Be a Volunteer
Are you interested in science, history, space, anthropology, or mammals?
Do you enjoy nature, animals, or plants?
Would you like to step back in time?
Are you a people person?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should consider volunteering at the Museums of Science & History (MoSH).
Contact
Janie Paraham
901.636.2438
[email protected]
Download Volunteer Forms:
MoSH is looking for volunteers to help with our upcoming fundraiser The Science of Wine on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 5:00pm-10:pm This event helps fund school programs, workshops, and learning opportunities for the community. If you’re interested in lending a hand, we’d love your help! You must be 21 years and over to volunteer. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Janie Paraham at [email protected]
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
The dedication of our volunteers makes a meaningful difference, not only in supporting our daily operations but also in enriching the experience of every visitor who walks through our doors. Because of our volunteers, our museums are not just places where people visit; they are destinations to connect, discover, and feel inspired. Learn more about the faces behind MoSH:
FEATURING: ANDY POUNCEY
When did you start volunteering at Mallory-Neely?
July 2023. For my wife, Kate’s, birthday, in that same year, we paid to have the trim work redone on Magevney and the entire house painted.
What inspired you to start volunteering with MoSH?
My wife Kate Canon Pouncey managed Mallory-Neely for 15 plus years ’89-’05. We enjoy working together.
What is your favorite part about volunteering at MN?
The details of the house, especially the stained glass from the Columbian Exhibition of 1892 in Chicago. The details of this World’s Fair have always fascinated me. Also, the smaller copy of the statue ‘Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss’ because two years ago, we visited the original statue in The Louvre. Mark and I also installed the newly landscaped beds with plants that
were used in the early 20th century. I was a registered landscape architect, so I got to use some of my design skills there also. I am the City Historian for Germantown, so I appreciate putting this home in perspective with other Memphis history of the time.
What is one thing you wish others knew about this organization?
I would love for them to know how important the preservation of these homes are to the City’s history. Prior to urban renewal in the 60s, there were 33 such structures and this was Millionaires Row. Visitors from other parts of the country are familiar with this period and come to see it just for that period of time and architectural style.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Our favorite city is Paris and my interest in WW1 has taken me to France eight times. I have also traveled from Greece and Turkey, China to New Zealand, and to all the Baltic countries. I have worked in Norway as part of an exchange program of City Administrators. This year. Kate and I are going to Egypt.
MoSH | Pink Palace Museum & Mansion
To promote a safe work environment, criminal background checks are conducted on all adult applicants. All volunteers must adhere to the City of Memphis Respectful Workplace Policy.
Gallery and Discovery Cart Volunteers: Weekdays 10:00am to 2:00pm
Help visitors explore the Pink Palace Museum’s galleries, artifacts, and specimens as a Gallery or Discovery Cart Volunteer. In this role, you’ll engage with guests, help facilitate exhibits and hands‑on activities, and support museum programming to enhance the visitor experience. Whether you’re a retiree, a student, a science enthusiast, a history fan, or someone who simply enjoys connecting with people, there’s a meaningful place for you at MoSH.
Gallery and Discovery Cart Volunteers: Weekend Wonders – Weekends 10:00am to 2:00pm
Help visitors explore the Pink Palace Museum’s galleries, artifacts, and specimens as a Gallery or Discovery Cart Volunteer. In this role, you’ll engage with guests, help facilitate exhibits and hands‑on activities, and support museum programming to enhance the visitor experience. Whether you’re a retiree, a student, a science enthusiast, a history fan, or someone who simply enjoys connecting with people, there’s a meaningful place for you at MoSH.
2026 Pink Palace Learning Docent
Become a 2026 PPMM Learning Docent and dive into an exhilarating journey of discovery! As a part of this vibrant initiative, you’ll play a crucial role in preserving local stories and igniting a passion for science and curiosity in learners of all ages. Through hands-on explorations and engaging experiments, you’ll encourage inquisitive minds to ask questions and seek answers about the wonders of our community and beyond. Together, we will celebrate the scientific spirit and inspire innovation for the future of Memphis! Join us in this joyful mission today and help us create a more curious and creative tomorrow!
Click here to APPLY NOW!
MoSH | Lichterman Nature Center
First Saturdays at Lichterman
Join us on the first Saturday of the month, starting April through December 2026 for an opportunity to volunteer at Lichterman Nature Center working on a variety of projects to help conserve and maintain this unique property. Projects will be seasonally appropriate and can include trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, trash clean-up, and planting native plants. To volunteers for First Saturdays, please contact Janie Best Paraham at [email protected] or call 901-636-2438.
Backyard Wildlife Center Volunteers
Learn about native wildlife as you assist with the care and feeding of the animals at Lichterman��s Backyard Wildlife Center.
Greenhouse Volunteers
Plant lovers are needed to help in Lichterman’s Plant Propagation Center Wednesdays through Saturdays. Volunteers will assist with weeding, watering and propagating plants in the Greenhouse. Volunteers must be physically able to assist with all aspects of plant bed maintenance.
