Our Games Academy program for preteens ages 11–13 combines learning English, American Indian and African games from the 17th and 18th centuries and sharing them with museum visitors throughout the summer.
You’ll meet preteens from across the region and share moments of fun with your peers and museum goers from all over the world. Games Academy is a great way to get experience interacting with the public and demonstrating something that you’re excited about.
The 2025 Games Academy will have sessions at both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
For more information, please reach out to us at ovs.volunteer@jyf.virginia.gov.
Games Academy Application
Apply to attend the 2025 Games Academy
Apply to the Games Academy by May 23. Please submit your application to ovs.volunteer@jyf.virginia.gov.
Training Sessions
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Monday, June 23 – Thursday, June 26 at Jamestown Settlement, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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Monday, July 14 – Thursday, July 17 at American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
You’re required to complete four half-day training sessions. During each training session, you will spend time learning the games that you will share with museum guests and ways you can talk to them and get them interested in participating.
Volunteer Shifts
After you’ve completed training, you can volunteer to share the games that you’ve learned on the Games Days. You also can volunteer for other days throughout the summer.
Teen volunteer programs offer the opportunity to not only learn history but how to share it with others. Volunteers learn how to teach, engage with the community and become an advocate for themselves and others. Rising 8th–11th graders will meet teens from across the region and together you'll create a great museum experience for your peers and visitors from all over the world. These programs also are a great space for creativity, inclusivity, fun and confidence building. Teen volunteer opportunities include:
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Junior Gallery Guides engage visitors in our museums’ indoor galleries.
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Junior Historical Interpreters engage visitors in our outdoor living-history areas.
For more information, please contact ovs.volunteer@jyf.virginia.gov.
Application
Apply to be a Junior Gallery Guide and Junior Historical Interpreter
Applications are due Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Submit your application to ovs.volunteer@jyf.virginia.gov.
Orientation • Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Volunteers are required to attend a one-day orientation, which includes tours of the galleries and outdoor living-history areas at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The program includes an overview of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (JYF), the organization that administers the museums, and learn about the roles and responsibilities of a Junior Gallery Guide and Junior Historical Interpreter. At the end of orientation, you'll have an opportunity to choose the museum where you would like to volunteer and which role interests you the most.
Training Sessions • Week of June 16, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
No training on Thursday, June 19 in recognition of Juneteenth.
You are required to complete four full-day training sessions. During each training session, you will spend half the day with a mentor in the specific location where you will be volunteering and half the day in a classroom learning historical content and some of the best ways to engage with museum visitors.
Volunteer Shifts • Starting Monday, June 23
After completing the volunteer training program, you’ll be able to schedule yourself for volunteer shifts. We will continue to provide training and mentoring to help you grow in content knowledge and approaches for engaging museum visitors.
Volunteers are required to work for a minimum of eight hours a month during the summer. If you want to continue as a core volunteer, you’ll need to volunteer four hours a month during the school year.
Professional Development Days • Sunday, August 10 – Saturday, August 16
During this week, you can learn about resume writing, completing job applications and writing cover letters. You also can participate in mock interviews.
