Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating journey of discovery and transformation? Science is not just about cool experiments; it's a vibrant force that can change the world. At TELUS World of Science - Edmonton, we're on a mission to ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, celebrate science, and change lives, and you can join the team of passionate volunteers to help achieve this remarkable goal!
Imagine immersing yourself in a world where you can dive deep into captivating subjects, from astronomy to zoology, enriching your knowledge and understanding of science, teaching, public relations, and customer service. The team, affectionately known as Team Purple, is a dynamic group of dedicated individuals, both paid and volunteers, who come together to breathe life into Northern Alberta's premier Science Center. As a volunteer, you'll connect with some of the most dynamic, creative, and fascinating people you'll ever meet, all while making a tangible difference in our community.
But that's not all – volunteering is a fast-track to boost to your resume. You'll acquire valuable job-related skills that will make your CV shine, and if you ever need a reference letter, we're here to support your future endeavors.
The best part? Volunteering is a feel-good experience like no other. You'll get to harness your existing skills and experiences to give back to your community in a meaningful way, positively impacting the lives of others.
And that's not the end of the perks! When you volunteer, you'll enjoy exclusive access to the Science Centre, including free General Admission, immersive films, and live presentations in our IMAX and Zeidler Dome theatres. Plus, there are discounts galore at various Science Centre amenities and more surprises in store!
Our Volunteer Program has a diverse complement of volunteer team members and provides unique opportunities for applicants that are at least 15-years of age, with completion of Grade 9 Science. Volunteer team members are requested to commit to one, 3-4 hour shift per week over a period of three months, or the equivalent of 40 hour of volunteer service. Intake occurs three to four times per year based the following schedule:
- Recruitment beginning in late August for the September to December program period
- Recruitment beginning in late November for the January to April program period
- Recruitment beginning in late March for the May to August program period
Ready to embark on this thrilling adventure?
Dive into our range of volunteer opportunities below, explore the various roles and shift times, and find your perfect fit. Whether you're interested now or later, apply anytime using the form link below, and we'll reach out with details on our upcoming intake cycle.
Please note: We value safety and require a Police Information Check, including a vulnerable sector search, for admission to our program. While we can't process checks for youth under 18 at the moment due to a review by EPS, don't let that stop you from expressing your interest. Send us your application, and we'll keep it on file until we can welcome youth volunteers once more.
Volunteer Positions
Click on the position titles below for further information and specific shift times.
Please note that not all positions are available on a daily basis.
Positions
- 1. Hospitality Host
- 2. Assistant Cultural Program Leader
- 3. Assistant School Program Leader
- 4. Birthday Party Assistant
- 5. S.P.A.C.E. Gallery Interpreter
- 6. Nature Exchange Gallery Interpreter
- 7. Arctic Journey Gallery Interpreter
- 8. Science Garage Workshop Assistant
- 9. Health Zone Gallery Interpreter
- 10. CuriousCITY Gallery Interpreter
- 11. School Program Host
- 12. Assistant Observatory Attendant
1. Hospitality Host
Help greet the world! You will be instrumental in welcoming our guests, identifying their needs, responding to questions, and directing them to their required destination in a timely and efficient manner. This is a dynamic public relations and key ambassador role to promote all the programs and services TELUS World of Science - Edmonton offers! Your enthusiasm, effective communication skills, and commitment to service excellence will be valuable assets to you in this hospitality role. Hosts will be positioned in a variety of key traffic areas and queuing stations within the main lobby. The ability to manage crowds and remain on your feet in a fast-paced work environment are requirements of this position.
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Saturday or Sunday): 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2. Assistant Cultural Program Leader
Help guests learn about the connections between Indigenous ways of knowing and contemporary science through cultural teachings, traditional handcrafts, and oral storytelling. This is a great opportunity to work with our Indigenous Education team members in a cultural traditional setting. You will be involved in assisting the program instructors with set-up and take-down of program materials, organizing and packing program kits, and inspiring and motivating participants through guided support. Previous experience supervising and/or teaching children will enhance our participants’ learning, as will your demonstrated leadership, organizational skills and enthusiasm for Indigenous cultural teachings.
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon- Sun): 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OR 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
3. Assistant School Program Leader
Help children realize the wonderment of discovery through hands-on learning experiences. This is a great opportunity to work with our School Program Instructors in a classroom setting. You will be involved in assisting the instructors with set-up and take-down of interpretive program materials, organizing and packing of program kits, and inspiring and motivating students at project stations through guided support. Previous experience supervising and/or teaching children will enhance our students’ learning, as will your demonstrated leadership, organizational skills and enthusiasm for the sciences. Positions are seasonal: September to June. Special opportunities are also available to work with home school students booked into programs on select Mondays each month, as well as to assist with special themed events such as: Real People, Real Science Events, Chem Fest, Pi Day, etc.
Shifts:
September to June
Weekdays (Monday - Friday)
- School Programs - Weekdays, Mon to Fri: 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. as per bookings (morning and/or afternoon shift)
- Home School Days - One Monday/Month: 10:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. as per bookings (morning and/or afternoon shifts)
- Special Themed Events - Various weekdays - 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. as per event (morning and/or afternoon shifts)
4. Birthday Party Assistant
Our Mini-Scientist birthday parties give the adults a break and leave the science of a perfect birthday up to us. We ensure their birthday is nothing short of magical starting with receiving their very own purple lab coat, then enjoying an hour of fun science activities followed by a pizza party, and of course access to our science galleries all day long. Birthday Party Assistants are the magic behind science centre parties for kids ages 5-12. In this role, you will lead hands-on experiments and science activities, inspiring young minds to get messy, make mistakes, do science, and have fun! In between parties, you support the Science Presenters with set up and clean up. Your friendly, outgoing, and enthusiastic approach will make you the life of the party!
