EUGENE, Ore. -- (Sept. 23, 2011) -- The UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History will host an open house for those interested in volunteering on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum, 1680 E. 15th Ave. During the open house, museum staff will be on hand to discuss all opportunities and benefits of service and provide tours of the museum exhibits.

Training sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 4 through Oct. 20 at the museum. Training will combine hands-on learning, lectures and discussions.

"Being a volunteer with MNCH means becoming an integral part of stewarding our human and natural history" said Jules Abbott, the museum education coordinator. "Once trained, our volunteers have the chance to provide support in education, visitor services, research labs and collections. It's an engaging way for life-long learners to stretch their wings and try something new."

Other programs offered this winter include a natural history lecture series on archaeology and a masquerade family day where volunteers will provide valuable services such as assisting with projects and greeting the pubic for the museum.

About the Museum of Natural and Cultural History
The UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and youths ages 17 and under, and $8 for families (two adults and up to four youths). Museum members are admitted free. Admission is free to the public each Wednesday. Guided tours are offered each Friday at 1:00 and 3:00 pm.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jules Abbott, education coordinator, 541-346-1694, jabot@uoregon.edu

LINKS: natural-history.uoregon.edu; facebook.com/oregonnaturalhistory

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