Facing auditions help Volunteer Office staff gauge your experience and interest in delivering information to Museum guests. You can expect to participate in fun and engaging improvisational exercises, group interview questions and informal mock facilitations. (No headshots are necessary!)
Adult volunteers must be 18 or older to be eligible for the program.
Due to the time we put into volunteer orientation, training and placement, we ask our volunteers to commit a minimum of 40 hours per calendar year. Please consider whether you can commit this time to our volunteer program.
All volunteers are required to wear a Museum-issued name tag and ID badge at all times. Guest-facing volunteers will be required to wear a branded t-shirt and lab coat during their shifts. Volunteers will need to supply their own dark black jeans or slacks and comfortable shoes. Administrative volunteers should dress in office-appropriate attire, consistent with general professional standards.
Free parking in our convenient underground parking garage is one of the many perks offered to volunteers.
Yes! All volunteers receive weekly electronic updates featuring museum news and other important information and all volunteers receive free parking in the Museum’s underground garage. Volunteers are also invited to attend monthly Museum meetings hosted by President and CEO Dr. Chevy Humphrey and participate in Griffin MSI’s Summer Picnic and Holiday Party!
All volunteers must successfully complete an audition or interview, attend an orientation, authorize a criminal background check and attend team-specific training before volunteering in the Museum.
- Submit an adult volunteer application. You can do so electronically by logging in to volgistics.
- Attend and complete an audition or interview
- Sign a volunteer waiver and release form
- Attend an orientation, authorize a criminal background check and successfully complete assignment training.