Shifts:
Weekend Shifts (Sat or Sun): 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. OR 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. OR 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
5. S.P.A.C.E. Gallery Interpreter
Guests boldly go where no one has gone before and blast-off on an action-packed adventure through the universe in the S.P.A.C.E. (Stars, Planets, Astronauts, Comets, Etc.) gallery! This interactive gallery features many fun elements including a rocket launch, space video games, and a theatre show all about the origins of the moon. In this role, you will bring our programming area, the Command Centre, to life. You will lead guests through interactive activities and share your love of outer space with them.
An interest or formal studies in astronomy, outer space, or physics is an asset in this role but is not mandatory. Your demonstrated enthusiasm, strong communication skills and engaging personality will highlight the wonder of outer space and enhance our guests’ learning experience.
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon - Fri): 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(Sat – Sun): 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. OR 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m..
6. Nature Exchange Gallery Interpreter
In Nature Exchange, budding biologists and geologists bring in their nature specimens and sightings and teach us all about them. It is a space that cultivates curiosity, discovery, and a love of the natural world. The passion and enthusiasm of our Nature Exchange Interpreters bring the gallery to life! They share their own nature knowledge, engaging guests in botany, entomology, atmospheric science, and even astronomy. As a Nature Exchange Interpreter, you will inspire guests of all ages to explore and learn about the world around them. You will take turns being both learner and teacher, encouraging them on their nature journey.
Your interest and knowledge in Natural Sciences, along with your inquisitive personality, willingness to step into the role of a learner, and strong communication skills will inspire the next generation of naturalists.
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon - Fri): 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Weekends (Sat or Sun) : 11am - 3pm
7. Arctic Journey Gallery Interpreter
As an Arctic Journey Gallery Interpreter, you will help lead guests in hands-on exploration at our programming tables and spend time interacting with them in the exhibit. By facilitating hands-on experiences, you will encourage guests to ask questions, increase their understanding of the North, and respect Indigenous ways of knowing and culture.
Your knowledge and interest in the Arctic (the cryosphere, permafrost, the plants, the animals, Indigenous knowledge, etc.), along with your outgoing personality and strong communication skills will prompt guests to share their experiences and make connections to the North.
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon - Sun): 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
8. Science Garage Workshop Assistant
Guests of all ages can get their hands and minds busy with science as they create, tinker, test, and build in the Science Garage. This highly interactive gallery features several unique elements including a magnetic roller coaster wall, vertical wind tunnels, freedom climber walls, and more. This gallery also features a fully operational makerspace, stocked with a variety of random materials. Guests are tasked with putting their imaginations to the ultimate test by using materials available to complete a specific challenge or build something entirely new. Help them tackle their challenges!
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon - Sun): 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. OR 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
9. Health Zone Gallery Interpreter
Guests become scientists in the L.A.B. (Learning About Biology) as they put on a lab coat and safety glasses and perform biology experiments. You will support them as they extract DNA from strawberries or look at their cheek cells under a microscope. In facilitating these hands-on experiences, you will encourage guests to ask questions, make hypotheses, do science, and discover more about their bodies and their health. In this role, you will also spend time interacting with guests in the Health Zone exhibit, where they test their maximum jump height, fight off immune system invaders, and discover the trillions of microbes living on their bodies.
Your strong communication skills and engaging personality will highlight the extraordinary human body and enhance our guests’ learning experience. An interest or formal education in biology, the human body or health, are requirements for this position. Previous lab experience is an asset but is not mandatory.
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon - Fri): 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Weekends (Sat or Sun): 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. OR 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10. CuriousCITY Gallery Interpreter
Inspired by the city we call home, our early childhood exhibition is a place where imaginations can run wild. With towers, tunnels, waterplay, and ball machines, children 6 and under find many opportunities for open-ended, collaborative, and imaginative play. In this space, you will encourage joyful exploration and facilitate learning through play which makes this position ideal for the young at heart. By maintaining a safe, welcoming environment and being ready for a little silliness, you will support our youngest guests as they learn the best way they know how – through play!
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon - Fri): 9:45am to 1:15pm
Weekends (Sat or Sun): 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. OR 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
11. School Program Host
Field trips to visit us are awesome! As an official host for visiting schools, you will welcome and usher these groups to their scheduled program activities. Learning destinations include the IMAX Theatre, Zeidler Dome planetarium, themed exhibit galleries, interpretive science classrooms, etc. A sincere interest to work with young guests, combined with a friendly and welcoming manner, strong leadership skills, and supervisory experience are prerequisites of this hosting role. Positions are seasonal: September to June.
Shifts:
Daily Shifts (Mon - Fri): 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
12. Assistant Observatory Attendant
The sky is the limit when you share astronomical information! Share your passion for astronomy and showcase the skies above as an Assistant Observatory Attendant. Our knowledgeable Observatory Attendants supervise the set-up and use of telescopes during public observing sessions and share relevant information to lead our guests on an astronomical adventure. Knowledge of astronomy and the constellations is required, as well as prior telescope experience and strong communication skills. Operation and staffing of this outdoor facility is weather-dependent.
Shifts:
Evening Shifts (Fri or Sat): 6:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Daytime Shifts (Sat or Sun): 12:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.