Volunteer opportunities at St. Augustine Lighthouse

Volunteers are being sought to assist with site shifts, visitor services, special events, academic research and a variety of other tasks at one of St Augustine’s best known historical attractions and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution; the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum.

On Thursday, November 13th, the lighthouse will host a special recruiting and training session for new and current volunteers. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. with refreshments and a meet and greet with current volunteers and Volunteer and Special Projects Coordinator, Loni Wellman.

“By donating your time, you will be helping to preserve and present our rich, maritime history,” Wellman told local reporters. “Volunteers are at the heart of every nonprofit organization, and we are no different.”

At 3:00 p.m., Wellman will lead a brief training session followed by a private tour of the museum grounds at 4:00 p.m. She says that, even though the museum has a thriving base of more than 200 volunteers, more are always needed. Whether you can volunteer for an hour each week or for one day a year, Wellman told Historic City News that you can make an impact.

“Our volunteer base is so important to us as a growing museum,” said Wellman. “We have so many opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to become part of our museum.”

Current volunteer openings at the museum include assistance with research and collections, special events support and docent opportunities. In exchange for donating their time, volunteers at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum are eligible for some special perks including a free museum membership, 20% discount in the gift shop and invitations to special events.

Last year, volunteers donated over 17,000 hours to the lighthouse museum; which equates to about $390,000 according to the National Value of Volunteer Time. The museum accepts individual volunteers, couples, groups and junior volunteers who donate time along with their families. Seasonal volunteers are also welcome.

If you’re interested in attending the volunteer reception and training on November 13th, please R.S.V.P. to Loni Wellman at (904) 829-0745.