Celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month
Message from the Secretary
Dear Colleagues:
Each April, we give extra recognition to our Smithsonian volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Month, but in truth, I am grateful every day to our colleagues who contribute so much of their time, wisdom and talent to the Smithsonian.
Nearly 20,000 people—7,345 onsite volunteers and to date, nearly 11,889 digital volunteers—make our mission possible. Our volunteers are as diverse as the Smithsonian itself: They are former fighter pilots, artists, doctoral students, pre-teens, animal lovers, educators and scientists. Volunteers welcome visitors, lead tours, help care for our collections, manage public programs, work as citizen-scientists and assist with our seasonal programs, such as the Folklife Festival and Summer Camps. Our digital volunteers around the world work with our curators and collections managers to transcribe historic documents and help with our ambitious project to catalogue the entire Encyclopedia of Life.
Our volunteers play a critical role in inspiring and engaging the millions of people who visit the Smithsonian every year in person and online. Thank you for all you do for us!
Regards,
David Skorton
Secretary
Volunteers pose for a group photo during an enrichment trip to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 2017. (Photo by Kris Hamilton)
Smithsonian volunteers get an inside look at the U.S. Supreme Court, 2017. (Photo by Kris Hamilton)
Smithsonian Marine Station staff & volunteers | Appreciation Ceremony | April 2018.
National Museum of the American Indian Volunteer Appreciation event | April 2018
Volunteers at a Smithsonian Sleepover event at the National Museum of American History. (Photo by Jenna Jones)
Information desk volunteers Gloria Seeling, left, and Beth Meade. (Photo by Jennifer Post-Moulton)
Volunteers are a vital part of the team caring for the National Zoo’s Asian elephants. (Photo courtesy Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
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Posted: 1 April 2019
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