Aspen Historical Society offers two internship opportunities based on age, experience, and availability. Read below for information about our summer internship for college students and older, as well as seasonal high school internships.
Photo | Bryan May
Internships
Seasonal High School Internships
High School Students
Summer Session Application Deadline:
April 1, 2024
Expected Interview Dates:
April 8 – 11, 2024
Summer Session Dates:
June 1 – August 10, 2024 (dates may be flexible, please inquire)
This is a fun and unique opportunity to learn about and share Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley’s remarkable history while working at an established Aspen-area nonprofit. Come spend time this summer at Aspen Historical Society (AHS) with opportunities to help with a broad range of museum activities, programming, and events.
Responsibilities
Interns will be have the chance to learn about and help with at least one aspect of what we do at AHS. Samples of activities include:
- Assisting docents at our 2 museums: the Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum, located near the roundabout at the west entrance to Aspen; and the Wheeler/Stallard Museum in Aspen’s West End, and home of Aspen Historical Society’s administrative offices and public archives.
- Leading or helping to lead interpretive tours of our historical sites and other locations around Aspen.
- Supporting our signature community events (Hoedown, Ice Cream Social, Twilight Cemetery Tour).
- Assisting with educational programming (including Playing with the Past) for preschool and elementary aged children at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum.
- Working in the gift shops and at book sales (if applicable).
Training provided
- All interns will receive local history training from AHS staff and resources to assist them with docent information and tour scripts.
- Interns will be trained in interpretive guide principles as well as customer service skills that are applicable and valuable in many career settings.
- Interns will also be trained in computer POS operation, daily accounting practices, and visitor attendance tracking.
Vehicles and Housing
- Interns must provide their own transportation and housing. The Roaring Fork Valley has a robust bus system, but a car is generally needed to get to certain sites.
Qualifications
Interns should be interested in our local history and have a desire to share that history with others!
Expectations of Interns
- Interns are expected to be clear about their desired hours and scheduling and to honor those commitments. Schedules can be flexible and allow for things like family trips and other jobs, but it is crucial to communicate in advance.
- All interns are expected to assume professional responsibilities and to complete tasks as assigned.
- No use of tobacco, alcohol, or recreational drugs will be tolerated on the job.
- Interns are expected to dress appropriately. Generally, this is very casual, however docent duties and certain tours and events may require a more professional appearance and/or period costuming.
- Attendance at all mandatory training.
- Interns are important ambassadors representing Aspen Historical Society and this role will be proudly and enthusiastically accepted.
Scheduling and pay rate
Interns are paid hourly ($15/hour) with hours per week capped at 30, although it is fine to work less. Pay periods fall on/around the 5th and 20th of each month.
How to apply
Please email a resume and cover letter to outreach @ aspenhistory.org
Please include:
- Your contact information, including current and permanent address
- Two References
- Your availability during the internship period listed in the description
Summer Internship
College-Age and Older
Application deadline:
March 15, 2024
Expected Interview Dates:
April 1 -5, 2024
Internship dates:
June 1 – September 2, 2024 (dates may be flexible, please inquire)
This is a fun and unique opportunity to learn about and share Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley’s remarkable history while working at an established Aspen-area nonprofit. Come spend time this summer at Aspen Historical Society (AHS) with opportunities to support a broad range of museum, programming, events, archiving, and curatorial activities.
Responsibilities
Interns will be expected to learn about and help with what we do at AHS. This may include only some or all the following (depending on scheduling needs and intern interests):
- Working as a docent at each of our 4 historical locations. These include the ghost town of Independence, located near the Continental Divide, on Independence Pass (elevation 10,800 ft.); the ghost town of Ashcroft, located in the Castle Creek Valley (elevation 9,521 ft.); the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum, located in Aspen; and the Wheeler/Stallard Museum, home of Aspen Historical Society’s administrative offices and public archives.
- Leading interpretive tours of our historical sites and other locations around Aspen.
- Supporting our signature community events (Hoedown, Ice Cream Social, Twilight Cemetery Tour).
- Offering educational programming (including ‘Playing with the Past’) for preschool and elementary aged children at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum.
- Going ‘behind the scenes’ to learn about archiving, accessioning, and curating.
- Assisting with preservation and maintenance projects.
- Working in the gift shops and at book sales (if applicable).
Training provided
- All interns will receive local history training from AHS staff and resources to assist them with docent information and tour scripts.
- Interns will be trained in interpretive guide principles as well as customer service skills that are applicable and valuable in many career settings.
- Interns will also be trained in computer POS operation, daily accounting practices, and visitor attendance tracking.
Vehicles and Housing
- Interns must provide their own transportation. The Roaring Fork Valley has a robust bus system, but a car is generally needed to get to certain sites.
- Aspen Historical Society has unique (camping enthusiasts wanted!) housing/sheltered camping available at both ghost town sites. Those sites do not have running water, electricity, or internet connectivity. However, emergency communication systems are provided.
- Interns are provided with a pass to the Aspen Recreation Center for the use of pool, fitness, and locker rooms, and the use of the laundry facilities at the AHS office.
- Interns may, of course, provide their own housing. AHS may be able to provide some financial assistance if alternative housing can be found.
Qualifications
A course of study in history, archaeology, theater, museum studies, communication, or a related field is helpful, but not required. What is required is the desire to share area history with others!
Expectations of Interns
- The complete summer internship program is a 30-hour commitment (unless otherwise arranged), with two days in a row off each week. Schedules do fluctuate and a certain amount of flexibility is required. Interns are expected to work the entire summer period, unless otherwise arranged.
- Partial internships with schedule flexibility are available, please inquire.
- All interns are expected to assume professional responsibilities and to complete tasks as assigned.
- Rarely, interns are expected to attend special events even if they fall outside the typical 9-5 schedule or beyond an 8-hour workday (never to exceed 12 hours). Schedules will be ‘flexed’ accordingly.
- No use of tobacco, alcohol, or recreational drugs will be tolerated on the job.
- Interns are expected to dress appropriately. Generally, this is very casual, however docent duties and certain tours and events may require a more professional appearance and/or period costuming.
- Attendance at all mandatory training.
- Interns are important ambassadors representing Aspen Historical Society and this role will be proudly and enthusiastically accepted.
Scheduling and pay rate
Interns are paid hourly ($15/hour) with hours per week capped at 30. We also have some (based on scheduling needs) opportunities for interns who would prefer to work fewer hours. Pay periods fall on/around the 5th and 20th of each month.
How to apply
Please email a resume and cover letter to outreach @ aspenhistory.org
Please include:
- Your contact information, including current and permanent address
- Two References
- Your availability during the internship period listed in the description
Available Internships
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