When was the last time you went outside and stared up at the night sky? Did you wish upon a star, hang your dreams on the moon, ponder your place in the universe?
50 years ago the entire nation was looking toward the heavens with awe, pride, disbelief, and wonder as our first astronauts visited and stepped foot on the moon. It was too audacious to want, but we did. It was too far out to be realistic, yet it was.
Anyplace in your world where you hold a vision of yourself that your ego tells you is too far out, too audacious, that a wise person would tuck that dream away and never speak its name…? Wouldn’t it be FUN to fly in the face of such…reasonableness?
Can you tip your chin toward the night sky and imagine yourself in an unfamiliar place, doing unfamiliar things, to help unfamiliar people or animals or communities or places?
Here are a few Apollo/Lunar-inspired volunteer opportunities—maybe one is for you:
NASA – offers unpaid training opportunities to high school and college students to explore career options in the federal agency. Most internships last three to four months and can be done during the academic year or summer. Here’s the info to explore more.
The Lunar and Planetary Institute – is a division of the Universities Space Research Association, established during the Apollo missions to foster international collaboration and gather information about the space program. The LPI in Houston, TX has a summer program for undergraduate students to work with planetary scientists for 10 weeks embedded in cutting edge research and one-on-one work with leading researchers. Find out more here.
The Space Station Museum – In Novato, California, volunteers help bring space education to the Bay Area working as museum volunteers and docents, leading tours, answering questions, and occasionally hanging out with astronauts. No experience is required. Apply here.
The International Dark-Sky Association – works to protect the night skies from light pollution and keep some of the zones of our world pristine enough to see the galaxy and beyond. Volunteers advocate in their local communities, give public presentations/talks, do public outreach at local events, become citizen scientists to measure and study light pollution, and more. Find opportunities to get involved at this link.
The Moon Society – is run entirely by volunteers. The organization seeks to inspire and involve people all over the world in study and exploration of the moon with an eye toward eventual civilian settlements and pioneering. Volunteers are chapter coordinators, publications director, communications and social media, technical writers, project managers, fundraisers and grant-writers, event organizers, and more. Check out their site and available positions here.
The Space Foundation – in Colorado Springs inspires, educates, connects, and advocates on behalf of the global space community. Long-term and short-term volunteers are needed to assist with operations, teaching, development, communications, and marketing as well as helping at the annual Space Symposium. Sign up to volunteer here.
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