VOLUNTEER!
The Foundation is grateful to the many volunteers contribute their time and energy to the Mather Homestead. We welcome the help of volunteers and offer many ways to get involved - join us as a docent, help us preserve and manage our collections, lend us your green thumb, plan events with us ... and more!
Thank you to our volunteers!
Other Volunteers
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Docent/Tour guides – available for public tours. Please contact us at info@matherhomestead.org to join the team!Lead
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Docent/Archivist Donn Smith has single handedly organized and documented the collection, starting with bringing documents from attic, reading through materials, blogging, organizing into folders/boxes and creating system.
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Gardener Andy Huntington has restored and maintained the historic gardens. We are always looking for additional help with our gardens!
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Darien Scouts (groups offering hours to clean or prepare an area that will be used for recreation. – fall clean up, eagle scout projects. We welcome scout help!
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Darien Garden Club or local nature group offering to help with planting of a garden and/or removal of invasive species.– installed foundation plantings for barn.
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High School Spring Interns – help with Garden Tea, Lunch Bunch with the Interns, act as docents for fifth grade tours. See application below.
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National Charity League, Canaan Parish - hands on mother/daughter helpers.
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Summer Interns – various projects.
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Other Event Support - contact us to help us with our events!
Email info@matherhomestead.org to get involved!
HIGH SCHOOL INTERN PROGRAM
The Mather Homestead Foundation's intern program is open to students from Darien and New Canaan High Schools.
Internship Overview
MH Description:
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The Mather Homestead, a historic home and museum in Darien, CT, is rich with history and alive with activities and events which promote public education and enjoyment. The Mather Homestead Senior Internship Program offers high school students with an interest in history and/or national parks/conservation an opportunity to both contribute to and learn from the Mather Homestead, including its rich collection of original documents and antiques.
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The mission of the Mather Homestead: to preserve the Mather Homestead as a treasured place for public education and enjoyment, and to raise awareness of the home’s unique history, dating back to the Revolutionary War, and Stephen Tyng Mather’s legacy as an important conservationist and the founder of our modern National Parks System.
Intern Qualifications:
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Must be proactive, responsive, dependable and punctual, enthusiastic about our organization.
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Other skills. We look forward to benefitting from your other skills as you design and execute a special project.
Internship Overview:
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Interns will learn to be docents/tour guides of the Mather Homestead. Will conduct a tour for family/friends and will help with Darien’s 5th grade tours.
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Interns will help with various Mather Homestead events including the June Garden Tea.
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Interns will represent the Mather Homestead in local Memorial Day Parade.
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Interns will execute one week “lunch bunch” for preschoolers, helping to “bring history to life” for local kids
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Gardening – get hands dirty in the garden!
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Field trip – interns will travel to one or more local historic homes. Will formulate recommendations for the Mather Homestead Foundation based on their experience.
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Project – each intern will formulate their own project, fitting with their skills and interests and the needs of the Mather Homestead Foundation.
Timing:
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Days consistent with Darien/New Canaan internship program (Darien: May 15 to June 9)
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9 am to 3 pm
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Some other hours required but will give time off during the regular day for extra hours worked!
THANK YOU TO OUR INTERNS!
High School 2024 interns:
Elly Patterson (New Canaan), Luna Ersek (Darien), Campbell Bonanno (Darien), Amanda O'Flanagan (Darien), Julianne Bauer (Darien)
Darien High School 2023 interns:
Sophie Curtis, Avery Johnson,
Conan Thibodeau, Cole Deline
