Employment Information

Full-Time Seasonal Positions and

Part-Time Seasonal Positions

BRITISH FUR TRADER INTERPRETER (1760)

EARLY SETTLER INTERPRETER (1830)

CIVIL WAR INTERPERTER (1861) Male Only

LUMBERJACK INTERPRETER (1880)

TURN OF THE CENTURY FARMER INTERPRETER (1900)

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORP INTERPRETER (1933) Male only

Department:  Visitor Experiences & Education

Location:  Michigan’s Heritage Park, Hilt’s Landing in Whitehall, Michigan

Start/End Date: May through October 2015

Pay Rate:  $8.15/hour

About the Site:  From a mastodon dig to the Civilian Conservation Corp, the Lakeshore Museum Center’s new Heritage Park takes visitors on a stroll through 10,000 years of Michigan’s history.  Through interactions with costumed interpreters, wayside panels, activities, programs, and events, visitors will learn how technology, culture, and daily life changed through the years.

Duties:  These positions engage visitors of the Heritage Park by working as a costumed historic interpreter of a specific time period.  The purpose of these positions is to provide accurate information about early life in Michigan in engaging and hands-on ways.

Work Schedule:  Interpreters will be trained for a specific site, although the employee may be required to work at other locations within the park if needs arise.  This SEASONAL position will not exceed 26 weeks and will begin with training in May and work through the end of October.  A full-time seasonal position is scheduled 5 days per week and will generally work 35 hours per week.  A part-time seasonal position is scheduled 2-3 days per week and will generally work 21 hours per week. Work days are Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Weekends are mandatory as scheduled.

Responsibilities:  Puts visitors first by treating them as respected guests and serving their needs.  The interpreter is responsible for staffing one of the period sites and interpreting life during that time period.

  1.  Greet each visitor as they enter your historic site and interpret the structure and the people associated with it.
  2. Work with other historic site interpreters and staff to create a welcoming and positive experience for visitors.
  3. Participate in special events as needed.
  4. Perform opening and closing duties, which include set-up, cleaning, securing the site at end of day, and reporting attendance numbers.
  5. Work on making historic trades appropriate to your site, with visitors when possible, and during visitor down time.

Requirements:

  1. Must be 18 or older at start date of employment.
  2. Must have an interest in historical interpretation and willingness to learn historic domestic skills.
  3. Must be enthusiastic, have strong public speaking skills, and have a “visitor first” attitude.

Must work well in a dynamic, changing environment and be able to be flexible and adaptable to using different interpretation styles to meet the needs of visitors. Physical Requirements: An employee must be able to work in all outdoor weather conditions, which includes the potential of biting and stinging insects and smoke from fires. Must be able to lift up to 35 pounds of site props and transport them to and from historic site buildings.

General Position Information:  Historic Costumes will be provided by the museum but maintained by the employee.  This is a SEASONAL, at-will position.

Supervision:  This position is supervised by the Heritage Park Program Manager.

To Apply:  Please submit cover letter and resumes to Cheryl Graves at Cheryl@lakeshoremuseum.org or via mail to Lakeshore Museum Center, Attn: Hilts Interpreter, 430 W. Clay Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440.