DAILY LIFE ON THE RURAL PRAIRIE (DLRP)
DLRP will be held each Friday throughout the school year, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. School groups from the surrounding communities visit Pioneer Farms and learn about pioneer history in Texas. Attempts will made to keep guest capacity to no greater than 200 guests per program date.
SAMPLER PROGRAM
The Sampler Program offers up to 75 students/teachers hands-on experience in the daily life of a late 1800s pioneer. Participants don pioneer costume, help with chores, prepare and eat a pioneer-style meal, learn era-appropriate games, songs, dances, et cetera.
HERITAGE ARTISANS PROGRAM
The Heritage Artisans Program is held each Sunday, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., and is open to the public. Volunteers interpret each site, and demonstrate heritage artisan skills, including woodworking, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, quilting, leatherworking, et cetera. Workshops and classes are often available.
SATURDAY VOLUNTEER WORK DAY
A volunteer work day is held on the second Saturday of each month, usually from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (sometimes this changes depending on holidays and special events). This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, businesses, youth groups, scouts, et cetera, to take part in maintaining the landscaping, structures, and overall functional capacity of Pioneer Farms.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Pioneer Farms holds five main special events each year, to include Family Fall Festival (October), Christmas Candlelight Tour (December), Market Days (March), Maypole Festival (May), and Glorious Fourth (July). We also participate in Museum Open Day in September, where museums throughout Austin, open their doors to the community, free of charge. Because Museum Open Day draws a larger-than-usual crowd for our Heritage Artisans Program, it is treated as a Special Event.
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Notes: Those interested in volunteering as a coordinator or supervisor, are asked to consider an overall time commitment of one fiscal year, September 1 through August 31, unless otherwise noted. More than one person can share program coordination tasks.
Basic First Aid and CPR training is suggested for those who consider and/or commit to coordinator or supervisory roles, by way of insuring the safety of both guests and volunteers at Pioneer Farms. Training will be provided.
Program Coordinators (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans)
Time commitment: In general - five to ten hours weekly, which includes the program date. The Program Coordinator should be present for each program date. More than one person can share this job.
Tasks: The Program Coordinator will coordinate with the Program Scheduler regarding the number of guests expected for each program date. The Program Coordinator will coordinate with the Volunteer Coordinator regarding volunteer staff expected for each program date, and will assist with volunteer training and orientation, recruitment and retention. One to two days prior to a program date, the Program Coordinator will contact volunteer staff with information regarding the upcoming program, to include approximate number of guests, updated information regarding rules, events, seasonal precautions, et cetera. The Program Coordinator will be the first to arrive and the last to leave each program date. On each program date, upon arrival, unlock the front gate, set out volunteer sign-in sheet, distribute radios to site supervisors. Greet guests upon arrival, review rules and safety tips, point out location of restrooms, picnic facilities, rainy-day lunch accommodations. During the program, the Program Coordinator will be on-call to assist site supervisors and General Store Manager as needed. At the end of the program, collect radios from site supervisors, assist as necessary with cleanup, make final tour of each site to collect garbage and dispose of properly, and make sure doors and gates are locked, and animals are properly contained.
Program Scheduler: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly, September 1 through August 31. The Program Scheduler does not need to be present for each program date.
Tasks: The Program Scheduler will take receipt of and schedule reservations, and send out confirmation letters. Some time will be spent on the phone with school or community contacts; schools should reserve their dates via mail. The Program Scheduler will coordinate with the Program Coordinator as to which schools are scheduled when, with the approximate numbers of guests.
Program Volunteer Coordinator: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly, September 1 through August 31. The Volunteer Coordinator does not need to be present for each program date, though it's helpful if he or she is.
Tasks: Assist Pioneer Farms Volunteer Coordinator in volunteer recruitment and retention, volunteer training and orientation. Assist volunteers with costuming, as necessary. Schedule volunteers for DLRP, and provide volunteer staffing list to Program Coordinator for each program date.
General Store Manager: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. The General Store Manager should be present for each program date.
Tasks: In general, coordinate with the Pioneer Farms General Store Manager regarding store procedures. For each program date, the General Store Manager will open the store and cash register, and follow procedures already established. Check in schools as they arrive, take admission payments, distribute brochures and map, assist guests with purchase. The General Store Manager will be responsible for locking the store at the end of each program date. Training is required, and provided.
General Store Clerk: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. Those interested in volunteering as a General Store Clerk are asked to consider volunteering at least one program date per month.
Tasks: Assist guests with store purchases, answer questions, direct guests to different sites, help monitor students while in the store, other tasks as necessary during each program. Training is required, and provided.
Historic Home Sites
Site Supervisor: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. Site Supervisors should be present for each program date.
Tasks: Site Supervisors will be responsible for unlocking his or her site, setting out needed supplies for the day, make sure only era-appropriate articles are visible, coordinating with interpreters regarding demonstrations to be carried out, assisting with training of new volunteers, and interpreting the site for guests. At the end of each program date, the Site Supervisor will be responsible for making sure trash is bagged and placed "curbside" in front of the house, making sure that all artifacts are stored properly, general cleanup carried out, fires are banked, and that doors and windows are secured and locked. Site Supervisors will be responsible for reporting any repairs needing to be made at his or her location.
