George Washington's Fredericksburg Foundation

Opportunities abound at Historic Kenmore and Washington's Ferry Farm for volunteers with an interest in helping further the goals of the Foundation:

ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT ~ Provides an opportunity to gain archaeological experience either in the lab or at a dig site. Technical skills useful for these opportunities include photography, illustration, research, exhibit design, database setup/maintenance, desktop publishing, and CAD work.

Lab Assistants - wash, bag, sort, label, and set up housing for artifacts found at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. Training provided.
Field Workers/Excavators - work with staff archaeologists on the dig site at George Washington’s Ferry Farm, searching for historic artifacts. Experience required – ask for details.
Environmental Projects - work with staff to conserve the environmental integrity of George Washington’s boyhood home. Training is provided.

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ~ Provides behind-the-scenes experience in running a museum. Useful skills in this area include the ability to interact with the public, and a working knowledge of Excel or Access. Experience with other software such as Word, Illustrator, or Photoshop a plus.

Special Events - help with set-up/take-down, distribute brochures, and talk with guests. Special events occur at both sites. Training provided.
Office Assistants - help create/maintain spreadsheets, prepare mailings, and work with Marketing on special projects. Training provided.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ~ Provides an opportunity to be involved with children’s educational programming and community outreach. Volunteers in this area should be comfortable interacting with children and the public. Knowledge of Excel or Access is a plus.

Education Guides - work with schools and the community to provide information about the people who lived at Ferry Farm and Kenmore. Training provided.
Special Events - help with set-up/take-down, work with children making craft projects, pass out brochures/maps, talk with guests. Training provided.
Special Projects - work with staff on special projects such as creating steps and benches at Ferry Farm, painting (murals and walls), researching slavery, and updating scripts for educational programs.
Docents - lead tours at Kenmore. At Ferry Farm, greet visitors and provide information about the site. Training provided.

GARDENERS & GARDEN GUILD ~ Provides education about various native plants and herbs, composting, propagating, container gardening, and other gardening techniques.

Gardeners - help maintain/preserve the gardens at Kenmore and Ferry Farm, which feature heritage and native plant material. Master Gardeners can earn credit hours toward volunteer requirements.
Floral Designers - create arrangements for special events using plant material from the grounds of Kenmore and Ferry Farm.

RESTORATION DEPARTMENT ~ Provides an opportunity to obtain technical restoration historic house maintenance experience. Useful technical skills include an interest in, and understanding of, physical preservation and historic structures, and a working knowledge of Word and Excel.

Restoration Assistants - help maintain historic house by summarizing & categorizing restoration reports, mapping moisture contents in walls, poulticing efflorescence, whitewashing exterior stone elements, reconstructing joist-hung shelving in basement, and other house-related tasks as needed. Training provided.

All departments can use volunteers for data entry. Also, ask about our History Guild and Stitchery Guild.

To Become A Volunteer:

Call (540) 370-0732 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator.

Or open this volunteer application (PDF file), then print and mail to the Volunteer Coordinator (address on form).

Acrobat Reader is required to open the volunteer application. If not already installed on your computer, you can download a free copy
( follow the on-screen instructions).