VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT CHEEKWOOD

For more information contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@cheekwood.org or (615) 353-6966 or apply online.

Administration
Education & Public Programs Summer Internships
Garden Guide
Garden Volunteer 
Horticulture Internship
Museum of Art Docent 
Museum Host 
Shuttle Cart Drivers    
Seasonal Events
Special Events
Summer Camp
Tuesdays for Tots 
Unique Spring Arts Opportunity
Visitor Services Assistant  

Administration
Be an integral part of helping Cheekwood run efficiently and smoothly. Help staff members with important administrative tasks. 

Location: Various Cheekwood departments
Reports to: Appropriate department staff
Key Responsibilities: Mailings, data entry, stuffing membership packets, and various organizational tasks
Time Commitment: Based upon opportunities
Time Frame: Varies; year round.
Qualifications: Organized and detail oriented. Able to work flexible schedule based upon need.

Education & Public Programs Summer Internships
Cheekwood Education and Public Programs Internships are designed for the university or college student seeking to gain hands-on experience in a non-profit museum and botanical garden. Interns will experience all aspects of museum education including: developing and teaching classes, creating educational materials, overseeing studio spaces, contributing to Cheekwood’s wide range of events, and working with a variety of age groups.

Available Internships: Summer Camp Interns and Ceramic Camp Interns
Hours/Time Commitment: The Summer internships run 10 weeks, from May 28-August 6 (with no Camps the week of July 4). Time commitments and specific schedules vary by type of internship.
Compensation/College Credit: Interns are encouraged to obtain credit for internships through their academic institution. Cheekwood will work with students to complete all required paperwork and documentation. All internships are unpaid and interns are responsible for their housing, meals and travel expenses. Interns receive discounts in Cheekwood’s restaurant and gift shop on the days they serve and have access to the art studio for their own use during non-camp or class time.

Application Deadline: Interested applicants should send the following materials to volunteers@cheekwood.org: Cheekwood Volunteer Application, letter of interest, resume, and (suggested) images of artwork

 
Garden Guide

Garden Guides enhance the visitor experience by leading interactive tours and sharing valuable knowledge about Cheekwood and its sculpture and gardens. 

Location: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
Key Responsibilities: Guide visitors through Cheekwood’s gardens and outdoor exhibitions while providing commentary and answering questions.
Reports to: Docent Coordinator
Time Commitment: At least two tours per month; tours last about 1 hour plus prep time
Time Frame: Tours are scheduled as needed. Year round although Spring and Fall are the busy seasons.
Qualifications: Friendly and outgoing personality, must complete Volunteer Orientation as well as Garden Guide Training

For more information contact the Docent Coordinator at cgregory@cheekwood.org or (615) 353-6971 or apply online.

Garden Volunteer

Work in our beautiful gardens alongside our skilled garden staff. Staff will provide tools; volunteers should wear closed- toe shoes and bring their own gloves, hats, sunscreen and insect repellant. 

Location: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
Reports to: Garden Manager
Key Responsibilities: Tasks include weeding, watering, grooming, planting and other maintenance assignments.
Time Commitment: At least one shift per month; 2 hours per shift
Time Frame: Tuesdays and/or Sunday mornings. Shifts are 8:30-10:30 during the summer, 10:00-noon other months.
Qualifications: Garden experience a plus but not necessary. Must be physically able to do light garden work including bending, stretching, light lifting in an outdoor setting.

Horticulture Internship
Horticulture internships are designed to expose students to the multi-faceted and labor intensive field horticulture and public garden management while providing them with opportunities to apply these skills in a real-world environment. Interns help maintain Cheekwood’s gardens while working side by side with highly skilled garden staff throughout the 55 acre garden. Interns play an integral role in ensuring the quality and overall beauty of the gardens by assisting with planting, watering, weed control, insect and pest identification, fertilization, and general garden upkeep.

Responsibilities Include:
• Follow and assist garden staff with the daily garden maintenance, rotating through each garden.
• Assist with seasonal color installation.
• Assist with daily garden maintenance such as weeding and watering.
• Observe Seasonal Color design sessions and assist with plant selection.
• Assist with the plant collections including dogwood collection.
• Assist with plant maintenance in the production greenhouses.

Goals/Accomplishments Include:
• Work collaboratively with the garden staff in order to understand their key role with in the institution.
• Develop working knowledge of minor equipment such as mowers, blowers, and weedeaters.
• Work with the Garden manager to develop a self guided tour for the Dogwood collection.

Hours / Time Commitment: 
The total amount of time worked per week is at the digression of the student, volunteer or requirements by the University. To fully understand all aspects of the Horticulture Department a minimum of 15 hours per week is suggested.

Compensation / College Credit:
All interns are encouraged to obtain credit for internships through their academic institution. The Horticulture department internship program does not currently offer any paid internship positions. Interns are responsible for their housing, meals, and travel expenses.

Disclaimer Statement:
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the internship. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current internship, management reserves the right to revise the internship, or to require that other, or different tasks be performed when circumstances change.

Museum of Art Docent
Docents enhance the visitor experience by leading interactive tours and sharing valuable knowledge about Cheekwood and the Museum of Art. 

