Volunteering at museums and theaters near Palo Alto

Much of Palo Alto's cultural life runs on volunteers. The people who greet you at the Junior Museum, explain an antique radio at the Museum of American Heritage or tear your ticket at the Lucie Stern Theatre are often neighbors giving a few hours a month. In return, many programs offer training, behind-the-scenes access and free shows.

This guide covers the museums and theaters in and near Palo Alto that posted volunteer roles in 2026, with each one's age limit and commitment. Stanford's museums run their own programs, summarized below and covered in full in our volunteering at Stanford guide.

Junior Museum and Zoo

The city's Junior Museum and Zoo on Middlefield Road takes two kinds of volunteers.

• Discovery Guides, age 15 and up. Guides lead games, challenges and tabletop activities for families. They sometimes help zoo staff with animal encounters such as flamingo feedings and occasionally with behind-the-scenes animal care. The museum asks guides to volunteer monthly for at least one year.
• Baylands Nature Center volunteers, age 18 and up. They welcome visitors to the center and surrounding open space, maintain exhibits and help with education and special projects. The commitment is at least six months during open hours, Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. or Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Both roles go through the museum's volunteer coordinator, listed on the JMZ volunteer page. The page did not say in November 2026 whether applications were open, so email to ask.

Palo Alto Art Center

The city's Palo Alto Art Center on Newell Road welcomes volunteers 12 and older. Its roles are:

• Kids and Teens Studio Assistants: help instructors in fall, winter and spring classes, encouraging students and preparing supplies. Teens aged 12 to 18 register for each session through the city's Enjoy! system. Adults need a background check and a negative TB test or a doctor's note.
• One-day event assistants: help teaching artists at free public events, at the Art Center or elsewhere in Palo Alto. Shifts usually last 2 to 3 hours. The center announces needs in a monthly volunteer newsletter.
• Special projects and art prep: including teen service projects such as Girl Scout Gold Awards and Eagle Scout projects.
• Project LOOK school docents, teen leadership and counselors in training: each has its own page on the city site. Ask the volunteer engagement director for current details.

The Art Center does not describe a gallery docent program for adult visitors on its main volunteer page. Start on the Art Center volunteer page.

Museum of American Heritage

The Museum of American Heritage, or MOAH, collects everyday technology from the past and shows it in the 1907 Williams House on Homer Avenue. It is small, which means volunteers do a bit of everything.

MOAH asks for at least 3 hours a month, a stay of at least 4 months and completion of orientation and training. It will count hours toward school or community service and write recommendation letters. Send the application from its volunteer page to [email protected] or call (650) 321-1004.

Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum in Mountain View has one of the largest museum volunteer programs nearby. Volunteers must be 18 or older and pass a criminal background check.

• Docents: lead tours and conversations, with a special welcome for those interested in K to 12 groups. One-year commitment, no experience needed.
• Demonstrators: run restored machines such as the IBM 1401, the PDP-1 or the IBM RAMAC for visitors. One-year commitment.
• Visitor Engagement Volunteers: greet visitors and answer questions. Six months.
• Special Projects Support: administrative, event and research tasks across departments. Six months.
• Collections and Archives: catalog and care for artifacts at off-site facilities. Requires collections experience and a year.

Contact the volunteer manager through the CHM volunteers page or at 650-810-1898.

Theaters: ushers and crew

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley

TheatreWorks performs at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto and at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Its volunteers fall into three groups:

• Ushers and concessions at the Lucie Stern on evenings and weekends. They see that evening's show for free. The Mountain View center runs its own usher program.
• Hospitality volunteers at opening night parties and galas.
• Resident volunteers who help in the office on a weekly or monthly schedule.

Active volunteers are invited to the final dress rehearsal of every production. Write to [email protected], as listed on its volunteers page.

Palo Alto Players

Palo Alto Players, the community theater company that also performs at the Lucie Stern, uses volunteer ushers for every show. You join an email list that alerts you show by show when usher sign-ups open. It also needs office help: in early November 2026 it asked for volunteers on Friday, November 6, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Monday, November 9, from 2 to 6 p.m. to address year-end appeal letters, with a 2-hour minimum. Backstage volunteers help load in and strike sets, paint scenery, build, run spotlights and assist with wardrobe, wigs and makeup. Details are on its volunteer page. Our theater guide covers both companies' seasons.

Stanford's museums

The Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection share a volunteer program. Their docent role, the Museum Engagement Guide, was closed to applications in fall 2026, with the next round expected in autumn 2027. Information Desk Ambassadors, age 18 and up, commit to weekly shifts for at least a year. See our Cantor Arts Center guide for the galleries.

Other places to ask

Some local arts groups use volunteers but did not post a volunteer page we could confirm in November 2026. The Palo Alto Children's Theatre has a Friends group that supports it with volunteers and funds. Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden is run with volunteer help but showed no volunteer sign-up on its site. Contact either directly. Our Children's Theatre guide has background.

Which role fits

Frequently asked questions