Laura Frye

Walter & Monika March

Jodie Alexander

Hayden & Pat O'Neil 

Gail Ehrhardt--Museum

Mary Lou Miller--Planetarium

In Appreciation 

for volunteering at Museum & Planetarium

T.K. Moore

Carol Rankin

Susan Silk

Alex Tempsick

35 hours or more

Volunteering at the Museum of Coastal Carolina at Ocean Isle Beach and Ingram Planetarium at Sunset Beach provides meaningful service to education, the community, and the environment.  The Museum and Planetarium collaborate with other agencies in Brunswick County to educate residents, school children, and visitors about nature, the environment, and the cultural history of the coastal area.  Both locations are a favorites for local residents to take their family and friends when they visit.  Did you know that Brunswick County is only one of six counties in North Carolina that has both a natural history museum and a planetarium?

Volunteering at the Museum and Planetarium is a great way for newcomers to get involved in the community and to meet lots of people in a short time.   The Museum and Planetarium depend upon volunteers to keep their doors open.  Each week, it takes a minimum of 56 volunteers at the Museum and 20 at the Planetarium to keep the doors open and to offer residents and visitors a great experience.  Many volunteers have been with us since the Museum was founded in the early 1990’s.  Now these veteran volunteers are reducing the number of hours and days that they volunteer.  The Museum seeks additional volunteers to assist at the visitors services (admissions) desk, gift shop,  touch tank, feeding the birds and touch tank animals, and assisting with programs.  At the Museum, volunteers work mornings from 10—1:30, afternoons from 1:30—5, or evenings from 5—8:30.  Ingram Planetarium needs volunteers at the visitor services desk, the gift shop, and in the science hall.  At the Planetarium, volunteers work from 12:30—4, and during July only from 5—7:30.  Volunteer schedules are flexible and accommodations are made for travel and other personal commitments.   

“Many volunteers work every other week and let us know when they are traveling and we get a substitute for them.  We also have husband-wife teams and Museum or Planetarium buddies.  If one  has an unexpected appointment, the spouse or buddy fills in.  These teams work well,” says Laura Frye, Volunteer Coordinator for the Museum and Planetarium. 

“We especially need volunteers this summer.  Volunteers may work on a weekly basis, every other week, monthly, or as a substitute.  In the fall and winter, volunteers and docents help with our school groups.  We provide orientation and training.  Volunteers choose one or more areas that they enjoy working and assist with simple tasks for those areas according to their comfort level.  Some volunteers love the interaction and answering questions for the visitors yet they prefer not to clean the fingerprints from the exhibit glass.  Others prefer to keep the glass exhibits clean or stay busy restocking items or checking in new inventory in the gift shop.  At the Planetarium, some volunteers take pleasure in the 20-minute rush just before the program and then read their book while visitors are in the Sky Theater.  Other volunteers learn about the Dennis Science Hall exhibits and help visitors with the related crafts. 

Occasionally office assistants are needed to help with a myriad of office tasks such as data entry, answering phones, providing information to the public, restocking information racks, and preparing craft materials for children’s programs.  In addition, there are needs for volunteers to help with school programs, wood working, painting, and exhibit research and updates.

Judy Sobota stated that she enjoys meeting people from around the country.  “My grandchildren love to participate in the summer programs when they visit.  I learn something new every time that I volunteer and the staff is wonderfully informed and delightful to work with.  I taught first grade for many years so volunteering at the Museum fulfills a void to teach children again when I teach Surf and Sand Smarts about beach safety during the summer programs.“

Jim & Marge Libby volunteer at the touch tank during the summer and feed the touch animals and the birds year round.  “Our family and friends know that Wednesday is Museum day for us, said Marge, and our grandchildren like to visit when they are in town.”  Jim said, “We travel a lot and enjoy the flexibility of volunteering at the Museum.  Additionally, if one of us has an appointment, the other fills in.” 

Laura Frye continues, “We encourage newcomers, teachers, part-time residents, and retirees to volunteer.  We have some summer vacationers who like to help out during the time they are at the beach and teachers who volunteer once a month in the winter.  It takes all of us to keep the Museum and Planetarium doors open.  We work with the volunteers to meet their comfort level and to ensure an enjoyable visit for visitors.”  For more information about volunteering at the Museum of Coastal Carolina or Ingram Planetarium, call Laura Frye at 910.579.1016 or email laura@museumofcc.org.

  Judy Sobota

  Marge & Jim Libby  

Marion Hemphill and Kathie Moore like to volunteer at Ingram Planetarium because it is an asset for the community and they like to support their community.  Marion said, “ It’s fun to meet the local people and our visitors.”  Kathie laughed, “It’s the only time that I get to read!”

Kathie Moore and Marion Hemphill

Volunteers-in-training will apprentice with more experienced volunteers and docents on the first day of volunteer service. Advanced volunteer training is held as needed on various topics pertaining to the museum and planetarium. Call Laura Frye at 910-579-1016 for more information.