Volunteer in Birmingham, AL | Southern Museum of Flight

VOLUNTEER WITH THE SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT

We would like to thank all our current and past volunteers, you are vital to the success of this museum and without you we would not be the facility we are today.

The Southern Museum of Flight is looking for volunteers to assist in the Docent program and in Aircraft Restoration. We also seek Interns for unpaid internships throughout the year and especially for the summer. If you are interested in volunteering please fill out an email request form and send it to us.

WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM!

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Learn about our volunteer opportunities below!

BE A DOCENT

Love to teach? Comfortable in front of a crowd? Can you keep groups of 4 years olds engaged and excited about aviation in the morning and do the same thing for a group of Seniors in the afternoon? Are you at least 18 years old and willing to pass a background check? If so, we need you as a volunteer Docent here at the Southern Museum of Flight.

Our Docent program needs committed volunteers who are willing to spend time training with our Education Coordinator to give tours on a regular basis at the Museum. As a Docent you will represent the museum and provide the vital Education programs to our visitors young and old. We will teach you the historical and practical knowledge to give tours, demonstrate hands-on activities, and conduct a “Learn to Fly” course in our Flight Simulator Lab. We’ll show you the many techniques we use to keep our visitors engaged and enthusiastic during their visit to the museum. Although knowledge of flying is helpful, it is not a requirement. This is an intensive program and a Docent must be committed to the training process. You will be the face of the museum and we will ensure you are prepared for this responsibility if you commit the time to finish our training.

Docents must be comfortable in front of crowds, engaging with children, and a bit of an actor/humorist to keep our Field Trips and private groups excited and actively learning during their visit. Background check required.

Fill out the Docent form on this page (no calls please) to set up an appointment to see if you are the right fit for the Docent program. Our Education Outreach Coordinator will advise you of the next step.

AIRCRAFT RESTORATION

Are you mechanically inclined, do you love airplanes, are you willing to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty on some of the rarest and most historic aircraft you’ll ever get to see up close and personal? Then we need you as an Aircraft Restoration Volunteer.

You will work and learn alongside some of the most qualified aircraft builders, mechanics and aviators in the Birmingham area, who are some of the most enthusiastic and capable volunteers the museum has ever seen. Our Aircraft Restoration Technician is a 24 year veteran of the USAF and is responsible for the maintenance and restoration of over 100 aircraft. Go behind the scenes of our world class exhibits with him and assist in the restoration and improvement of everything from vintage World War One flyers to modern day jets and helicopters.

Fill out the Aircraft Restoration Form on this page (no calls please) or come to the Museum on Tuesdays at 9:30 am to meet our Restoration team and jump right in…

INTERNSHIPS

We need interns young and old, college students and students of life, all are welcome to apply for an internship. Are you interested in Aviation and helping our Museum to grow and reach more people via the web, social media and museum publications? Are you willing to volunteer your time and possibly earn college credit? Are you enrolled in one of the following majors or do you already have experience in one of the following areas?

Aeronautical Engineering, Journalism/Photojournalism, Computer Science, Education, History, Anthropology, Aviation Sciences, Videography, Photography, Creative Writing, Marketing.

While experience in one of the areas above is desired, it is not a requirement. If you are enthusiastic about aviation, eager to learn how our museum works, and willing to expand your resume with valuable volunteer experience, we want you! You must be at least 18 years old and willing to submit to a background check. College students may be eligible for college credit for internships with us, contact us via the form on this page for more information.

Interns will learn the “business” of a museum, from leadership positions to camps for kids to curator/archivist/custodial duties. You will work in the various departments of the Museum. While your work will be concentrated where we need you most, we will work with you to give you exposure to the areas of your greatest interests. If you would like to intern with us, please fill out the Internship form on this page (no calls please). Our Administrative Director will advise you of the next step.