Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator

POSITION/TITLE: Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

SUPERVISOR: Development and Engagement Manager

HOURS: Part-time, 18 to 24 Hours Per Week

ABOUT WONDERTREK CHILDREN’S MUSEUM:

WonderTrek Children’s Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Baxter, Minnesota, operating across Region 5 counties of Crow Wing, Cass, Todd, Wadena & Morrison counties. WonderTrek is led by a dedicated Board of Directors, passionate staff, and an experienced Museum Project Director.

WonderTrek is on a mission to bring back everyday play. Play is a vital part of healthy development and a vibrant community. WonderTrek’s creative spaces enable children to imagine, experiment, and develop essential life skills, such as problem-solving, empathy, decision-making, and teamwork – all while having a blast. WonderTrek Children’s Museum celebrates children’s joy of play and the wonder of learning. In a world where free play and exploration are disappearing, WonderTrek inspires learning through hands-on adventures. Designed for children 12 and under, their families, caregivers, and educators, it’s a place where children lead, parents recharge, and families connect.

WonderTrek’s Outdoor Adventure is finally becoming a reality, set to open Fall 2026! Consisting of 9-acres of interactive exhibits, WonderTrek’s Outdoor Adventure creates a place where children explore, play, and let their imaginations run wild. To further our reach, WonderTrek on Wheels brings the joy of learning through play to children and families across North Central Minnesota. From community parks to classrooms, corporate events to summer festivals, the WonderTruck and Trailer deliver hands-on fun and unforgettable adventures.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Volunteer Engagement Coordinator is an enthusiastic, community-minded, and highly organized leader who mobilizes the human capital needed to bring WonderTrek's indoor and outdoor learning environments to life. This position plays a pivotal role in orchestrating WonderTrek’s youth mentorship program. As a key member of our lean, collaborative team, you will design and grow a robust volunteer program that directly aligns with our strategic fundraising goals while ensuring WonderTrek continues to build-out our “community-made” foundation.

Reporting directly to the Development and Engagement Manager, this role is tasked with dual objectives: activating community-led facilitation within our nature play spaces, exhibits, and recreational environments, while cultivating a multi-generational volunteer-to-donor pipeline. This role ensures that community mobilization seamlessly supports our fundraising, corporate partnership, and long-term stakeholder cultivation goals.

Responsibilities and Expectations:

The Volunteer Engagement Coordinator leads the recruitment, training, and management of a diverse volunteer network dedicated to supporting learning through play in the great outdoors. This role bridges the community with the museum's charge to bring back everyday play for all children, ensuring volunteers are prepared to support nature-based learning experiences for children and families. Additionally, the Specialist builds an integrated strategic pathway that systematically engages donor affinities through volunteer opportunities while providing active museum volunteers with avenues for philanthropic support.

Learning Through Play in the Great Outdoors

• Recruitment and Onboarding: Developing targeted strategies to attract volunteers, conducting interviews, and managing the onboarding process to ensure a good fit for the museum's unique outdoor and indoor learning environments.
• Training and Education: Equipping volunteers and youth mentors with knowledge about child development, leadership skills, WonderTrek’s approach to learning through play and exploration, nature play practices, local ecology, and safety protocols for outdoor activities.
• Daily Management and Scheduling: Coordinating volunteer schedules for daily operations, youth mentorship, special events, school field trips, and seasonal camps.
• Retention and Recognition: Implementing appreciation programs, tracking volunteer hours, and gathering feedback to ensure a positive, rewarding, and inclusive volunteer experience.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Working closely with the operations and learning experience teams to set recruitment priorities and align volunteer and youth mentor placements with programming needs.

Donor Pipeline & Engagement Alignment

• Volunteer-to-Donor Management: Partner with the Development and Engagement Manager to deepen donor engagement with affinity-based volunteer opportunities, and offer committed volunteers opportunities to extend their contributions philanthropically.
• Corporate Volunteer Hosting: Collaborate closely with the Development and Engagement Manager to coordinate, schedule, and host targeted "Corporate Volunteer Days." Help deliver five-star hospitality to visiting corporate teams, supporting institutional sponsorship fulfillment and retention.
• Special Event Logistics: Secure and manage specialized committee and day-of volunteers for public launches, signature fundraising campaigns, and exclusive pre-opening preview events.

