Be a BVH VolunteerYoung or old, with kids or without, lots of time or a little time, anywhere you are in your life -- we know that you can help us preserve and share the history of this area. If you have gifts and the desire, and we have needs, lots of needs.
We need people who love to be with people. We need people who'd prefer not to be in front of people. We need people who love history. We need people who love that we're all about families. We need people who want to help us with front-line operations -- like being a docent or participating in our re-enactment events. We need people who want to help us with higher-level operations, like strategic planning or operational organization.
Contact us to let us know you're interested in being a volunteer.
If you have an idea of how you'd like to help and don't see it listed below, contact us anyway. We have five properties, a huge collection, multiple events, and big plans -- there's no end to the fun and important ways you could be a part of what BV Heritage does.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Publicity -- create and/or distribute
- Greeter at events and at the museum
- Cleaning properties
- Filing
- Prepare mailings
- Phone tree
- Cook / Bake
- Sell concessions
- Paint
- Wallpaper
- Make paper maché apple and mushroom for parades
- Sew – costumes for Madams and cemetery tour reenactments, volunteers, children’s dress up
- Docents / Tour Guides
- Restoration work
- Staff BVH booth at all events
- Participate in historic re-enactment club-we'll show you how to play dead!
- Transcribe oral histories from audiotape
- Yard work at Turner Farm or Museum
- Pick up donations for St. Elmo Restoration Auction
- Event photographer
- Digitizing historic photos
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
(Summer and Fall)
Front Desk Docent
Locations: Courthouse Museum, Depot & Caboose Transportation Museum
Duties: Greeting visitors, answering basic questions, taking admission, gift shop sales, light cleaning/dusting if necessary.
Qualifications: Enjoyment of people, willingness to continue learning local history, ability to handle cash and occasional credit cards with Square Reader.
Train Operator
Location: Courthouse Museum Model Train
Duties: Maintain track in good condition, operate regular shifts, tell the stories of the Arkansas Valley based on rail history, know operation and light maintenance of the track.
Qualifications: Complete training with the head of Model Railroad, Must be at least 12 to start learning system, must be 16 to run on own.
Collections Database Assistant/Collections Assistant
Location: Courthouse Museum
Duties: Regular shifts entering information into the database. Optional entering of objects into the database and handling of objects with additional training (provided) for numbering the objects and storage.
Qualifications: Database experience and some knowledge of antiques useful but not required.
Children's Program Assistant
Location: Courthouse Museum, Depot & Caboose Transportation Museum, Historic Turner Farm
Duties: On-call position for leading tour groups, facilitating educational activities, and program development.
Qualifications: Pass a background check, experience in education useful but not required.
Event and Project-Based Opportunities
(As Needed)
Gold Rush Days
When: August
Location: Buena Vista Soccer Fields
Duties: Dress in period clothes and distribute museum brochures at the AGold Rush Day's festivities.
AppleFest
When: September
Location: Turner Farm
Duties: Multiple positions including old-time kids crafts, making apple butter/cider, help with on-site gift shop, manning apple pie booth, and more!
Chili Cook-Off & Christmas Open/Chocolate Walk
When: December
Location: Courthouse Museum
Duties: Help with the chocolate walk, serve Chilli, help with setting up/ tear down
Turner Farm Projects
When: Ongoing/Until the project is completed
Location: Turner Farm
Duties: Historic Method wallpapering, painting,
Qualifications: Knowledge of historic wall-papering with linen is desired but not required.