Volunteering at SJAA
Thank you for your interest! We’re all volunteers at SJAA, and we can always use help to do all we do! That includes outward facing roles, like sharing telescope views with members of the public, and many positions that are critical to providing member services and completing operational and administrative tasks.
On this page, you’ll find:
How to Volunteer
Check out the rest of this page for listed opportunities and contact SJAA’s volunteer coordinators to find out more, possibly learn out about further opportunities and maybe indicate your interest in a role.
Have an idea? Something you think the SJAA can offer, but we haven’t thought of? Come talk to us at a Board of Directors meeting (once a month in Houge Park on Saturday of the Full Moon weekend; see the public event calendar).
Make an Impact
Our volunteers dedicate countless hours, sharing the wonders of the night sky with the community. From operating telescopes to guiding science activities, volunteers play an essential role in making astronomy engaging, and inspiring for visitors of all ages.
Why Volunteer
- Dazzle someone with amazing views: Space is very cool! SJAA volunteers regularly amaze the public with fantastic views of planets, star clusters and nebulae.
- Promote science literacy: Everyone can benefit from a better understanding of science and how it works.
- Connect with fellow enthusiasts: Meet astronomy enthusiasts who share your interests and find peers to observe together.
- Corporate volunteer matching: Many employers match volunteer hours with charitable donations to SJAA and other causes.
- Try something new: Learn something new about astronomy or yourself in a welcoming community.
- Develop new skills: If interested, grow outreach skills like public speaking and science communication.
Build Your Skills
If you already have particular skills that you’d like to leverage or if you’d like to build particular skills, let us know when you contact us. If you don’t feel prepared with the right skills, no problem!
We’re not expecting you to have all the skills you need to volunteer successfully. In fact, a volunteer role may be a great opportunity for you to develop great new skills!
If, for example, you’re interested in an outward facing role, sharing the wonders of astronomy with the public by running a telescope or science station, we’ll help you get started in the following ways:
- Astro 101: Our Astronomy 101 program offers many presentations and discussion opportunities to learn about astronomy science, observing equipment and other related topics.
- Sci-Com Training: Knowing how to operate equipment and understanding some aspects of astronomy are important ingredients to being an outreach volunteer, but there’s a third critical skill: science communication, that is speaking to your audience in an engaging and informative manner. We offer training sessions to introduce you to the fundamentals and help prepare you for events.
- Reference Guides: Reference guides provide examples of interesting science facts that you’d want to convey and how to weave them into engaging narratives that your audience will find relatable and memorable.
- Mock Sessions: To build on sci-com training and reference guides, we offer mock sessions where you can practice speaking to an audience while you’re running a telescope or staffing a science station.
- Shadow Opportunities: To complement the mock-session, you can also shadow an experienced outreach volunteer to get your first in-field experience in a comfortable setting.
If you want to help provide other member services or can contribute to important administrative tasks, we’ll similarly do our best to give you what you need to be successful and keep SJAA running into the future.
Member Volunteer Opportunities
These opportunities should be filled by dedicated SJAA members under the direction of or in collaboration with existing leads.
Program Leadership Roles
Hands-On Imaging
This program is in need of a seasoned imager to run events, organize equipment, and give demonstrations. The program typically offers two types of events: Public Workshops and Astrophotography Field Clinics. The Public Workshops offer members of the public the chance to learn the basic mechanics of astrophotography. The Astrophotography Field Clinic is a members-only event, held once a quarter, where imagers can bring their rig to a dark(ish) sky site, and get personalized help with any questions or issues they might have. The lead of this program may choose to continue these programs, or take it in a new direction. As the program lead, you have flexibility to bring your unique strengths to the role.
Opportunities at SJAA Events
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In-Town Star Party (ITSP) Outreach Volunteer
Support non-telescope activities at our Houge Park star parties. No equipment experience needed.
