Join our volunteer team and start contributing to the Museum’s mission of promoting Natural History. Gain new skills and competences, invest your time into worthwhile activities, meet new people and play your part in sustaining the common good.
Volunteer positions are open in visitors’ programmes, public relations and the museum’s library.
To become a volunteer, you must be at least 18 years old. Volunteer work is assigned according to the current requirements of the museum. As far as possible, the personal wishes and capacities of the volunteer will also be taken into consideration. No previous experience is required; training will be provided. Volunteer work is meant to be beneficial to all parties involved: volunteers benefit from personal growth, satisfaction, new skills, work experience and social inclusion, while the museum gains valuable help in fulfilling its mission. Volunteer work is not paid work, but still has many benefits.
The coordinating person for volunteer teams is Dr Staša Tome. Each individual team has an assigned mentor.
Available work
The museum offers work in the following fields
| Public programmes |
Touching allowed is a programme that volunteers perform autonomously. Currently there is an activity called How heavy is a mammoth’s tooth, with additional content planned in the future. This programme is available on free- entrance days (every first Sunday in the month, Prešeren’s day, Happy Culture Day, Midsummer Museum Night, etc.) and runs in two shifts (10:00–14:00, 14:00–18:00). It gives visitors the opportunity to feel and weigh in their own hands a genuine mammoth’s tooth, while also learning something interesting about these extinct giants. Training is required prior to taking part in the programme. Kids Workshops take place every other Saturday, three weeks in July and the last week of August. We also do workshops for groups from kindergartens and elementary schools. Each workshop has a Natural History theme that is presented by Dr Staša Tome. The children then design and build thematically-related useful and/or decorative objects. Volunteers are present to help with the activities. |
| Public Relations Department |
The PR department interprets and communicates natural heritage. Volunteers are welcome to help with evaluating our exhibitions (by interviewing visitors and measuring their responses to exhibits), communicating with the public about events, publications and various other activities of the museum, as well as with administrative work. Wishes, skills and competencies of the volunteer will be taken into consideration when assigning them work. |
| Library | Library needs volunteers for sorting and categorisation of library material. Licence for working in COBISS is highly desired. |
| Science Departments |
Occasionally, volunteer work is required at Departments for Geology, Botany, Invertebrates and Vertebrates. Volunteers help with categorisation and digitisation. Individuals with experience and knowledge from the respective fields will be given preference. |
What do we offer?
The Slovenian Museum of Natural History offers the following benefits to its volunteers:
- Gaining experience which will help in seeking first employment
- Letter of recommendation for future employers
- Reimbursement of travel and meal expenses (if working for more than 4 continuous
hours) - Ability to attend the same training seminars as the employees of the Museum
- Free admittance to the Museum and the Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden in Trenta
- Free participation in Kids Workshops for your children and grandchildren
- All of the Museum’s publications for free
- Invitations to social events for the employees of the Museum
Apply
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a volunteer?
The coordinating person for volunteers will choose appropriate tasks and responsibilities for you in accordance with your wishes and the needs of the Museum. You will sign an agreement of collaboration with the Museum for a period of one year (in rare cases, a shorter contract is possible). The coordinator will then assign you the tasks and your weekly schedule. You are welcome to stipulate your own wishes and limitations. Every three months, a coordinating meeting is held between all the volunteers and the staff involved in the implementation of volunteer programmes.
What work can I provide as a volunteer?
A volunteer working in a public position is called a cultural mediator. They help in setting up exhibitions, promoting the Museum, digitising material at the science departments, perform various administrative tasks, and sort and register library units. A more detailed information will be available once you send us the application form.
Can I stop working as a volunteer at any time?
A volunteer signs an agreement of cooperation which defines the period of time they are required to do volunteer work for the Museum. It is preferable that you stay with us for more than a few months. However, the agreement is binding only in a moral sense. In case of objective circumstances (obtaining an employment, sickness, etc.), it can be consensually terminated.
Is there an age limit?
You need to be at least 18 years old to become a volunteer at the Museum.
Do I need to have any special skills or competences to do volunteer work?
Most of the work volunteers do at the Museum does not require any specific skills. The two exceptions are work in the library, where a COBISS licence is preferable, and work for the science departments, which requires an education in natural sciences. However, none of these is an absolute requirement. On the other hand, every volunteer must know and abide by the ethical code of volunteer work and the ICOM Code of Museum Ethics.
For the Touching allowed programme, volunteers must do a training course provided by the Museum.
How many hours per month will I be required to work as a volunteer?
Engagement per month can vary and depends on the wishes and availability of the volunteer and the Museum’s requirements. Volunteers must keep a record of their monthly working hours as this forms the basis for the reimbursement of travel and meal expenses. If the number of hours in a certain month is low, the Museum, in agreement with the volunteer, will delay the reimbursement until a time when a reasonably high sum is reached.
Can I do volunteer work from home?
Certain work can be done from home. In this case the volunteer is not entitled to the reimbursement of travel and meal expenses. When working from home, a record of working hours must be maintained exactly like when working at the Museum.