Volunteers

Rex Babiera
Liz Balvanera
Katie Barnhart
Nina Brown
Nathan Cantu
Bill Chiu
Steve Cosgrove
Sid Davis
Tim Doar
Chris Dransoff
Dan Dumitrescu
Paul Francuch
Bob Gorz
Dave Harvey
Rachelle Jacobs
Claudia Jimenez
Fred Johnson
Elizabeth Joseph
Alex Keelty
Tom Kirke
Deborah Kirkorsky
Carmen Maso
Brian McElveney
Aisha Mujahid
Lou Nigra
Riley Pierce
Alan Raiff
Helen Reilly
Charles Roche
Rachel Rush
Andy Salata
Linda Saucedo
Gabriela Tucker
Laris Turkic
Bill Van Loan
John Walsh
Jeff Wiedemann

We have volunteer opportunities across the entire museum. Volunteers can assist the public on the museum floor, facilitate telescope viewing during special events, or help behind the scenes with data entry and clerical needs. Each of our volunteers plays a vital role in the functioning of our institution. We do our best to match potential volunteers with opportunities that meet a combination of their skills, interests, background, and schedule availability.

One of the best parts of our volunteer community is how diverse it is! We have teens, college students, professionals, and retirees. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and enrich our community with their different talents. We look forward to learning what unique contributions you can bring to our program!

While knowledge of or interest in astronomy can be helpful, it is by no means required in order to be a volunteer. We look for candidates who are enthusiastic, willing to learn, and flexible. Depending on your role, you will receive additional training and education on space and other science topics.

The required time commitment varies with each role, but typically we request at least a 6 to 12-month regular commitment.

Each volunteer position has a schedule that is laid out by the role’s supervisor. Some volunteers are expected once a week while others are only expected once a month. We also have special event volunteers who volunteer as needed throughout the year.

The physical demands depend on each role. It is the policy of the Adler Planetarium to comply with all federal and state laws concerning the employment and volunteering of persons with disabilities and act in accordance with regulations and guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

In general, if you are in a role that interfaces with the public, you should expect to be on your feet for at least 3 hours at a time. Sometimes, volunteers are asked to help with outdoor events, so plan for all kinds of Chicago weather. Other volunteers who work behind the scenes may be sitting in front of a computer screen for at least 3 hours.

Our age minimum is 16 years old, but some roles may require that you are older. Please check the requirements of any role for which you have a specific interest.

Yes. Many of our teen volunteers earn service-learning hours for school at the Adler. We can print a report of the hours you have earned volunteering with us.

We typically cannot accommodate seasonal volunteers except in our Summer Camps Volunteer position. Due to the resources we invest in volunteers, we typically ask for a long-term commitment of at least 6 to 12 months.

The Adler is in the process of reopening our volunteer opportunities. Currently, there are limited roles available for volunteering with us. Please submit an application and we will contact you as assignment opportunities arise that match your availability, skills, and background. Thank you for your interest!

Apply to be a Volunteer

If you have any questions about the volunteer program at the Adler, please feel free to contact us at volunteer@adlerplanetarium.org.

The orientation is about four hours and includes the opportunity to explore the museum, learn the layout, and understand volunteer scheduling, communication, and expectations.

Volunteers who work behind the scenes do not have a uniform. Those who interact with the public are typically asked to wear an Adler Planetarium t-shirt (which we will provide).

Once a volunteer has completed the orientation process, they receive a discount on parking at the parking lot just south of the Adler Planetarium. Please note: this lot is not owned by the museum and pricing is subject to change.

We request you arrive for your volunteer shift even if the weather is not conducive to the responsibilities of your role. If you are ever unsure, you may contact your supervisor for an update.

If you would like more information about the Adler Planetarium’s Volunteer Program or the status of your application, please contact us at volunteer@adlerplanetarium.org