When was the last time you came out to Historic Jefferson College? Maybe you brought your kids for an EXPLORE! program or one of our camps. Maybe you came for the Wirt Adams or Black and Blue Civil War reenactments. Perhaps you walked our nature trail or attended a family reunion, listened to a Lunchtime Lecture, or old-time music during the Big Yam Potatoes Fiddle Contest.

These are all things we offer out here, and they all have something in common —we need help with them! Our staff is very small, and in between maintaining the eight buildings and 80 acres of property, giving school programs and public lectures, we could really use the help of some volunteers out here.

There are many different opportunities for you to try. If you like working with children, we can use assistance with our camps, EXPLORE! and Christmas tree programs. Maybe working alone is more your style — we’ve got plenty of photographs and documents that need scanning, as well as collections research and data input projects that we just don’t have time to do. Are you trying to earn an Eagle Scout badge, or know a young man who is? I need some nature journal stations built on the trail!

If, like me, you are a nature lover, see me about starting our herbarium collection by photographing, collecting, documenting and pressing leaves, or let me know if you’d like to assist us as a Nature Festival volunteer. If you are an artist and would like to do some public programs out here, give me a call! Maybe you are a history buff and a natural-born talker— you’d be a welcome addition as a site tour guide.

Do you have a special topic that you’ve researched or studied? I am always looking for speakers for our Lunchtime Lecture program, especially those whose specialties are history or science. Perhaps you’d be interested in learning a special historic skill, like candle, broom or butter-making, throwing an ax or skinning a deer. If so, we always need assistance with our Pioneer Days demonstrations for school kids. I personally will offer to teach you everything I know about common Mississippi mammals, their bones and hides! Of course, if you already have these skills, come on out and share your knowledge. We have more than a thousand children who depend on us to teach them about the pioneer life in Mississippi, especially now that curriculum changes and testing schedules have severely curtailed school field trips

Being a volunteer at Historic Jefferson College is not hard work, but I’ve found that when it comes to volunteering, there is often an attitude of “someone else will do it.” Make that someone you! The hardest part is picking up the phone and calling me at 601-442-2901 or hitting your “send” button on and e-mail to rperson@mdah.state.ms.us. I hope to hear from you soon!

Robin Seage Person is the branch director at Historic Jefferson College.