Volunteer

Why become a Volunteer?

• Volunteering gives you a chance to learn more about the petroleum heritage of our region and share your knowledge with others.
• There are as many reasons to volunteer as there are people who do, but, whatever motivates you, your decision to volunteer benefits everyone involved.
• At Drake Well, there are once-a-week and once-in-a-while volunteer opportunities available. Choose what interests you and is best for you and your time schedule.
• High-quality museum events and tours would not be possible without help from our volunteers—Please be one!
• There are several benefits to being a volunteer for Drake Well Museum and Park! Here are just a few:
  • Free admission to the museum
  • Educational opportunities
  • Access to the research library
  • Museum Store discount
  • Special Volunteer recognitions

Who can become a Volunteer?

Anyone can become a volunteer! There is something for everyone to volunteer in at Drake Well Museum and Park. We are looking for people to do various activities. There is a perfect fit for you here. We ask that you fill out our volunteer questionnaire/application, which will help us find your place here volunteering at the museum. All volunteers are required to obtain their clearances.

Some of the many Volunteer Opportunities Available:

Tour Docent: Docents are trained to interpret the founding of the oil industry in Pennsylvania for groups by educating about the persons, places, and events important to the development of the petroleum industry and its growth into a global enterprise. Volunteers are the first person visitors encounter at the museum. Our docents greet visitors and provide information on the services available during a visit and answer questions about the site. Docents are asked to sign up for scheduled group tours—either school or travel groups. Tour docents may also be called upon for manning stations during special events. Docent training and updates take place throughout the year through lectures, handouts, and shadowing programs. The research library is also available for docents to use.

Historic Interpreters: In historic attire or a Drake Well shirt, volunteers are trained to demonstrate historic activities. Some historic activities can include coopering, blacksmithing, civil war reenactments, storytelling, ecology, and geology. There are many more activities as well. Historic interpreters are needed for school and group tours and special events. If a volunteer is interested in wearing historic attire, some costuming is available. We are in need of more historic costuming and are always looking for volunteers who can sew to help us attire our volunteers. If a volunteer owns their own historic attire, this is wonderful!

Curatorial Volunteer: Curatorial volunteers should enjoy detail-oriented work and have an interest in museums and conservation issues; research skills are valuable. Volunteers are needed for various curatorial activities from inventory, cataloging, and photo documentation to artifact care and maintenance. Curatorial volunteers are also needed to help conduct research requests. Computer skills and experience with databases is a plus, but training is available.

Event Maintenance Volunteer: Event maintenance volunteers prepare for special events held at the site. Volunteers are responsible for, but not limited to, setting up canopies, tables, and chairs the day before an event and tear down of the items the day of the event. Volunteers are also responsible for the creation of items needed for events and the placing of event road signs.

Gardening Volunteer: A garden volunteer aids in maintaining the site’s flower/plant beds throughout the gardens.

Front Desk Volunteer: A front desk volunteer is the first person visitors encounter at the museum. Volunteers greet visitors and provide information on the services available during a visit and answer questions about the site. Front desk volunteers are asked to fill a 4-hour shift at the desk. While at the front desk, volunteers do have the opportunity to aid the curator with projects if they would like.

Experience is not required! We will train you in your area of interest. Or maybe you know a way that you can help us as a volunteer that is not listed!

To learn more about the volunteer program or to request a volunteer questionnaire/application, please, contact:

Drake Well Museum and Park
Attn: Sarah Goodman, Museum Educator
202 Museum Lane Titusville, PA 16354
Phone: 814-461-0005
sargoodman@pa.gov

Requirements:

• Act 34, 114, & 151 clearances
• Communication skills
• Outgoing personality