Support Us - Volunteer at the Lighthouse

The Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station relies on heavily on our dedicated corp of volunteers to successfully accomplish its mission to preserve and desseminate the social and maritime history of the historic Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station.

Opportunities for volunteers abound at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and include:

• Tour Guides - Educate visitors about the Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station and Central Florida History. Tour Guides provide visitors with a complete tour of the Light Station and local history. Training is provided for all tour guides. Normal length of tour is one to three hours and requires the ability to walk for an extended period of time (it is not necessary to climb the tower). Tour Guides must be reliable, enthusiastic, and friendly. Good public speaking skills, a love of history, and a desire to share their knowledge with others is a must.
• Tower Monitors- Educate visitors about the Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station. Tower Monitors should be friendly and possess good communication skills, a love of history, and the desire to share their knowledge with others. Tower Monitors need to be able to climb the tower and stand for extended periods of time.
• Living History Interpreters - Become a part of the historic Light Station and provide visitors with the opportunity to step back in time and interact with a historic character. Volunteers need an outgoing and friendly demeanor, a love of history, good public speaking skills, and the ability to "ham it up". Living History Interpreters must be willing to commit the time needed to thoroughly research and develop their characters and play them at special events.
• Costuming Assistant- Help bring the past alive by designing and making period clothing for our Living History Interpreters. We are looking for a reliable and experienced seamstress who can "scale up" a pattern or sew without one.
• Workshop Instructor- We are looking for volunteers to help us develop and conduct workshops on a variety of lighthouse related topics. Volunteers must enjoy history and have a desire to share it with young and old alike. Volunteers with teaching experience are especially welcome.
• Gift Shop Assistant- The Association is currently looking for volunteers to help out in the gift shop. Volunteer duties would include stocking shelves, retrieving items from stockroom on the second and third floors and ensuring that all visitors have wristbands before entering the historic Light Station grounds. Volunteers should be outgoing, tactful, reliable, and able to commit 4 hours a week.
• Office/Telephone Assistant- Looking for volunteers to help answer the phone and talk with the public. Volunteers should have some experience working in an office environment, capable of operating a computer, and available once or twice a week for four hours a day.
• Oral History Assistant- We are currently looking for individuals who are interested in helping transcribe oral history interviews using a computer. Volunteers for this position must have computer experience, typing skills, and a high attention to detail. Applicants for this position should be available three to four hours a week.
• Transcription Assistant- The museum Curator is currently looking for a reliable, computer literate individual to help transcribe historic documents into our computer files. We currently possess hundreds of hand-written documents, some dating back to the 1800s, that are in need of transcription. Volunteers for this position need to have patience, good eyesight, excellent typing skills and be able to commit two days a week during regular business hours.
• Maintenance Department Assistant- The Association is currently looking for volunteers to help the staff with ongoing maintenance projects. Projects include painting, masonry, carpentry, electrical and woodworking. Volunteers should have the ability to work alone or with others, be capable of lifting 50 lbs, climb the tower, and available at least one day a week from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Weekend Tour Guides- Are you interested in teaching others about the facinating history of the Light Station and have time available on the weekends. If so, you may be the perfect candidate for a volunteer position as a weekend Tour Guide. Individuals interested in volunteering in this capacity should have good public speaking skills and a love of history. Training is provided.
• Special Events Assistant- The Programs Manager is currently looking for one or two individuals to help staff during special events. Volunteers would assist in greeting visitors, helping with visitor registration, and other duties as assigned. Individuals interested in this position should be outgoing, reliable, and available once or twice a month.
• Promotional Events Assistant- The Programs Manager is currently looking for volunteers who are interested in helping to promote the Lighthouse at off-site events througout Central Florida. Responsibilities would include traveling to special events, setting up a display table and promoting the Lighthouse through conversation and the distribution of promotional materials. Applicants must enjoy talking to the general public, love the Lighthouse, and be available once or twice a month. The Lighthouse will pay for mileage and general expenses.

It's not all work. Our volunteers enjoy meeting interesting people from all over the world as part of their involvement here. There are many opportunities for field trips to other institutions, and we love to socialize with each other. Join the fun today!

Volunteer training is ongoing. To become a volunteer in any area, please contact our Program Manager Bob Callister, at 386-761-1821, extension 18, or bobcallister@ponceinlet.org

Volunteer Events and Happenings

Want to learn more about recent volunteer events and happenings at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse? Click on the link below for our Volunteer Newsletter.

March 2009 Volunteer Newsletter