At Tryon Palace, we love our volunteers! With their dedicated energy and time, we can accomplish so much more, and we are thankful beyond words for their volunteerism.

We need dedicated volunteers to join our team!

Volunteer opportunities are based on event and programming needs that change periodically. Currently, volunteers are needed for the following positions.

Historic Interpreters

Interpreters are the public face of Tryon Palace. They bring history alive! We need dedicated volunteers who are willing to go through extensive ongoing training and commit to a minimum of 15 -20 hours a month.

Before you can begin working at an exhibit area as a Historic Interpreter, you will need to study and learn the training materials and interpretive information provided and become familiar with the exhibit area you are assigned.

Before new Historic Interpreters can begin guiding tours in the historic buildings, they need to be “passed off” to make sure you know the history you are sharing. Observing experienced co-workers and reviewing informational materials is important to succeeding in these interpreter positions. Additional evaluations are conducted at least once a year. Costuming is not done until at least 40 hours of training have been completed.

New Bern Academy Docents

Working at North Carolina’s oldest and longest running commissioned public school, requires a friendly greeter who can answer questions, as needed. You will also be required to record the number of guests visiting the Academy as an accurate accounting of guests is needed for monthly attendance reports.

In addition, you will be working there mostly alone and will need to communicate opening and closing times to the Waystation Ticket Desk. There will be some exhibits that you need to startup and shutdown, but nothing too difficult. Though Utilities opens the Academy, the volunteer will close the building prior to leaving.

Pepsi Family Center Reception

Volunteers at the Pepsi Family Center (PFC) will be greeting school or tourist groups and families throughout the day and counting the number of visitors to this exhibit. This is very popular exhibit with children as it is a hands-on interpretive exhibit. At times you will be assisting the PFC Exhibit Facilitators with large groups. Those that love interacting with children will enjoy working here.

The PFC is open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday-Saturday. For this position, volunteers can do one day a month, one day a week or more to help out.

Museum Store and Craft and Garden Shop

Volunteers working at the Museum Store must be friendly and ready to assist our guests. There are positions open in either the Museum Store at the NC History Center, or the quaint Craft & Garden Shop located on the historic site. You will be greeting, interacting with, and selling to customers, including school groups.

Museum Store volunteers will be trained on handling multiple cash, check and credit card transactions which include extensive training on our computer point-of-sale program (cash register operations) and PCI (credit card security) training. At times you will be assisting with merchandising and display maintenance and with inventory receiving and product tagging.

The Museum Store’s operating hours are Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and on Sunday from 12:00-5:00 PM. Flexible shiftwork is available – most volunteers work 4-hour shifts and commit to at least one day/week. Typical shifts are 9:30 AM -1:00 PM, and 1:30 – 5:00 PM in the Museum Store; and 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM in the Craft & Garden Shop.

Garden Assistants

Garden volunteers are needed for pruning, planting, raking, mulching, watering, weeding, and for fence repair and trellis work. We love Garden Assistants that can commit to a regular schedule, but it is not required. It is required that you REGISTER IN ADVANCE prior to coming in!

Volunteers are needed during the hours of 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM, and from 1:30-4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday each week. It is recommended that volunteers bring garden gloves, sunscreen, hat, insect repellent and water or a water bottle with them to work.

High school student volunteers will be considered on a trial basis with a letter of recommendation from their school’s agriculture/ horticulture teacher.

Lawn/ Path Assistants

We need volunteers to assist with mowing and lawn maintenance, as well as helping keep our marl and mulch paths filled in and as level as possible. Volunteers for the Lawn/ Path Assistants are open to adults only due to the power equipment involved. Volunteers who can commit to a regular schedule are most helpful, but not required. It is required that you REGISTER IN ADVANCE prior to coming.

Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday each week, during the hours of 8:00 – 11:30 AM and 1:30-4:00 PM. It is recommended that volunteers bring garden gloves, sunscreen, hat, insect repellent and water or a water bottle.