Volunteer
Oberlin Heritage Center Vaccination Policy
Please note that as of January 6, 2022 the Oberlin Heritage Center is following a COVID vaccination policy that impacts paid employees, interns, and volunteers who regularly work indoors and interact with the public. Please contact the Executive Director, Liz Schultz, for details. [email protected]
Share your talents and enthusiasm! Meet other community and college volunteers with similar interests. Join the many volunteers who assist with all aspects of our operation.
Individuals, families, couples, and group volunteer teams of all ages are encouraged to participate. Training is provided where needed and we try to accommodate your schedule. Some prefer to take assignments home and work at their own pace; others enjoy having a regular schedule here at "the office." Please tell us about your special interests and talents. We'll find a way to put them to good use!
To become a volunteer at the Oberlin Heritage Center, you can either call us at (440) 774-1700, or email Stephanie Bohnak. You can also download and print this volunteer application form and bring it to the Monroe House or send it to P.O. Box 455, Oberlin, OH 44074. Please note that new student volunteers are accepted at the beginning of semesters and the summer, so students should plan application deadlines accordingly.
Volunteer opportunities include:
Docents - Our docents educate guests to the Oberlin Heritage Center’s historic sites by providing information about the community’s rich heritage and sharing stories about the people who lived and worked in our buildings. Tour docents offer full walking tours of all three of our historic buildings (the Monroe House, Little Red Schoolhouse and Jewett House), while room docents are stationed in just one or two rooms to guide visitors and answer questions during open house events. We encourage tour docents to lead at least four tours per year. Time commitments can vary to suit volunteers' schedules, but we especially appreciate docents who are willing to help with tours on a weekly or monthly basis during our regular tour hours (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm) and for group tours at other times. Check out this docent brochure for more information on becoming a docent. Teens aged 13-17 can be Junior Docents! Look for our summer program calendar to see when the next Junior Docent camp is being held.
Help with Programs and Events - Set up and/or clean up, greet visitors, and/or help plan Oberlin Heritage Center programs. We always welcome help in staffing information tables at community events such as Juneteenth, Family Fun Fair, etc.
Hospitality - Volunteers always are needed to help greet guests and serve refreshments at Oberlin Heritage Center community programs. Occasionally, we need helpers to make cookies or provide other baked goods for these events, too.
Children's Hands-on-History and Crafts Projects - Help in preparing for and assisting with planning and supervising children's activities during events and open houses.
Gardeners/Grounds Crew - Every year on a designated Saturday in May, we "spring clean" our grounds as part of a county-wide "Pride Day" event. We appreciate helpers willing to weed, clear brush, plant flowers, and assist us with other outdoor clean-up/fix-up projects. We also need help with trimming, weeding, and watering flower beds and green spaces on an ongoing basis.
Antiques and Decorative Arts Experts/Enthusiasts - Help us with ongoing collections cataloging, care and exhibition projects.
Building Preservation - Help is always needed with the maintenance of historic buildings. Projects range from changing the light bulbs to fixing the doorbell.
Living History Volunteers - Help recreate people and stories from Oberlin's past.
Photographers - Take photographs, slides or videos for events and special projects.
Graphic Artists/Desktop Publishers/Writers/Editors/Proofreaders - Help is needed with flyers, posters, and other special projects. Computer and public relation skills much appreciated.
Office Helpers - Assist in answering the phone, greeting visitors, staffing our museum store, and performing a variety of clerical tasks on a regular or as-needed basis.
Mailing Assembly Team - We meet as-needed at Kendal at Oberlin to assemble large bulk mailings. Let us know if you would be interested in being part of our fantastic "mail crew." Together, we make it fun!
Delivery Persons - Help us on an as-needed basis by posting flyers and delivering packets to area businesses, local members, and volunteers, etc. This requires a car (unless you wish to focus on deliveries within walking distance of the Monroe House).
Researchers - Conduct historical research at the Oberlin College Archives and other libraries for various special projects. Much of this work has to be done on weekdays. Help us collect or transcribe oral history interviews as part of the Oberlin Oral History Project.
Fundraising - We always welcome creative fundraising suggestions and strategies. One unique opportunity that some of our volunteers assist with annually is our Bed-and-Breakfast fundraiser, when we offer overnight accommodations to parents of incoming first-year students at Oberlin College. This event takes place around the third week of August each year, and typically involves a one-, two-, or three-night stay in private homes. Call us if you would like further information.
