Museum Celebrates National Volunteer Week
Volunteers are the heart of the Museum’s mission—to inspire, through science and education, a passion for nature, the protection of natural diversity, the fostering of health and leadership to a sustainable future. More than 250 volunteers graciously donate over 22,000 hours of service across 20+ Museum departments every year! National Volunteer Week is the perfect time for the Museum to highlight the importance of volunteerism, and show appreciation for volunteer contributions throughout the Museum.
From enhancing visitor experience, to assisting research staff, to lending a hand with administrative tasks—Museum volunteers help make discovery possible! Get to know a few of our volunteer champions below. Then learn about opportunities to get involved with our Volunteer Program.
Allison Capunay
Allison Capunay, a Biology and Animal Behavior undergrad at Cleveland State University, has volunteered in the Museum's Wildlife Resources Division for just under one year. Allison enjoys that as a volunteer, she is really working for the animals; helping to diversify their enclosures, develop new enrichment activities and provide care. She can be seen giving public demonstrations with Willow the striped skunk, Tamarack the great horned owl and Bob the bobcat. She “is incredibly grateful to all the other volunteers and staff for being so welcoming.” And we are grateful to her!
Shannon Story
Shannon Story first came to the Museum on a behind-the-scenes tour with Sherwin-Williams, where she works as a microbiologist. She wanted to get involved after learning about the Museum's active research programs. Her skill set complemented research being done by the Museum's Invertebrate Zoology Department in its DNA Laboratory. Shannon prepares DNA from the Museum's extensive praying mantis collection for PCR testing, and is most proud of “having a hand in research that may have an effect on the phylogeny of Mantids, and being part of something greater than myself.”
James Bird
James Bird is one of the Museum's youngest volunteers and a recent Junior Docent graduate. As a Junior Docent, James has received considerable training and education about the Museum's exhibits and collections. On weekends, James operates a "Please Touch" to afford visitors the opportunity to interact with real specimens, answers questions, and leads short tours. James says that volunteering has been a fantastic learning experience, and has definitely shaped his future goals as he begins to look at colleges.
Kathleen Hale
Kathleen Hale fell in love with the Museum as an undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University. Her passion for theater and science not only make her a fantastic and engaging docent, but a spectacular live performer in The Power of Poison. Kathleen enjoys growing with the Museum and watching it transform over time. When asked what makes volunteering special, Kathleen explains “it's the lure of going behind the velvet rope. There is a certain thrill and envy to it, because you know what goes on behind the scenes, and it becomes more exciting the more you know!”
Patrick Duncan
Patrick Duncan first came to volunteer at Museum to assist with a simulated fossil dig pit in The World’s Largest Dinosaurs. Patrick has long had a passion for dinosaurs, and enhanced visitor experience by providing fascinating tidbits about dinosaurs. When the traveling exhibit left, Patrick wanted to continue his relationship with the Museum, and was a perfect fit for the Museum's Vertebrate Paleontology Department, working with real dinosaur fossils. Patrick's enthusiasm for paleontology and dinosaurs shines through every time he and his aid Chris come in to volunteer.