Volunteer Opportunities
School Program Demonstrator
A school program demonstrator will serve as an educator during our Pioneer Student Program. This engaging, 3-hour educational program is designed for second-grade students and takes place in the spring and fall, serving over 3,000 students from local and surrounding schools annually. Each session includes 2-5 groups of 20-30 students rotating through our Historical Village. As a demonstrator, you will present a specific, pre-assigned theme (with full training provided) to each group during their visit. Programs run twice a week from 10-1. Join us in bringing history to life for the next generation of learners!
Must be 18+
Weekend Docent
A docent will serve as a tour guide at one of our three locations during open hours. Docents play a vital role in creating a welcoming and informative experience for our visitors. As guests arrive to your assigned location, it's your responsibility to provide an engaging tour that highlights the history of the site as well as answer any questions they may have. At two locations we also have a small museum store. It's the docents responsibility to process any sales. Our open hours are Saturday 11-2 and Sunday 1-4. Join us and help bring history to life for our community!
Must be 18+
Collections/Archives
Join our knowledgeable Sylvania Historical Society every Tuesday from 10-1 as they research and care for the Sylvania Archives. Much of their time is spent researching or responding to historical questions from the public. Therefore, prior knowledge of Sylvania's history is a plus. The Historical Society currently consists of a local author, a local collector and reenactor. All are long time Sylvania residents and have studied the history of Sylvania most of their lives. They are incredibly knowledgeable of our community and it's past. Join us and contribute to preserving Sylvania's rich heritage!
Archives Database
The Cooke-Kuhlman House is home to the Sylvania archives. Our current database is outdated and we are in the initial stages of a comprehensive effort to modernize it. We are looking for detail oriented support to help us in digitizing our database. This entails reviewing and organizing historical objects, documents and files, researching and collecting information on each object as necessary, and inputting these details into the digital database.
Given the importance and scale of this project we are seeking a limited number of dedicated volunteers to ensure consistency and accuracy over time.
Special Events
Downtown Sylvania hosts numerous events throughout the year, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Red Bird, and other local organizations. Heritage Sylvania actively participates in these community events and hosts many of our own. To ensure the success of these events, we rely on dedicated volunteers to help bring them to life. For most events, we need a volunteer stationed in each building on campus to share it's history or help with an activity. Occasionally, we will need help with set up and tear down. Prior to each event, we will reach out to all volunteers with a sign up sheet of where we most need help.
Must be 16+
Special Projects
We occasionally need extra hands for various small projects and tasks that arise. These can include activities such as cleaning, organizing, event preparation, holiday decorating, and clean-up. These tasks often do not have set dates and therefore can be completed when it's convenient for the volunteers. Much of the work can be completed during office hours (Mon-Fri 9-5) or during weekend open hours.
If you have a special skill or hobby such as gardening, carpentry, sewing, etc. that you feel would be a benefit to Heritage Sylvania, let us know! I'm sure there is something here just for you.