Historic Interpreter - SHADOW Program Support
Carriage Hill Historic Farm
Volunteers interested in program support at Carriage Hill Historic Farm will go through a shadow experience after finishing the virtual training. This allows volunteers to continue learning, as well as, determining if this is a good fit for them. No Period apparel is required to shadow, just MetroParks name tag and apparel.
Individuals who volunteer their time and talents help put excitement and perspective into the activities at the Carriage Hill Historic Farm. Historic Farm Interpreter volunteers are part of the program support team. The Historical Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark tells important stories that celebrate our agricultural heritage in the Miami Valley. This heritage includes a significant portion of our local landscape shaped by generations of farmers who groomed and cared for the land. Visitors to Carriage Hill Historical Farm will be immersed in 19th-century farm life, a time when the sustainable farm, home and craft practices we see today were simply practical. Within the preserved house and farm buildings there are demonstrations of heritage skills and crafts by living-history interpreters. Historic Interpreter volunteers tell the story while sometimes participating in the activities of daily life or describing it when specifically skilled volunteers may not be available. Activities such as blacksmithing, woodworking, cooking, quilting, and canning are all demonstrated at the farm. The opportunities listed help enhance the visitor experience and expand the capacity of what our staff can offer
IMPACT: The pride and dedication that each volunteer has in "working on the farm" is what gives Carriage Hill Farm its vitality. Volunteers represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm.
TRAINING is required and must be completed to volunteer for this opportunity. The initial training is virtual and can be completed through this initial link: Virtual Training
Tasks
- Historic Farm Open public days – April through October include weekday and weekend times
- Volunteers shadowing will be working with a staff lead or an experienced volunteer for their shifts.
- Greet and welcome participants
- Assist staff lead during the shift do chores and activities in and around the historic homestead and help create a better learning environment for an interactive public experience
- Daily chores could include sweeping the house, doing laundry, doing dishes, starting the stove for hot water and dishwater, or making biscuits or cookies, Chores could also include harvesting from the heirloom garden as things become ripe.
- Projects could include mending clothing, weaving new towels, knitting or crocheting various items, spinning the wool, etc.
- Tours may come through during shifts during the week, and special activities for kids to try may be offered. Volunteers will be guided through the activity before anyone arrives.
- Share historic information, the purpose of the buildings, the tasks are done daily, special projects that may be happening that shift, the animals on the farm and how those breeds are important, unique aspects of clothing worn, and how these things relate to modern life.
- Showcase various supplies or equipment within the historic farm.
- Engaging participants and families in the activities on the farm.
Your shift time begins 15 minutes before the program starts for quick review, last-minute prep, to introduce you program, and check that your apparel is period correct.
Additional Notes
- This is a Long-Term Volunteer Opportunity. Learn more about our types of service here.
- Virtual Training for this opportunity can be found here: Virtual Training
- COVID UPDATES: Please review Five Rivers MetroParks latest COVID-19 Updates. MASKS ARE REQUIRED INDOORS.
- See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.
