Looking for something to do? Well, it’s looking for you back. Get active and stay involved in the community by volunteering. Here are a few opportunities in the Denver area:
Air and Space Museum|Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., needs volunteers to help at the admissions desk, museum store, and in the museum’s collection of artifacts. The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For information, call Matthew Burchette at 303-360-5360, ext. 103.
Butterfly Pavilion|The Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, needs volunteers to work with visitors and to help in its tropical butterfly conservatory, tide pool, touch cart, and garden areas. For information, visit butterflies.org or call Kris Desmarais, 720-974-1868.
Colorado Ushers|The ushers do the obvious chores at 14 area performing arts facilities, plus more: They can be asked to help backstage, in the front office or preparing actors to get onstage. The volunteers often get free admission to events. 303-282-8885, coloradoushers.org
Denver Art Museum |Things are getting exciting at the Art Museum with the giant new expansion set to open its doors in the fall. Get on board now by offering to help assist in the growing museum store, or with education programs and conservation. Volunteers get perks like free tickets to special exhibitions and events. 720-865-5045, denverartmuseum.org
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Visitor Center |School field trip program guides and docents are needed to serve as hosts and conduct programs appropriate for school groups, youth and scouting organizations, senior citizen and civic groups at the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL Visitors Center, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden. For information, contact Ivilina Thornton at 303-384-6566 or e-mail ivilina_thornton@nrel.gov.
Nature Center|Bluff Lake Nature Center, East 30th Avenue and Moline Street, needs volunteer naturalists to work with kids, using games, science experiments and hands-on activities to teach them about nature. No experience is required. For information, call Sue Schafer at 303-468-3245.
Plains Conservation Center|The Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, needs volunteer “citizen scientists” to work with PCC naturalists gathering, compiling and mapping information about prairie residents. Survey work will take place on the first Saturday of each month. Training is provided. To register, e-mail Fran Blanchard at fblanchard@plainscenter.org or call 303-693-3621.
Science fair judges|Community Resources Inc., which organizes science fairs, needs volunteers to judge science fairs this spring at Valverde Elementary School, McMeen Elementary School, Steele Elementary School and for the Denver Public Schools District Fair. For dates and information, call Debbie Turner, 303-782-0975 or e-mail Debbie_Turner@dpsk12.com.
Science Museum|The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., needs volunteers to work with visitors in the museum’s diorama halls, galleries and activity areas. Also needed are volunteers to be guides, interpreters, collections assistants and classroom prep assistants. Also, volunteers are needed to help with the “Body Worlds 2” exhibit. Call the Volunteer Services office for information, 303-370-6419.
Wilderness environmental service programs|The Rocky Mountain Field Institute needs volunteers to complete alpine restoration projects this summer at Crestone Needle and South Colony Lakes Basin in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Four-day programs will be offered July 8-11, Sept. 1-4 and Sept. 8-11. A seven-day “volunteer vacation” will be Aug. 20-26 and is run in conjunction with the American Hiking Society. For information, contact RMFI at 719-471-7736 or rmfibox@qwest.net.
Zoo|The Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., uses volunteers to help animal caregivers, give tours, lead youth programs and interpret exbibits. It’s all part of keeping the 4,000 animal residents and 1.7 million annual visitors happy and healthy. Free laborers get member benefits. For information, visit denverzoo.org or call 303-376-4894.
