You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Historic Interpreter Intern (Summer 2025)

Living History Farms, Urbandale, Iowa
Email

JOB SUMMARY:

The historic interpreter intern assists Living History Farms in achieving its mission: to educate and connect all people to the many stories of Midwestern rural life heritage.

 

You will interact with the museum’s guests, explaining the history and trends in agriculture and rural life in the Midwest through conversations, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, all while learning and strengthening professional development skills.

You will work at 2-3 of the different historic areas at Living History Farms.  Much of the time, you will be working outdoors, while wearing clothing issued by Living History Farms that reflects the clothing of the time period.  When working at the 1700 Ioway Farm, you will wear modern museum service uniform clothing issued by Living History Farms.

Upon successful completion of the internship requirements, you may have earned up to a maximum of 6 hours of college credit through Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa.  Non-Graceland students must transfer credits to their home university and are responsible for any fees associated with this.

Specific Duties:  

  • Greet and interact with museum guests in an open, friendly manner. 
  • Interpret historic events and facts for museum guests of all ages.  Communicate information with cultural awareness and sensitivity, creating a safe learning space for all ages.  Direct guests’ curiosity and interests to provoke thoughtful consideration of other cultures and experiences. 
  • Engagingly demonstrate and interpret daily historic activities (may include food preparation and food preservation, gardening with hand tools, crafts or sewing, use of period machinery, etc.) for school tours, day camp groups, adult tour groups and the general visitor. 
  • Actively encourage general visitors, especially children, to participate in interactive activities, including scheduled hands-on activities, as appropriate. 
  • Perform appropriate work, indoors and outdoors, in a variety of conditions consistent with the historical time period and the interpretive activity, and within the variations of Iowa’s climate. 
  • Always maintain a professional demeanor, especially when interacting with the public, but also including during training sessions and with other staff. 
  • Other duties as assigned.
  • Internship requirements:
    • Must complete the required number of internship hours (360 hours). Any time missed may impact how many hours of credit are earned. 
    • Attendance required at 3 museum seminars over the course of the internship.
    • Complete all required assignments.

Supervisory duties:         None; will work with other paid, volunteer, & intern staff 

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Consistent attendance is an essential function of the position. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 

EDUCATION and SKILLS:              

  • High school diploma or GED required; preference if currently enrolled in a college or university with a major in museum studies, education, history, or related field.
  • Enjoy working with the public, and people of all ages, especially children!
  • Possess excellent communication (verbal and written) skills.
  • Display a willingness to learn, and a “can do” mentality.
  • Approach situations with creative, analytical, and problem-solving skills. 
  • Demonstrate exceptional customer service skills.
  • Enjoy working in a dynamic, fast-paced, team-oriented work environment. 
  • Demonstrate an ability to work independently, following through on tasks to completion. 
  • Be dependable, reliable, punctual, trustworthy- the museum’s guests and your co-workers are counting on you!
  • Be comfortable working outdoors, sometimes in adverse conditions such as heat, rain, etc. (Most buildings are not climate-controlled.) 
  • Able to perform physical tasks with physical mobility, such as lifting up to 50 lbs., walking over uneven ground, standing for long periods of time, etc.
  • Have experience with the Microsoft Office package and Google 
  • Successfully pass a criminal background check

 

POSITION HOURS and SCHEDULE:                          

  • The internship runs from May 16 – August 9, 2025.
  • Required days: You MUST be here for these special event Saturdays: June 28 (Pioneer Wedding), July 4 (Independence Day), and July 26 (Grain Harvest). If you are not able to be here on these dates, consider not applying. 
  • Averages 30-40 hours per week, Tuesday through Saturday.  The workday is usually about 8:45 – 4:15. While rare, the schedule may also include an occasional evening, which will be scheduled well in advance.