Location: The Museum of Art
Key Responsibilities: Guide visitors through Cheekwood’s art collections and special exhibitions while providing insightful commentary and answering questions.
Reports to: Docent Coordinator
Time Commitment: At least two tours per month; tours last about 1 hour plus prep time
Time Frame: Tours are scheduled as needed. Year round although Spring and Fall are the busy seasons.
Qualifications: Friendly and outgoing personality, must complete Docent Training 

For more information contact the Docent Coordinator at cgregory@cheekwood.org or (615) 353-6971 or apply online.

Museum Host
Museum Hosts greet visitors and share information about Cheekwood history and collections. 

Location: The Museum of Art
Key Responsibilities: Interact with Museum guests, serving as the Ask Me person for the Museum. Hosts will move from floor to floor, seeking to be at hand to answer inquiries and provide information.
Reports to: Docent Coordinator
Time Commitment: At minimum two shifts per month. Shifts are two hours.
Time Frame: Shift times are 1:00-3:00 Tuesday-Friday; 10:00-12:00 and 2:00-4:00 Saturday; 2:00-4:00 Sunday. Weekday morning shifts are being planned.
Qualifications: Friendly and outgoing personality, must complete Docent Training.

Seasonal Events
Assist children with arts and crafts programs geared to the appropriate season. Activities are offered on Saturdays from 10:00-2:00, with morning and afternoon shifts. Events include:
Cheekwood in Bloom (March 23-April 27), Harvest ( September 21-October 26) and Holidays at Cheekwood (November 30-December 21) .

Location: Most activities are conducted in Cheekwood’s Frist Learning Center
Reports to: Education department staff
Key Responsibilities: Help prep the supplies, work with the children and families and freshen up following the activity.
Time Frame: Seasonal Saturdays from 10:00-2:00. Morning shifts are 9:45-noon and noon-2:15.
Qualifications: A love of children and art

Shuttle Cart Drivers
Transports visitors between building sites via cart or small bus during evening events.

Location: general campus
Reports to: Security Coordinator
Key Responsibilities: Provide guest transportation for visitors . Must be able to interact easily with visitors, provide helpful information about Cheekwood and its activities.
Time Commitment: Must be able to accept and commit to designated shifts
Time Frame: Shifts are two and one half hours in length, 5:00-7:30 and 7:30-10:00 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, from May 24-November 10.
Qualifications: Must be 21 years of age, possess a valid Tennessee driver’s license and a clear driving record. Background check required. Should have excellent customer service skills and outgoing personality. Cheekwood will provide a safety training course before drivers begin service.

Special Events 
Be a part of making a Cheekwood Special Event fun and fabulous! Some of our events include:
Spring Art Hop (early spring)
Assist children with fun art activities & egg hunts

Highballs & Hydrangeas (mid April & mid August)
Greet and check in visitors, distribute wristbands

El Dia de Los Muertos (usually the last Saturday in October)
Assist children with art activities during this annual day-long event

Holiday Events (Saturdays 10am-2pm between Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Assist children with cookie decorating; help with arts activities

Watch for other opportunities 

Summer Camp
Summer Camp volunteers help provide a creative and enriching experience for children ages 2-13 attending the 2013 Summer Camp, conducted June 3rd-August 2nd.

Location: Frist Learning Center
Reports to: Camp Director
Key Responsibilities: Assist instructors with preparation and execution of various projects, help with set-up and clean-up of studio space, and provide hands-on assistance to campers attending the various Camps
Time Commitment: Must commit to a minimum of 20 hours or more
Time Frame: 8:00-4:00, M-F, June 3rd-August 2nd. Morning and/or afternoon shifts available.
Qualifications: Must be 15 years of age or older, be reliable, patient and able to communicate clearly with children and adults, and enjoying working with children and art.

Tuesdays for Tots
Lend a hand with this creative and energy-filled drop-in arts program geared toward pre-school-age children attending with parents/guardians. Our instructor plans each day’s curriculum and our young artists dive in with gusto.

Location: Studios of Cheekwood’s Frist Learning Center
Reports to: Education department staff
Key Responsibilities: Help prep the supplies, work with the children and families and freshen up materials throughout the drop-in art program.
Time Frame: Tuesdays from September through May, from 10:00-noon. Volunteers are asked to report by 9:45 each week for a brief orientation of the day’s class.
Qualifications: A love of children and art


Unique Spring Arts Opportunity
April 3-May 17
Here’s your chance to be an active partner in bringing a unique creative experience to Cheekwood ---helping to install the stunning outdoor exhibition, Light, by renowned international artist Bruce Munro. Volunteers, under the direction of the Munro and Cheekwood art handlers, will assemble and install all the pieces that will encompass this stunning outdoor show, comprised of miles of glowing optic fibers and imaginative materials. Installation begins April 3 with completion May 17. Shifts are Mondays-Fridays, 8:30-12:30 and 12:30-4:30, with at minimum 5 volunteers needed per shift. Come join us for as few or as many shifts as you choose. Volunteers may not be needed on certain days; contact the Volunteer Office at volunteers@cheekwood.org for a detailed schedule. First come, first choice…

 
Visitor Services Assistant
Be the ‘first face’ of Cheekwood, helping front-desk staff welcome weekend and event guests. 

Location: Visitor Services Center front desk
Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
Key Responsibilities: Assist front-desk staff in greeting guests, answering general questions, handing out literature and distributing wristbands during weekends and special-event evenings.
Time Commitments: As needed.
Time Frame: Saturdays and/or Sundays shifts are two to two-and-a half hours in length. There are some evening shifts available, such as for Cheekwood Nights.
Qualifications: Excellent customer service skills, able to interact well with all visitors.