Volunteers are an integral part of the Hillwood community and serve in a variety of roles. An overview of volunteer positions is available below.  Sign up for Hillwood’s email list to stay up-to-date on the latest volunteer opportunities. Any questions regarding Hillwood’s volunteer program, please email [email protected].

All incoming volunteers require an active Hillwood membership, serve on a floating schedule, honor an annual service commitment, and participate in continuing education. A benefits program, such as volunteer-only events, admission privileges for family/guests, and discounts at the museum shop and Merriweather café, further deepen engagement with Hillwood.

Current Volunteer Openings

Student Volunteers

Visitor Services Volunteer (VSV)

During a 3-hour training session followed by on-the-job training shifts, Visitor Services Volunteers learn how to provide exemplary customer service and light interpretation to museum visitors in the visitor center and mansion. Recruitment and training of a new VSV class typically occurs about once a year depending on staffing needs. We are not currently recruiting VSVs.

Outdoor Garden Support Volunteer

Outdoor garden support volunteer are a key part of keeping our gardens a welcoming and vibrant part of the visitor experience.  Outdoor Garden Support Volunteers work across Hillwood’s campus in various outdoor garden settings. They perform routine gardening maintenance, soil preparation and planting in the gardens on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am-10am. Outdoor Garden Support Volunteers typically serve one to two regularly scheduled two-hour shifts per month. At this time, we are not recruiting for outdoor garden support volunteers.

Mansion Docent Training

In this six-month course, docents-in-training learn how to lead guided tours of the mansion that provide the best possible visitor experience by weaving together stories of the estate, collection, and founder Marjorie Merriweather Post. Docent training is not offered every year, but when the need to train new docents occurs.

Garden Docent Training

In this five-month course, docents-in-training learn how to lead guided tours of Hillwood's thirteen acres of formal gardens that provide the best possible visitor experience by weaving together stories of the estate, garden, and founder Marjorie Merriweather Post. Docent training is not offered every year, but when the need to train new docents occurs.