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Museum volunteers engage visitors in the wonder of biodiversity through discussions and activities, and answer questions about the museum, its collections, and its research. Volunteers represent the museum in-person, on the floor daily.
What do volunteers do?
• Interact with visitors in the
museum using touchable specimens, activities, crafts, and more.
• Assist with educational and
outreach programs, including hands-on activities, for a variety of visitors.
• Spend time at the Whale Station
and Discovery Lab.
• Provide excellent customer
service and answer general museum inquiries from visitors.
• Assist with flow of visitors
through the museum: at closing time, before and after daytime lectures.
• Help with other tasks related to
museum activities and events (organizing supplies, prepping material for
activities, registration, set-up and takedown for events, etc.).
Volunteers who are a good fit will be:
• Friendly, considerate, and are
ready to start conversations with visitors in the museum
• Eager to learn new things about
biodiversity
• Interested in ecology,
evolution, biodiversity, natural history, biology, science, and/or STEAM
• Reliable, punctual, and excited
to be part of the public face of the museum
• Looking to build and/or use
communication, language, and/or teaching skills
• Actively welcoming of people
from different backgrounds, ages, experiences, and abilities
• Prepared to commit to regular,
ongoing volunteering: at least four shifts (15-20 hours) per month
Volunteers are required to:
• Start conversations with museum
visitors of all ages: one-on-one, in small and larger groups
• Handle real museum specimens,
including bones, fur, fish, feathers, fossils, jars, plants, and shells
• Have regular, verbal
conversations in English. Other languages are very welcome, but not required.
• Use reference materials that are
written in English
• Work independently while
following a task-based schedule that moves you around the museum
• Act with respect, use inclusive
language, and cooperate with staff and volunteers in the museum
• Complete a criminal record check
upon selection. This check investigates relevant offences to working with
children and/or vulnerable adults in the museum.
• Occasionally lift over 10lbs and
use a ladder, or be willing to ask for help when needed.
• Transport yourself to and from
the Beaty Biodiversity Museum for all shifts. Parking is not provided for
volunteers. Transit, car-sharing, and cycling are great options!
• Check email for communication,
access a computer for scheduling (can be provided at the museum)
• Call the museum if running late
or have last-minute shift changes
• Be 16 years old or over on
October 24, 2026
Volunteer benefits:
• Gain valuable training and
experience in public speaking and informal education
• Work with experienced museum
staff, UBC biodiversity researchers, and like-minded volunteers
• Learn about biodiversity and
current research through training and development opportunities
• Invitations to special volunteer
appreciation events and ongoing training opportunities
• Free general admission to the
museum and 10% off at the gift shop
• Receive 4 free guest passes for
friends and family per calendar year
• A written reference letter after
you reach 100 volunteer hours, upon request
Time Commitment:
A minimum of four (4) shifts per month, ongoing, starting in
late October 2026. Total hours will be approximately 15-20 hours per month.
Volunteers select their own schedule, times include: Morning shifts
(9:15am-1:30pm), Afternoon shifts (12:45pm-5:15pm), and/or Special event shifts
(occasional evenings from 5:00pm-9:00pm)
Training
Museum volunteers will attend eight hours of in-person
training, which will be two half days or one full day. Applicants will indicate
their preference during the application period. Attendance at the in-person
session is mandatory for volunteering with the museum. Volunteers will complete
several web-based modules as part of their initial training either at home or
on a museum-provided computer.
New museum volunteers will be scheduled with an experienced
museum volunteer on at least their first shift. Most months, additional
training is offered to museum volunteers to enhance their knowledge and
understanding; participation is not mandatory but encouraged. Dates, times, and
topics will be shared with volunteers. Training always counts towards your
shift minimums per month.
Selection
Selection for this position is based on your application
questions and interview. If the group interview date does not work for you, we
will schedule an alternative interview date and time. All communication about
this position will happen over email from volunteers@beatymuseum.ubc.ca. We
will notify you of your selection status at least a few days before the
interviews. If you do not hear from us, please get in touch!
Important Dates:
Application Deadline: Monday September 28, 2026, by 11:59pm
In person interviews: Thursday October 8, 2026, between 5:30-9pm
Training option 1: Sunday October 18, 2026, between 9am-5pm
Training option 2: Saturday October 24, 2026, between 9am-5pm
Apply Now
If this position sounds like a good fit for you, we invite
you to apply to join our team by applying online at https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/volunteer
before September 28, 2026.
The Beaty Biodiversity Museum selects volunteers on the
basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its
community. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that
have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from
members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under
the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity
or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital
or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or
Indigenous person. Please ask if you have questions about access and/or
accommodations. Learn more at http://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/accessibility
.
About the Museum
The Beaty Biodiversity Museum strives to inspire an
understanding of biodiversity, its origins, and importance to humans through
collections-based research, education and outreach. As Vancouver’s natural
history museum, we work to promote a greater sense of collective responsibility
for the biodiversity of British Columbia, Canada, and the world. The unique
combination of world-class research, paired with beautiful, compelling
exhibits, strives to make the research conducted at UBC more accessible to the
public. Among our two million treasured specimens are a 26-metre-long blue
whale skeleton suspended in the atrium, the third-largest fish collection in
Canada, and myriad fossils, shells, insects, fungi, mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, and plants from around BC and across the world.
2212 Main Mall | Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4 | Tel 604 827
4955 |
Email volunteers@beatymuseum.ubc.ca
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Thank you for your interest! Please make sure you apply online at https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/volunteer before September 28, 2026 to be considered for this opportunity.
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