Since the inception of the Antique Boat Museum, volunteers have been the heart and soul of this institution, and it would not be the same without their dedication. Every summer, ABM volunteers contribute between 8,000 and 10,000 hours, helping the Museum uphold its mission to preserve and interpret North American pleasure boating history and the St. Lawrence River’s nautical heritage. Working side by side with Museum staff, volunteers have helped the Museum grow into a significant institution. We are grateful to all of those who have given their time and welcome anyone who wants to become a volunteer.
What happens when you volunteer?
- You give the Museum a vital donation
- You meet new people and form friendships with other volunteers
- You learn more about the fascinating history of pleasure boating and the Thousand Islands
- For 15+ hours of volunteering, you earn reward certificates for things like boat rides, memberships, or discounts in the Museum Store
Click here to view the latest edition of the Volunteer Voice here
If you are interested in volunteering at the Museum, please contact the Volunteer Council at (315)686-4104 ext. 246 or by emailing volunteers@abm.org
Volunteer Council
Judie Petersen
Dick Ashley
Steve Bull
Phyllis Deruytter
Mike Michaelson
Hank Parker
Carol Richardson
Linda Schmitt
Sue Sears
Bonnie Wurster
Margaret Hummel-Staff Liason
Volunteer Positions:
By volunteering your time to the Museum, you give the institution great gifts: the gifts of your skills, knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm. No prior experience is necessary to be a volunteer, as we will train you to do any job you are interested in doing. You can give as much of your time as you want by selecting a daily, weekly, or monthly time slot throughout the summer. Here are just a few of the jobs that volunteers can do:
Admission:
Sell admission tickets during special events.
Boat Care and Maintenance:
Clean, shine, paint, and perform minor restoration tasks to maintain our in-water fleet, as well as care for boats and engines in storage and on display.
Builder:
Work in one of the Museum workshops building exhibit components, display items, or pieces for special events.
Clerical and Correspondence:
The Museum office always needs people to type, file, and photocopy items to prepare packets for special events or mass mailings.
Collections and Exhibits:
Work with the curatorial department to prepare items for storage or display, work with catalogue records or help to sort, organize and inventory artifacts.
Docent:
Lead Museum visitors on guided tours of the Museum and/or La Duchesse.
Gardening:
Help plant and maintain the flowers around the Museum campus throughout the summer.
Grounds Maintenance:
Assist our facilities crew with cleaning and repairs around the Museum grounds.
Library:
Duties include filing, photocopying, answering research inquiries, compiling inventory of donations and doing research as well as other projects.
Museum Host:
Welcome visitors, answer questions, provide presence in galleries and on campus.
Museum Store:
Ready items for display and sale in the Museum Store including ticketing, folding, filling display units, inventory counting, etc.
Security:
Provide presence and safety in and around Museum campus for both visitors and items in the display halls.
Special Events:
Act as a host, serve food and drink, assist with boat and model making, act as a docker or dockette, sell memberships, admission, boat ride and raffle tickets and more at one of our 4 major summer events.
