GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Volunteer Open House will be held on Sunday, April 6, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Time and the Valleys Museum, St. Rt. 55, Grahamsville, NY.  The afternoon is a welcome and introduction to the Museum and all that we do for anyone interested in learning about volunteering

The afternoon includes refreshments, door prizes, tours of the Museum’s current exhibits and information gathering about the Museum’s volunteer needs and the many benefits of volunteering.   Attendees will learn about all of the different ways they can help and make a difference with teaching students, greeting visitors, at events, in the Museum shop, office tasks, scanning photos, projects at home, and more!

   Volunteers can help one or two afternoons a month or more, whatever suits their lifestyle, as much or as little as they like.  All information and training will be provided. NO previous knowledge of history or museum experience is required, just time and a willingness to learn.  

“We have many volunteer needs including helping in the museum shop, reception desk and offices.” according to Volunteer Chairperson, Mary Inghrim.  For more information on the volunteer open house, the many different volunteer positions, benefits and training, email info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org or call the museum at 845/985-7700.  

Benefits to being a museum volunteer include a 10% discount in the Museum Shop, an invitation to a special yearly recognition event, gaining new skills, and meeting new people and making new friends. By also joining Sullivan County R.S.V.P. (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) they can receive mileage reimbursement, too!

About the Time and the Valleys Museum: Connecting Water People and the Catskills, the Museum is currently open by appointment only or during special programs. Located at 332 Main Street in Grahamsville (St. Rt. 55), Sullivan County, admission for adults is $5, children under 16 $2, and children under six are free.  

Museum exhibitions are interactive and both fun and educational for all ages:  

• Water and the Valleys, an exhibit on the history of the Rondout and Neversink watershed area from early geological times to the 20th century. This exhibition includes interactives such as a Native American artifact guessing game, grinding corn with a mortar and pestle, videos and more.  
• Tunnels, Toil and Trouble: New York City’s Quest for Water and the Rondout-Neversink Story, an interactive exhibit on NYC water supply system and the towns that were removed to build the system, which includes computer interactives, games, puzzles, videos and building a dam and tunnel. 
• 1930s Lost Catskill Farm, a farmhouse, outhouse, barn, electric plant, milk house and working waterwheel help visitors experience life in the 1930s through displays, videos, games and hands on activities.

The Time and the Valleys Museum is proud to be a Blue Star Museum, a collaboration between the National Endowment of the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and over 1,500 museums across America to provide free admission to active duty military members (with ID) and up to five family members.  This free admission for members of the military and their families runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  

For more information or to schedule a school field trip or adult tours for groups of 10 to 100, call 845/985-7700, email info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org or visit www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org.