Some volunteers like to spend as much time as possible outside during the summer months, and happily take on roadside cleanups and outdoor festival work. But others prefer to avoid the heat and sun by helping the community from the comfort of an air conditioned space! 

If you fall into the latter category, and would appreciate ideas for volunteering indoors while also building your awareness of local history and culture, check out the following opportunities to serve as docents at museums in Montgomery County.

Damascus Heritage Society Museum: Welcome guests to the museum and learn along with them about the Damascus community's agricultural, educational, economic, social, and spiritual history. The museum operates Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon-4 pm, and volunteers work in pairs and typically serve one day per month. Minimum age: 14. SSL pre-approved. Email Marie Dean or call 301-253-6150.

Montgomery County Historical Society: Share your excitement about local 19th century history with visitors to the Beall-Dawson House and the Stonestreet Medical Museum, located in Rockville. Training provided and volunteers receive a 20% discount at the museum shop as well as discounted rates on other programs offered by the historical society. Docents commit to two four-hour weekday shifts or one four-hour weekend shift per month. Minimum age: 18. Additional service opportunities include garden assistants (SSL pre-approved) and gift shop volunteers.

National Capital Trolley Museum: Help visitors to this Silver Spring landmark learn about the history of electric street railways. Working as a docent is also the first step toward becoming one of the museum's streetcar motormen. Training provided; next class is Saturday, July 23. (Advance registration required.) Minimum age: 14. SSL pre-approved. Additional service opportunities include car shop volunteers and project assistants. Email the museum or call 301-384-6532.

National Museum of Health and Medicine: Provide guided tours of this 150-year-old Silver Spring museum, which began as a national repository for materials related to Civil War injuries. Docents are asked to commit to at least four weekday shifts (about six hours) per month, and must attend orientation, training, and monthly volunteer meetings. Requires the ability to stand for long periods of time and interest in history, medicine, and military medicine. Minimum age: 18. Additional service opportunities include archival film volunteers and archives volunteers. Email Gwen Nelmes or call 301-319-3312.
 

To find additional volunteer opportunities at museums, check out these possibilities.

Put your legal skills to work to protect Central American and other immigrant children fleeing abuse. Learn how to successfully obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for immigrant minors who have suffered abuse, abandonment, or neglect by a parent at a free training session Wed., July 13, noon-2:30 pm, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Register by email. 

Training will cover the steps needed to obtain custody or guardianship and SIJS findings-of-fact. Once an immigrant child obtains SIJS finding-of-facts, an immigration practitioner can represent him or her in applying for legal status in the United States.

No particular expertise is required to participate, but trainees must be attorneys barred and in good standing in the state of Maryland. In addition, participants must agree to accept one pro bono referral from HIAS or Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services within 12 months of completing the training. Malpractice insurance will be provided.

It may feel like summer has just begun, but organizations that serve some of our county's neediest youth are already working to ensure that all students have the school supplies they'll need to be prepared when the new school year begins in late August.  You can help these efforts by donating supplies or making a monetary contribution to one of the following drives.

Housing Opportunities Commission is collecting backpacks, pencils, pens, binders, notebooks, looseleaf paper, composition books, folders, rulers, glue, erasers, scissors, crayons, markers, colored pencils, calculators, protractors, pencil cases, and pencil sharpeners for youth living in HOC housing. The agency hosts a back-to-school fest for these students, and will provide each participant with a backpack stuffed with supplies. 

When: now through Monday, Aug. 1

Where: collection bins located at 10400 Detrick Ave., Kensington; 231 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg; 101 Lakeforest Blvd., Suite 200, Gaithersburg;  8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 3, Silver Spring

Details: Email Kiara Crawley

Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless holds a back-to-school fair to benefit children in its programs, and seeks school supplies to distribute at the fair as well as party goods to create a festive experience. 

When: Monday, July 11-Friday, Aug. 12

Where: 600-B East Gude Drive, Rockville

Details: Email Naira Hirz 

Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation's Give BACKpacks campaign accepts monetary donations, which it uses to provide a student in need with a backpack filled with school supplies. Each contribution of $10 covers the cost of supplies for one student. 

When: throughout summer

Where: send checks payable to MCPS Educational Foundation and with Give BACKpacks on the memo line to PO Box 1007, Rockville, MD 20849-1007 or donate online 

Details: Give BACKpacks website

Montgomery Housing Partnership is collecting sturdy backpacks, school supplies, and monetary donations to put together age-appropriate school supply packs for each of the 350-plus children enrolled in its summer enrichment programs held at community centers in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Wheaton. The organization also accepts new books to encourage kids to continue their leisure reading during the summer.
When: preferably before Friday, July 29, when the summer enrichment program ends, but can accept contributions through Friday, Aug. 19
Where: call for pickup, or drop off weekdays, 10 am-4 pm, at 12200 Tech Road, Silver Spring
Details: Email Eva Dillon, call 301-812-4122, or download flyer

Studies show that seniors who volunteer live longer, happier lives. That's one of the guiding forces behind the Vital Living Network, a voluntary group composed of professionals and others with an interest in supporting opportunities that engage and energize Montgomery County's 50-plus populations.

Learn how the group is connecting seniors to volunteer service--as well as other ways to make the most of life as you age--in this video segment and the downloadable publication, The Montgomery County Vital Living Networker.