VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT CHEEKWOOD

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

Special Events
Museum of Art Docent 
Museum Host
Garden Guide
Garden Volunteer 
Administration   
Art Activities Assistant     
Library 
Visitor Services Assistant  
Shuttle Cart Drivers    
Storytime
Summer Camp Volunteers 
Summer Camp Internship Opportunities  
     Summer Camp Intern   
     Ceramics Camp Intern 

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 
 
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.

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.

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.

Art Activities Assistant

Assist teachers and support students during unique hands-on art activities encompassing a wide range of styles and materials. Classes, built upon changing exhibitions and seasons in the Museum of Art and Botanical Gardens, feature fun activities for families and children of all ages. Smocks are provided but “dress for mess.” 

Options: Cheekwood needs Art Activities Assistants for various Saturday classes, for Tuesdays for Tots and for seasonal classes and functions such as Summer Camp (more information on Summer Camp below). 
Saturday classes for toddlers and older children
Tuesdays for Tots
Other seasonal classes and functions. 

Location: The Cheekwood 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 programs.
Time Commitment: At least one class per month; 3 hour shifts
Time Frame: Saturday afternoon classes run 1:00-4:00 PM. Toddler classes are offered monthly 9:30-11:30 AM; Tuesdays for Tots is 9:30am-12:30 PM every Tuesday (September-May). Seasonal classes vary.
Qualifications: A love of children and art

Library

Assist with the organization and cataloging of the botanical library collection. 

Location: Botanic Hall Library
Reports to: Garden Manager
Key Responsibilities: Help organize and catalogue books, keep shelves tidy, and assist visitors with locating particular items.
Time Commitment: At least one shift per month, 2 hours per shift
Time Frame: Year round; Tuesday-Friday
Qualifications: Library experience a plus but not required.

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.

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

Location: general campus
Reports to: Security Coordinator
Key Responsibilities: Provide guest transportation for visitors. Able to interact easily with visitors, providing 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, variety of shift available Tuesdays-Sundays.
Qualifications: Must be 21 years of age, posses 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. 

Storytime
Read pre-selected story books to young children and their parents/guardians during our weekly drop-in story time sessions. 

Location: The Cheekwood Frist Learning Center
Reports to: Education department staff
Key Responsibilities: Read to young audience during the morning session. As audience comes and goes during session, volunteers may need to read the same book more than once.
Time Commitments: Read at minimum one session per month
Time Frame: Tuesday mornings from 10:30-11:30 AM
Qualifications: Must enjoy interacting with small children and possess strong reading aloud skills.


Summer Camp 
High School and Middle School volunteers welcome! You will receive in-service credit as a Summer Camp volunteer. Assist teachers with hands-on art activities for children, provide one-on-one assistance to participants. 

Location: The Cheekwood Frist Learning Center
Reports to: Education department staff
Key Responsibilities: Assists instructors, campers and Cheekwood staff members. during the sessions. Help prepare supplies for the classes as well as assist students who may need guidance. Volunteers get to work with a wide range of art styles and materials. Art aprons are provided but “dress for mess.”
Time Commitment: At least one full week
Time Frame: Monday through Friday from June through the first week of August. Camp is open 8am-5pm with volunteer shifts available 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm, or all day 9am-4pm.
Qualifications: Must be at least 15 years old. Must love children and art.

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

SUMMER CAMP INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNTIES
OVERVIEW:
Cheekwood Education 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 programming, and working with a variety of age groups. 

AVAILABLE INTERNSHIPS: (see individual descriptions for additional information)
Summer Camp Intern   
Ceramics Camp Intern 

HOURS / TIME COMMITMENT:
The Education and Public Programs’ Summer Internships run 9 weeks, May 30- August 3. Camps will not be held July 2-6.Time commitments and specific schedules vary by internship type. See the full internship descriptions for details. 

COMPENSATION / COLLEGE CREDIT:
All interns are encouraged to obtain credit for internships through their academic institution. The education department internship is an unpaid position. Interns are responsible for their housing, meals, and travel expenses. However, interns will receive discounts in Cheekwood’s restaurant and gift shop and have access to the art studios for their own use during non-camp or class times. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Interested applicants should send the following materials no later than April 15th, 2012: Cheekwood Volunteer Application Resume Letter of Interest Suggested, but not required: Images of artwork and/or students’ artwork 

Mail or email applications to:
volunteers@cheekwood.org  
-or- 
Cheekwood Summer Camp Internships
Attn: Volunteer Department
1200 Forrest Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37205