Old Courthouse - Museum/Visitor Services

Our Opportunity:

Old Courthouse Visitor Service Volunteers support Gateway Arch National Park by assisting in the creation of a welcoming, informative, and visitor-centered environment for visitors and staff. The primary tasks of an Old Courthouse Visitor Service Volunteer is to be a friendly face for visitors when they enter the park and offer valuable information to make their experience the most enjoyable. Volunteers may be asked to occasionally assist in educational programming.

How does this position make an impact?

Gateway Arch National Park strives to provide the best customer service to each visitor at the Old Courthouse. This volunteer position allows the park to provide more opportunities to enhance positive visitor experiences.

Scope and Effect: 

The image of the National Park Service, the park, park partners, and the harmony of relationships with the local communities and beyond are affected by the volunteer's knowledge, abilities, and actions. It is essential that all volunteers be friendly, kind, welcoming, and gracious. 

Required Qualifications, Knowledge & Skills:

• Excellent communication skills
• A desire to interact with the public and learn more about the National Park Service
• Enthusiasm, friendliness, and a positive attitude
• Respect for confidentiality of the Gateway Arch National Park’s volunteers and partners, and Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s members and donors
• Willingness to take initiative and voice ideas
• Agreement to abide by all policies in Directors Order 7 (guidelines for the Volunteers-in-Parks program)

Commitment:

A minimum of four hours per month is suggested. Please register for shifts on www.archpark.volunteerhub.com.

Site:

Volunteers are on a rotating schedule inside the Old Courthouse including Rotunda Information Desk and roving the two floors open to the public. Accommodations may be available upon request.

Location:

Gateway Arch National Park is located at 11 N. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102. Before each scheduled shift, volunteers will receive an email with parking information. Accommodations available upon request.

Roles and Responsibilities:

18 or older (younger applicants with parent/guardian approval may be considered). As representatives of the National Park Service and Gateway Arch Park Foundation, volunteers must adhere to the policies, procedures, and code of conduct as outlined in the volunteer handbook provided prior to or during training.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand and/or sit for extended periods of time
• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to forty (40) pounds

Potential risks may include:

• Slipping or tripping hazards
• Historic staircases that do not meet current safety criteria.
• Sharp or slippery surfaces
• Dark or very bright conditions
• Interactions with unruly visitors
• Working in close quarters with park staff and visitors with limited social distancing opportunities and possible exposure to surface and airborne related viruses
• If you believe a task is unsafe before or during any event, please stop working and notify the project lead to fix the issue. This is NPS policy as outlined in the Operational Leadership training.

Hours/Days:

Old Courthouse Visitor Service Volunteers could be onsite 7 days a week. Daily shifts include a morning shift from 9 am – 1 pm and an afternoon shift from 1 pm to 5 pm. Volunteers register for their shifts and manage their schedules using our online system, VolunteerHub, archpark.volunteerhub.com.

Training and Supervision:

• Volunteers must attend orientation onsite. Orientation sessions occur quarterly.
• Volunteers will shadow experienced park rangers or guides during their first shift. As their first day progresses, they will have the opportunity to ask questions and take on additional responsibilities as their comfort level allows.
• Additional training may be provided upon request.

Volunteer Perks:

• Contribute to Gateway Arch National Park
• Annual NPS Volunteer Pass (250+ hours)
• Annual volunteer recognition event
• Free parking if needed during volunteer hours
• Valuable career experience
• Have fun interacting with rangers and visitors from all over the world

Next Steps:

If you are interested in this position and feel it is a good fit, please contact the Gateway Arch Park Foundation Volunteer Manager at grace.teofilo@archpark.org or (314) 881-8881 to schedule an interview.

Thank you for wanting to be a part of our team. We could not serve the community of St. Louis without you!

About Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park is a part of the National Park Service (NPS) and therefore follows the NPS mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/jeff.

About Gateway Arch Park Foundation

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that the Gateway Arch, its grounds, neighboring public space, and attractions are a vital, active, and welcoming, well-supported resource to the community and nation for generations to come. The Foundation is part of an alliance that helps meet this mission, which includes the National Park Service, Bi-State Development, Great Rivers Greenway, Jefferson National Parks Association and the City of St. Louis. For more information, visit www.ArchPark.org.