Interpreters: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. Those interested in volunteering as a site interpreter are asked to consider volunteering at least one program date per month.
Tasks: Demonstrate era-appropriate skills, talk with guests and answer any questions. Assist Site Supervisor with site preparation before guests arrive, as well as with cleanup at the end of each program date.
BARN
Site Supervisor: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. Site supervisory could coincide with Woodshop Interpreter or Livestock Coordinator. Site Supervisors should be present for each program date.
Tasks: The Site Supervisor will be responsible for unlocking any area to be made accessible to guests, and woodshop (as needed). Assist guests with viewing animals, make sure rules are followed, answer questions. At the end of each program, make sure garbage is picked up and set "curbside" for pickup, all necessary doors/gates locked, animals properly contained.
Woodshop Interpreter: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. Those interested in volunteering in the Woodshop are asked to consider volunteering at least one program date per month.
Tasks: Demonstrate era-appropriate woodworking skills to guests, answer questions, provide assistance to Site Supervisor as necessary.
Livestock Coordinator: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. The Livestock Coordinator should be present for each program date.
Tasks: Feed and water livestock in an era-appropriate fashion (to the best of his/her ability). Answer questions. Help train other volunteers in livestock maintenance. Assist Site Supervisor as necessary. If a milk cow is available and made part of the program, assist guests in milking.
BLACKSMITH SHOP
Site Supervisor: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. The Site Supervisor should be present for each program date.
Tasks: Unlock blacksmith shop each program date, prepare required materials and tools for demonstration. Help train volunteers in the trade of the blacksmith, answer questions. At the end of each program, conduct a general cleanup and store tools and equipment. Make sure fires are banked, bag any trash and set "curbside" for pickup. Lock up.
Apprentice: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Saturday Work day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. Those interested in volunteering as an apprentice are asked to consider volunteering at least one program date per month.
Tasks: Assist Site Supervisor as necessary, help with blacksmith demonstrations, answer questions, assist with site preparation and cleanup.
Supplies Coordinator: (Sampler, Saturday Work Day, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly.
Tasks: Coordinate with Site Supervisors and get a list of supplies and ingredients needed for each program date. Purchase, locate, and have available for pickup all supplies and ingredients needed by each site. Keep and turn in all receipts for items purchased, for bookkeeping and reimbursement purposes.
Costume Coordinator: (DLRP, Sampler, Heritage Artisans, Special Events)
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours weekly. The Costume Coordinator does not need to be present for each program date.
Tasks: The Costume Coordinator will keep a running inventory of costumes available, and will coordinate with volunteers as relates to mending and laundering of costumes. Coordinate with General Store Manager for any costume items that might be purchased. Keep and turn in any receipts for materials or clothing purchased for the costume library.
PARKING: (Special Events)
Coordinator: Arrange designated parking area, prepare Plan B in case of mud, coordinate with Event Coordinator, pick up and distribute parking vests to volunteers.
Volunteers: Direct guests into parking lot and where to park.
FRONT GATE: (Special Events)
COORDINATOR: The Gate Coordinator will stand at the entrance and use the "clicker" to count the number of guests coming through the gate, and coordinate with Gate Volunteers in welcoming guests and directing guests to ticket pickup or purchase.
VOLUNTEERS: Work with Gate Coordinator in welcoming and directing guests as they come through the front gate.
TICKET SALES: (Special Events)
COORDINATOR: Handle pre-sale and at-the-door tickets via internet, phone, and on-site. Coordinate Ticket Sales volunteers in methods of payment, location of ticket pickup, handing out programs.
VOLUNTEERS: Work with Ticket Coordinator in methods of payment, location of ticket pickup, handing out programs.
PHOTOGRAPHER: (All programs/events)
Take photos of event activities, crafts, guests and volunteers. Post to Farmhands, make available to Pioneer Farms Gazette.
ENTERTAINMENT: (Special Events)
COORDINATOR: Recruit musicians, dancers, storytellers. Set schedule, organize entertainment for each site. Provide tables, chairs, and other equipment as necessary.
HAYRIDES: (Special Events)
COORDINATOR: (this job could coincide with "driver" or "assistant" job) Coordinate with Event and Facilities Coordinators regarding hayride route. Organize equipment to be used. Coordinate with Hayride driver and assistants regarding stop and go signals. At end of program, arrange for distribution and storage of hay bales, cleanup trailer and tractor, park in designated location.
DRIVER: Drive tractor/trailer along designated route. Driver must possess a valid driver's license and have prior experience with Pioneer Farms' tractor. Training is available.
ASSISSTANT: Assist guests on and off hayride. Collect hayride fee or donation (to be decided). During hayride, give brief narrative about Pioneer Farms, each home site, pioneer life in general. Answer questions.
REFRESHMENTS: (Special Events)
COORDINATOR: Make arrangements for meal / refreshments to be donated to or purchased by Pioneer Farms, and offered or sold to guests. Choose location and layout for refreshment area. Coordinate refreshment volunteers with setting up, serving, and cleanup.
VOLUNTEERS: Assist with setup, service, and cleanup.