Volunteer
By volunteering with Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago, you can help children learn through play, exploration, and discovery. Since 1985, Kohl Children’s Museum, a not-for-profit, educational facility, has been dedicated to “hands-on” learning and fostering innovative ways to nurture a love of learning in young children. We are one of the few museums in the country that has always focused on early childhood education – the fundamental, critically important learning that occurs from birth to age 8.
Operating seven days a week in a 46,700 square foot, Silver-level LEED certified, universally designed facility, there are many ways that you can make a difference in the lives of thousands of young children.
Opportunities
- Administration/Office (filing & mailings, database entry, and phone support): Filing and mailings can be learned on the job; database entry requires familiarity with Excel spreadsheets and experience with database entry; phone support requires training and a pleasant, customer-service oriented professional telephone manner.
- Museum Floor/Education Department/Public Programs: Interact with children and their parents or caregivers; help prepare materials for child centered activities. Requires excellent customer service skills; ability to work in active, noisy, child-centered play environment; flexible and can-do work attitude; warm, friendly, engaging personality; attention to detail; teaching, parenting, coaching, mentoring, camp counselor experience helpful (but not required); ability to stand for up to 60 minutes without a break; ability to work indoors or outdoors; ability to work early mornings or evenings.
- Special Events (typically one-time events such as costumed character appearances and escorts, fundraisers, food service [set-up and clean-up for family events], expos, and conferences): Helpful skills and experience include friendly customer service; flexible and can-do work attitude; ability to stand for up to 60 minutes without a break; ability to work indoors or outdoors, depending on the event and weather conditions; ability to work early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
Requirements
- Minimum age: 16 or older (all Juniors/Seniors in High School fulfilling academic-related service hours are welcome to apply)
- Reliable, flexible, and possess great people skills
- Experience interacting with younger children helpful
- Some opportunities may require you to stand or sit for long periods of time
- Prior volunteer/work experience helpful
- Be enthusiastic about volunteering and supporting the community
Benefits
- Learn and develop new skills
- Meet and build a community of friends
- Gain experience working with children at special events, or work “behind the scenes”
- Gain personal satisfaction giving back to the community
- Develop or enhance professional skills for the future
- Receive invitations to training workshops and an annual recognition event
