Volunteer at CSU Spur

Talk to the public at off-site events and tell them about CSU Spur facilities, programs, and upcoming activities. Provide informational materials and answer questions. Help facilitate engaging Spur-related outreach activities, such as guiding youth exploratory play with grab-and-go kits. Distribute informational materials, including brochures and flyers, and may be requested to help facilitate an engaging booth activity or game.  

Community engagement volunteers are often telling the public about CSU Spur and its services for the very first time and are critical in providing a positive and informative experience.

Time commitment: Flexible. One 3-4-hour shift a month, preferred.

Typical schedule:  Shifts align with community events and fairs and often occur from 4-8 p.m. on weeknights and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends. 

Training requirements: 

• General volunteer orientation.
• General program orientation.
• A CSU Spur staff person will be scheduled to work alongside all community engagement volunteers at events and will lead on-site training as necessary.

Skills required:

• Ability to be welcoming and friendly to all visitors.
• Willingness to answer questions and provide information.
• Strong verbal capabilities.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

Physical requirements (accommodations can be made): 

• Ability to stand or sit in varying spaces and weather conditions: outdoors (with and without a tent), indoors, etc.
• Ability to move boxes and resupply materials.

At CSU Spur, we encourage visitors to see themselves as scientists, experts, and leaders of change. Through facilitated, interactive engagement experiences, visitors will have a chance to learn about a topic related to food, water, or health in more depth. Engagement experience facilitators take pre-created activities and use them to help visitors engage further with a Spur-related topic, focusing on safe experiences for all. 

Time commitment: 7 hours per month (two 3.5-hour shifts).

Typical schedule: 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Grab-and-go experience facilitation.

Skills required:

• Ability to speak comfortably with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

This position is available to well-versed and seasoned volunteers who are able and willing to support wherever needed for their shift. The education staff point person will assign tasks and provide direction for the shift. Examples of roles for float facilitators are greeter, engagement experience facilitator, stream table facilitator, virtual reality facilitator, and greenhouse facilitator.

Time commitment: 6 hours per month (two 3-hour shifts).

Typical schedule: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., or 2-5 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Technology orientation.
• Stream table orientation. 
• Virtual reality orientation.
• Greenhouse orientation.

Skills required:

• Ability to speak comfortably with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to support general exhibit care and maintenance tasks. 
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

Greenhouse Facilitators support visitors’ learning about agriculture and the sustainable food system. Greenhouse facilitators can give tours of the greenhouse, demonstrate hydroponic systems at the engagement exhibit, share information about the green roof, and run grab-and-go activities in the headhouse. They are responsible for ensuring visitor safety and compliance with greenhouse protocols.

Time commitment: 6 hours per month (two 3-hour shifts).

Typical schedule: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 12-3 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Greenhouse orientation.
• Grab-and-go training.

Skills required:

• Ability to speak comfortably with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

Spur always needs friendly and welcoming personalities to greet visitors, provide them with an orientation to CSU Spur and information regarding programming, and answer questions. Greeters will distribute informational materials, including maps and guides, and may also distribute forms or flyers. Greeters are often the first interaction visitors have on site, and we hope to ensure all visitors to the campus have a positive and engaging experience.

Time commitment: 6 hours per month (two 3-hour shifts)

Typical schedule: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12-3 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Shadowing required.
• Review of background resources.

Skills required: 

• Ability to be welcoming and friendly to all visitors.
• Willingness to answer questions and provide information.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

Hydro teaching lab facilitators share hands-on activities such as exploring macroinvertebrates from the South Platte River (weather dependent) and other water-based crafts and experiments in grab-and-go kits. Teaching lab facilitators are also responsible for any equipment and visitor safety while in the teaching lab. 

Time commitment: varies.

Typical schedule:  9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Teaching lab and programming overview with water education coordinator.
• Grab-and-go training.

Skills required:

• Comfort engaging with and learning about water-based programming.
• Ability to engage with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to communicate comfortably in a small group setting.
• Basic custodial skills to clean and maintain materials.
• Ability to communicate via radio.

Physical requirements:

• Ability to bend, sit, and stand for extended periods of time.

The Kitchen support facilitator supports CSU Spur staff in engaging visitors or school groups through culinary experiences in the kitchen.

Time commitment: varies.

Typical schedule: varies.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Training/shadowing with kitchen staff.

Skills required:

• Ability to speak comfortably with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

The school programs support facilitator supports a Spur Education team member in the organization and logistics of a school visit. Volunteers may help move wagons, welcome students, talk to teachers, direct groups, support activities, and ensure the overall program flow is smooth.

A lunch break can be scheduled during this shift if needed.

Time commitment: 7 hours per month (two 3.5-hour).

Typical schedule: 9:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Training/shadowing with school programs coordinator.

Skills required:

• Ability to speak comfortably with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

Help visitors and school programs explore how land and water interact and how man-made objects can affect and influence this interaction. Participants are invited to help create a stream in the table, observe what is happening and why, and add toys and objects, like houses and farm animals, to the table. Facilitators will support participants in their learning, as well as ensure the safety of the experience for visitors and the equipment.

Time commitment: 6 hours per month (two 3-hour shifts).

Typical schedule: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., or 2-5 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Stream Table orientation and shadowing.

Skills required:

• Ability to engage with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to speak comfortably in a small group setting.
• Basic custodial skills to clean and maintain materials.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

Physical requirements (accommodations can be made):

• Ability to bend, sit, or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use hands for manipulating tools.
• Ability to move materials and exhibit resources.

Mock clinic facilitators support learners during imaginative play in the mock veterinary clinic. Facilitators should be enthusiastic about supporting the “patient care” process. They will also support cleaning and restocking the clinic, as well as help with group management when the clinic is busy. 

Time commitment: None.

Typical schedule: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on busy days (2nd Saturdays + National Western Stock Show).

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• Technology orientation.

Skills required:

• Ability to speak comfortably with multi-generational audiences.

While visitors can’t always physically engage with a resource or material or visit an exotic destination, virtual reality can provide a unique and immersive way to get “hands on” and travel. Virtual reality facilitators will become familiar with the technology and guide visitors and school groups through a brief interactive experience with headsets and selected virtual reality experiences.

Time commitment: 6 hours per month (two 3-hour shifts).

Typical schedule: varies, usually 9:30a .m.-12:30 p.m. or 12-3 p.m.

Training requirements:

• General volunteer orientation.
• Exhibit and site orientation.
• VR technology orientation and shadowing.

Skills required:

• Comfort engaging with and learning about new technology.
• Ability to troubleshoot or assess technological issues (with support).
• Ability to verbally communicate with multi-generational audiences.
• Ability to speak comfortably in a small group setting.
• Basic custodial skills to clean and maintain materials.
• Ability to use a communication device (radio or phone) to reach CSU Spur staff for support or in case of an emergency.

Physical requirements:

• Ability to bend, sit, and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use hands for manipulating tools and technology.
• Ability to move materials, tables (on wheels), and exhibit resources.