Program Administration & CRM Tracking

• Build-out Volunteer Systems: As WonderTrek’s first dedicated Volunteer program leader, build-out systems, processes, and policies for general volunteers and youth mentorship cohorts aligned with other departmental systems to reach program goals and objectives.
• Maintain Data Integrity: Input, track, and manage all volunteer applications, shift histories, and relationship notes within the non-profit CRM system (Humanitru) to ensure unified stakeholder reporting.
• Screening and Compliance: Oversee background checks, safety orientations, and youth protection training protocols to maintain an inclusive, secure environment for children, youth, and families.
• Culture of Gratitude: Design milestone appreciation programs and touchpoints that ensure volunteers feel deeply valued, recognized, and personally invested in WonderTrek's charge to elevate childhood.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional Background: Minimum of 2–3 years of professional experience in volunteer management, youth program administration, non-profit development, community organizing, or guest services.
• Educational Foundation: Bachelor’s degree in Non-Profit Management, Museum Studies, Youth Development, Education, Communications, Environmental Education, Parks & Recreation, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• CRM Literacy: Practical familiarity or comfort learning non-profit database management software (such as Humanitru) to log hours, segment constituents, and pull metrics.
• Administrative Setup: Strong digital literacy with standard office administrative suites, specifically Google Workspace, to maintain clear electronic records.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills tailored for interacting with diverse community groups, youth populations, families, volunteers, donors, and stakeholders.
• Team Player: Actively support broader museum operations, special pre-opening preview events, and peak attendance days as an integrated member of our lean but dedicated team.
• Culture of Accountability: As a key member of WonderTrek’s management team, positively foster workplace culture with insightful supervision, support, and collaboration while demonstrating initiative, accountability, sound judgment, and professionalism.
• WonderTrek Vibe: Genuine enthusiasm for local outdoor recreation, nature-based play, youth mentorship, and play-based learning.
• Inclusivity: Deep commitment to maintaining a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging environment for all children, families, educators, and volunteers.
• Flexibility: Ability to quickly adapt to a fast-paced start-up environment, working a semi-varied schedule that requires occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Transportation: Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to travel across Central and North Central Minnesota.
• Background Check: Must successfully pass a comprehensive criminal background check.
• Other duties as assigned: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Museum Background: Direct experience working within a children's museum, science center, cultural institution, youth development organization (e.g., YMCA, Boys & Girls Club), or visitor-facing non-profit.
• Engagement Strategies: on top of industry trends with experience personalizing volunteer engagement strategies of WonderTrek’s audiences including key stakeholders and contributors.
• Local Insight: Established familiarity with the philanthropic, civic, and educational landscape of North Central Minnesota (Crow Wing, Cass, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties).
• Seasonal Residents: Familiarity with engaging seasonal regional residents and tourists, turning repeat visitors into active contributors.

Other Details:

• Work Location: WonderTrek’s campus in Baxter, MN, its studio and office location in Brainerd, MN, and at locations around the region as needed.
• Option for at home remote work for specific work tasks.
• Schedule: primary business hours with adjustments required for special events and weekend activities.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation

• Starting Pay Rate: $21-$26 per hour depending on experience
• Classification: Part-time, Non-exempt, 18 to 24 hours per week
• Placement: Starting salary is dependent upon the candidate's direct non-profit volunteer engagement experience
• Benefits:
• Minnesota Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST), accrued in accordance with state law.
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), in accordance with state law.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contribution.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Flexible Work Options: Standard core office hours with flexible scheduling permitted around required regional evening/weekend community engagement events.
• Travel Reimbursement: Standard IRS-rate mileage reimbursement for mandatory travel across the 5-county North Central Minnesota service region.

If you’re ready to inspire and be inspired, to make learning an adventure, and to join a team where your contributions truly make a difference, WonderTrek is waiting for you. Apply now by sending your resume, cover letter and references to peter@wondertrekmuseum.org.

Let’s make every day a wonder-filled adventure!

Pay: $21.00 - $26.00 per hour

Expected hours: 18.0 – 24.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $21 - $26