Volunteer

Pella Historical Museums' success is highly dependent on our hard-working and talented volunteers. With opportunities for every age, there is something to learn and ways to have fun for individuals, families, or groups! The descriptions below provide a broad overview of the responsibilities and time commitment required by each.

Interested in learning more or getting involved? Click the orange button to fill out a brief form and we will get ahold of you!

Get Involved

Tulip Time Opportunities

Vermeer Windmill, Historical Village, & Scholte House Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to serve as hosts and hostesses in the various buildings of the Historical Village and Vermeer Mill as well as throughout the Scholte House to welcome guests and answer questions. All volunteers wear Dutch costumes to ensure the best experience for our guests.

Ready to sign up? Click here for Historical Village availability, or click here for Vermeer Windmill availability.

Tea Room Volunteers

Maria's Tea Room is always bustling during Tulip Time, and we need help creating a fun and unique experience for our guests! You'll be helping in the kitchen - making tea and coffee, setting up tasty treats, and doing dishes. No Dutch costume required.

Artisans

Tulip Time is one of two times each year that artisans fill the buildings in the Historical Village. Have a skill you want to share or are willing to learn? We would love to feature your talent! Maybe it's Hindeloopen painting, blacksmithing, woodworking, knitting, weaving, Dutch oven cooking, or something else. We'd also be happy to train you in some of these trades!

Ticket Takers

Hundreds of thousands of guests visit Pella during Tulip Time, and most of them come to the Historical Village and Windmill! We need people to take tickets at our gate during the three days of Tulip Time. You'll be greeting guests, selling tickets, and answering questions. Dutch costumes are required. Ready to sign up? Click here to plug in.

Barricades - PAID

We need people to take shifts operating rope barricades throughout the downtown - checking passes and letting vehicles in and out. This is a low-key job: no costume required, relax in a lawn chair, and, best of all, get paid! We appreciate both individuals and groups. Ready to sign up for a shift? Click here to mark your availability.

Information Windmill Greeters

The Information Windmill in Central Park is a hub of activity for visitors to learn more about all there is to see and do at Tulip Time. We need friendly faces to welcome people to town and answer their wide-ranging questions. A Dutch costume is required.

Scrub the Streets

Everyone in costume is welcome to participate in street scrubbing! Brooms and buckets are provided. Meet at the corner of Franklin and Broadway Streets by US Bank. Afternoon street scrubbing begins around 2:20pm, and evening streets scrubbing starts around 8:20pm. Plan to arrive 8-10 minutes early to grab your broom and buckets.

Dutch Dancing

Dance in front of the Tulip Toren all three days of Tulip Time! Open to anyone 5th grade through adult in wooden shoes and Dutch costume. Click here for more information.

Sunday Parade Clean Up

Help us clean up float litter from around town after the festivities are over on Sunday afternoon. This is a great opportunity for groups looking for service work, but we will definitely take individuals as well!

Year-Round Opportunities

Windmill Guides

Windmill guides take visitors on a tour of the Vermeer Mill. Volunteers for this role enjoy talking to people and have an interest in Pella's history and windmills specifically - or are willing to learn! Those interested will receive a tour script, as well as shadowing and training. Volunteers are scheduled as the individual's calendar permits; each shift is a half day. Shifts available mid-March through December.

Millers

The miller position requires a person with an interest in mechanical things who is willing to learn to operate a working windmill. Hands-on training is provided on site followed by a skill assessment by a certified miller. Once trained, millers work two or three days per month as their schedule permits. Shifts available mid-March through December.

Scholte House Guides

Scholte House guides open the museum, welcome guests, take money, answer questions, and occasionally give tours. Volunteers are friendly, responsible, and knowledgeable about the Scholte family and the history of Pella - or willing to learn! Those interested will be given information packets and training. Volunteers are schedule as their calendars permit; each shift is 1:00-4:00pm. Shifts available mid-March through December.

General Volunteering

As you can imagine, keeping up 22 buildings in our Village, the tallest working windmill in North America, the 170-year-old home of our city's founder, and a country school takes a lot of time and elbow grease. If you have a skill you can share with us, we need you. Maybe it's sewing, painting, construction work, stuffing envelopes, planting flowers... The list could go on and on. Opportunities available year-round.