Volunteer With Us

Join our Team

Use your unique skills and develop new ones while helping to preserve and promote an architectural treasure.

Click here to fill out our volunteer application to get started.

Volunteer Teams at Graycliff

Join a dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteers engaging daily with our historic site and helping us to further our mission. Graycliff is always in need of:

  • Docents – Tour leaders who interpret the historic house and grounds. Consider joining our annual Docent Training Program.
  • Tour Assistants – Volunteers who help our docents with our many tours.
  • Green Team – Volunteers who help maintain the historic landscape of the grounds.
  • Clean Team – Volunteers who help with the thoughtful upkeep and housekeeping of our historic interiors.
  • Pavilion Help – Volunteers who enthusiastically greet and check in guests, and help in the Museum Store.

Consider Joining our 2025 Docent Training Program,
information on applying coming soon.

Docent Training Application Process

If you have serious interest in training to become a Graycliff docent, please complete our online application form.

The application deadline for the Spring 2024 Class is April 1, 2024. 

Graycliff Docent Training

Graycliff’s guided tour program is led by a group of enthusiastic volunteer docents who uniquely interpret our historic site. Our docents lead both scheduled publicly available tours, as well as group and school tours. Graycliff docents present our lakeside property to visitors, animating the many stories of this very special place. Volunteering in this capacity is an excellent opportunity to learn all about Frank Lloyd Wright, Ellen Biddle Shipman, the Martin family, and the specific context of Graycliff. You’ll perfect skills you already have, while developing new ones, and join a community of talented and passionate individuals. We are confident you will be inspired and enchanted by Graycliff and have a lot of fun along the way!

The Training Process

Our docent training is open to anyone with a passion for architecture and history! Docent trainees are required to attend our docent training classes, which are a mix of both in-person and online meetings led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteer leadership team who give ample support and encouragement along the way. Trainees are directed to reading materials and provided with in-depth information on the history of our site. Along with the classes, trainees also fulfill requirements related to both shadowing and giving mock tours before being certified as a Graycliff docent. A $35 materials fee is required. Upon completion of the program, new Graycliff docents are gifted a one-year “Martins” level membership to our organization (a $100 value).

Spring 2024 Graycliff Docent Training Class

Our goal is that upon completion of the Graycliff Docent Training Program, docent trainees will have the knowledge and confidence to present the stories of Graycliff in their own unique way to the many visitors to our historic site.

2024 Class Schedule:

  • Tuesday, April 16 , 6-7:30pm
  • Saturday, April 20, 9-12pm
  • Saturday, April 27, 9-12pm
  • Saturday, May 4, time 9:30-11:30am
    • Trainee Field Trip to the Martin House
  • Tuesday, May 7 , 6-7:30pm
  • Saturday, May 11, 9-12pm
  • Tuesday, May 14 , 6-8pm

 

Application Process

If you have serious interest in training to become a Graycliff docent, please complete our online application form.

The application deadline for the Spring 2024 Class is April 1, 2024. 

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator

Questions? Comments? Send a message to Jessica Cross, Visitor Services & Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@graycliffestate.org to get involved today!

Internship Programs

Graycliff is always looking for college and graduate students who are interested in a semester, summer, or, most preferably, a year-long commitment. Our internship program is best suited for students with the following academic focuses, though students in any field are welcome to apply.

  • history of art and architecture
  • horticulture
  • non-profit business administration
  • marketing
  • communications

Please contact us at volunteer@graycliffestate.org for application details. 

Applications are considered on a rolling basis.

Support

As the Graycliff story continues to be written, your financial support can help us write the next chapter.

Become a Member

Enjoy the beauty again and again with a Graycliff membership.


Donate

Help continue Graycliff's restoration and advance a new vision for this architectural gem.


A special thank you to our partners

In order to allow for construction on our new visitor center facilities to begin, Graycliff is currently closed through February 2025. We will open again for tours in March 2025. 

Click here to be notified when our 2025 schedule is live.