Volunteer Opportunities
Discover the ways you can support Woodlawn with your
time and skills.
Woodlawn depends on volunteers to bring our history, grounds, and events to life. From welcoming visitors and leading tours in the Black House Museum to assisting with educational programs, volunteers make it possible for us to share Woodlawn with the community in meaningful ways. Their time, skills, and enthusiasm help preserve this special place in Ellsworth and to ensure that it remains a vibrant, welcoming space for learning, connection, and enjoyment for generations to come.
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All volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend our course, Woodlawn 101 which is being offered February-May of 2026.
Volunteers who work a minimum of 10 hours will receive a pass for an audio tour of the museum, a discount in the giftshop and invitations to appreciation events throughout the year.
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If you have questions about volunteering please reach out to kelly.lunt@woodlawnellsworth.org or call the Woodlawn office at 207-667-8671.
Visitor Associate
Are you friendly and outgoing and enjoying talking with people?
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Being a visitor associate might be a good fit. Visitor associates are the first point of contact for the visitors to Woodlawn. You will help with tour selection and retail sales in the gift shop. You will share information about the history of Woodlawn and answer questions about the estate and the surrounding Ellsworth area.
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The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday, seasonally from May-October. Volunteer shifts are half days; morning and afternoon shifts available.
Collections Care and Projects
Did you know that all of the objects
in the Black House Museum are connected to the Black family in some way?
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With the large collection of items in the museum, there are always projects to complete. From cleaning objects to data entry and organizing historic photographs, this is a great option for some who who is interested in working behind the scenes with historic objects.
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Volunteer shifts will be scheduled based on staff availability and projects needs.
Events
Is helping to plan and assist at events something that you enjoy doing?
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This opportunity is very flexible and you can pick and choose which events are of interest to you. From planning to setting up, checking in participants, distributing materials, and clean up, these volunteers play a vital role in the success of events from teas to large family friendly events. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with people and being a part of a team, and is friendly, flexible and dependable.
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Volunteer shifts will be scheduled based on upcoming event plans.
Garden and Grounds
Is working outside in the dirt or landscaping something that you are looking to help with?
With over 180 acre,s there are lots of opportunities to get your hands dirty. From assisting our Master Gardener with weeding in the formal garden to clearing rock walls and raking leaves this role will help keep the keep the campus and gardens looking beautiful.
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Volunteer shifts will be scheduled based on staff availability and projects needs.​​​​​​
Tour Guide
Do you enjoy sharing history and storytelling? Have you thought about being a tour guide?
Tour guides lead visitors through the Black House Museum as well as the grounds helping visitors understand the history of Woodlawn and the family that once lived here.
Tour guides must be able to climb stairs and be on their feet for over an hour.
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The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday, seasonally from May-October. Volunteer shifts are half days; morning and afternoon shifts available.
Administrative Support
Are you looking to volunteer inside helping with administrative tasks? Do you have experience helping an office run smoothly? ​
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The role supports staff with a variety of office and organizational tasks and is a great fit for someone who is detail oriented and organized. Tasks may include preparing mailings, data entry, record keeping, and general office projects.
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Volunteer shifts will be scheduled based on staff availability and projects needs.​​​​​​​
Education
Do you enjoy working with learners of all ages?
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Education volunteers help bring history, nature, and culture to life for visitors of all ages. Working alongside staff these volunteers support hands-on activities, school programs, field trips, tours and family events creating and presenting engaging learning experiences for learners. You will join a group of dedicated educators who are fun and passionate about teaching and learning.
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Volunteer shifts will be scheduled based on staff availability and projects needs.​​​​​​
Trails
Are you a fan of working out in the woods and being around nature? Do you have experience building or maintaining trail networks?
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These volunteers will help maintain the 2 miles of forested trails with tasks ranging from root removal and laying wood chips to assisting with trail maintenance and tree removal.
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Watch our events page for details about seasonal work parties. Additional volunteer shifts will be scheduled based on staff availability and projects needs.​​​​​​