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’s Volunteer Corps contributes between 9,000 and 12,000 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 discover more about antique wooden boats and recreational boating in the 1000 Islands and on the St. Lawrence River
- You have access to orientation and training opportunities
- 15+ hours of volunteering each season can be redeemed for guest passes, memberships, boat rides, or a Museum Store discount
Check out some of our many volunteer opportunities below.
If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Amy Denesha, Volunteer Coordinator, at 315.686.4104 ext. 250 or by emailing adenesha@abm.org.
Volunteering in 2025:
If you did not fill out a timesheet in person, please fill out and submit this one: Volunteer Timesheet.
- Spring Volunteer Connect: Wednesday, May 28th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.
- Volunteer Appreciation Cruise: September 4th.
Click here for the La Duchesse Docent Online Training.
Volunteer Council:
Amy Denesha (Volunteer Coordinator), Rebecca Hopfinger (Executive Director), Gary Kocher, Cathy Messenger, Ed Peters (Lead Captain), Jess Gould (Events & Communications Coordinator), Greg Timmerman
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.
Please use the following forms to confirm your interest and availability to volunteer for the 2022 season. Send the information or form by email to Amy Denesha at adenesha@abm.org or by mail to Antique Boat Museum Attn: Amy Denesha, 750 Mary St, Clayton, NY 13624.
For regular volunteer opportunities, use this form: Volunteer Sign Up Form
Here are just a few of the jobs that volunteers can do:
Boat Captains: After obtaining the necessary Merchant Mariner’s credentials, individuals have the opportunity to captain ABM In-Water Fleet boats, starting with Miss Thousand Islands III and moving up.
Boat Care & 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: Construct exhibit components, display items, or pieces for the campus and special events in one of the Museum’s workshops.
Clerical: Prepare packets for special events and mailings. Assist with volunteer communications and event scheduling.
Curatorial: Work with the curatorial staff to prepare items for storage/display, catalogue records or help sort, organize, and inventory artifacts. Help in the library – file, photocopy, process library and archival donations, as well as answer research inquiries.
Docent: Lead Museum visitors on guided tours of the Museum and/or La Duchesse.
Education: Assist the Museum Educator with educational programs; children’s activities, sailing program, volunteer training, etc.
Gallery Attendant: Welcome visitors, answer questions, and provide a presence in each exhibit gallery on campus.
Grounds Maintenance: Assist our facilities crew with cleaning and repairs around the Museum grounds, gardening, and event set-ups/breakdowns.
Museum Store: Ready items for display and sale in the Museum Store including ticketing, folding, and inventorying merchandise.
Special Events: Sell admission tickets; act as a greeter; serve food and drink; assist with boat and model making; act as a dock attendant at one of our major summer events.
