Volunteer Interpretive Park Ranger Jobs Near Me

The Ohio History Connection's mission is to
Spark Discovery of Ohio's stories.
Embrace the present, share the past and transform the future.
Position: Volunteer, Newark Earthworks
Type: Volunteer
Schedule: Monday-Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Newark Earthworks
• The Great Circle: 455 Hebron Rd., Heath, OH 43056
• The Octagon Earthworks: 125 N. 33rd Street, Newark, OH 43055
Reports to: Interpretive Supervisor - Newark Earthworks
About Ohio History Connection:
The Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio's stories. Chartered in 1885, the OHC carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state's history. This includes housing the state historic preservation office, the official state archives, local history office and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio.
About The Newark Earthworks:
The Newark Earthworks are monuments created by American Indians 2,000 years ago during the Hopewell Cultural Period (~100 CE - 400 CE). The Newark Earthworks once consisted of 4.5 square miles of geometric earthen enclosures interconnected by parallel walls. The establishment and development of the city of Newark destroyed much of the earthwork in the mid to late 1800s. Two portions of the earthwork are almost perfectly
preserved: the Octagon Earthworks and the Great Circle. A small portion of the Wright Square is also intact. The Newark Earthworks along with six other Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2023.
Summary:
Both the Octagon Earthworks and the Great Circle are open to the public daily. Our goal is to provide a great visitor experience to all who come to visit the site whether that be keeping the grounds and facilities looking their best, providing tours, or being a welcoming presence throughout the site. Volunteers at the Newark Earthworks may participate in a number of ways: picking up trash, raking garden beds, greeting visitors and answering questions, leading tours, assisting field trips and other educational or interpretive programming, or helping to set up for special events. Whatever your interest, we can find a job for you!
Essential Functions:
Greeter
• Greeting visitors at the front desk of the museum.
• Providing information and orientation to the site.
• Answering questions about the Newark Earthworks and related earthwork sites.
• Setting up the site(s) for special programming and events.
• Providing support for special events and programming such as open houses.
Tour Guide/Docent
• Answer visitor questions and/or lead them to more senior staff when they do not know the answer.
• Tailor delivery of information to unique interests and backgrounds of diverse visitor groups including children, families, and adult learners.
• Orient visitors to the museum and exhibits if the visitor desires it.
• Lead interpretive tours of the Great Circle and/or Octagon
• Keep up on recent interpretations of the site.
• Aid and/or facilitate field trips and educational programs.
• Monitor exhibits and interpretive materials to ensure they are in good condition and report any issues to the staff.
Grounds and Maintenance Volunteer
• Rake, weed and water garden beds.
• Assist maintenance crew with planting/harvesting of flowers and other plants.
• Pick up litter in parking lots, picnic areas, and around the site in general.
• Pick up sticks and small tree limbs.
• Walk grounds regularly, record problems or potential problems and report them to the Maintenance Supervisor.
Required Education, Skills, Experience:
• Must be at least 18 years or older. Family volunteer opportunities are available.
Required Competencies:
• Passion for history and historic preservation.
• Works well both independently and with and in support of colleagues to complete work.
• Willingness to interact with visitors from various backgrounds and knowledge bases.
• Good verbal communication skills
Other Requirements:
• Must complete a background check and internship onboarding paperwork
• Must create and account, log volunteer hours and sign up for internship shifts via Track It Forward
• Docents, Greeters, and Tour Guides must undergo an interpretation training led by the Interpretive Supervisor and/or Site Manager.
Education and Experience Outcomes:
• Volunteers will learn and appreciate the complexity, ingenuity, knowledge, and resilience of American Indian tribes that once called the land that is now Ohio their ancestral homeland.
• Volunteers will receive training for their roles, including informal interpretive training focusing on providing information in an engaging and relatable way so that visitors may leave retaining information they learned or with a memorable experience.
• Volunteers will learn and appreciate how the natural environment impacts the way people live and shape the landscapes around them.
Application Instructions
To apply, visit www/ohiohistory.org/jobs and use the Applicant Tracking System to apply. Include resume, cover letter, and applicable application materials. For questions and accommodations, email applicant@ohiohistory.org or call 614-297-2500