- Greet attendees as they arrive
- Help them sign in to SJAA events
- Share what telescope stations are set up
- Walk through safe telescope observation practices
- Provide information on current night sky
- Promote upcoming SJAA events and outreach activities
When: Once a month (usually Fridays) for about two hours after sunset
Where: Houge Park, San Jose
Time Commitment: Typically about 3 hours a month
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Telescope Fix-It Program
Like working on gear? This program invites the public to bring in equipment in need of repair. Anyone who can regularly attend is welcome to help out with collimation and troubleshooting, but experience with telescopes and optics is especially appreciated.
When: First Sunday of every month, 2.00 to 4.00 pm
Where: Houge Park, San Jose
Time Commitment: Typically about 3 hours a month
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Telescope Operator at Star Parties
Operate a telescope and support public astronomy. Even if you need some help, join us and shadow another volunteer. Bring your own telescope or use an SJAA scope after going through QuickSTARt or telescope training sessions
Events: In Town Star Parties, School Star Parties, Solar Sunday
Where: Houge Park, San Jose or Bay Area schools
Time Commitment: Typically about 3 hours a month
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Science Station Operator at Star Parties
Help visitors explore the wonders of the universe by explaining setups relating to astronomical concepts, answering questions, and sparking curiosity about astronomy. This role is perfect for enthusiastic storytellers who enjoy sharing science with the public and like to get hands on.
Events: In Town Star Parties, Solar Sunday
Where: Houge Park, San Jose or Bay Area schools
Time Commitment: Typically about 3 hours a month
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Astro Host at Pinnacles Star Parties
This role does not require you to set up or operate a telescope. All you need is the enthusiasm to share Astronomy knowledge and the willingness to engage with the public!
- Engage with visitors for the duration of the event (about 2 hours)
- Interact with a steady stream of guests and help make their star party experience memorable.
- Host our interactive “Astro Match” game, which is a hands-on activity using glow-in-the-dark cards featuring deep-sky and planetary objects.
- Share general astronomy knowledge, introduce SJAA and its activities and help visitors learn how they can get more involved.
- Stay back and enjoy additional observing sessions with our telescope volunteer
When: Once a month (during spring/summer) for about two hours after sunset
Where: East Pinnacles, Paicines
Time Commitment: 4 hours each star party
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Member Observing Nights
SJAA organizes member-only observing nights at select locations. Help us work with the Santa Clara County Parks to support access to astronomy under dark skies.
- Communicate upcoming events and manage RSVPs
- Help at checking in astronomers coming into the parking lot. Only those on the sign up list are allowed in
- Overseeing/helping inexperienced, new members
Where: Mendoza Ranch or Grant Park
Time Commitment: 4 hours each member observing night
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SJAA Co-Librarian
Help our librarian run the library and make astronomy resources accessible for members. Experience with telescopes and equipment is not required
- Manage materials inventory and cataloging
- Run SJAA library hours once a month
When: Once a month, 2.00 – 4.00 pm
Where: Houge Park, San Jose
Time Commitment: 2 hours per month
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Social Events Coordinator
SJAA organizes a new member meet-and-greet every few weeks. Help organize the event logistics for a welcoming experience for our guests. Experience with telescopes and equipment is not required
- Run social events once a month
- Organize event logistics – location, communication and refreshments
- Follow up with participants to connect them to astronomy interests
When: Once a month, 7.00 – 9.00 pm
Where: Houge Park, San Jose
Time Commitment: 4 hours per month
Opportunities to Volunteer from Home
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Ephemeris (Newsletter) Editor
The SJAA Ephemeris newsletter team is looking for a few extra hands to help keep our monthly and quarterly publications running.
- Write or contribute content: Event recaps, sky guides, member spotlights, astrophoto features, or beginner tips. New ideas are welcome!
- Edit: Review submissions for clarity, consistency, and accuracy before each issue goes out. Adhere to Ephemeris Submission Guidelines
- Help with production: Lay out and format the newsletter, place photos, and manage the final send.
- Curating Images: The Ephemeris features the amazing astrophotography of our members. Help us find images from our members to use in our publications!
- Coordinate contributors: Track submissions, and keep everything moving toward publication.
When: Flexible
Where: Remote
Time Commitment: 2 to 5 hours a month
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Volunteer Coordinator
Help the SJAA Volunteer Chair manage the SJAA volunteer pool
- Respond to new volunteer requests, and match our opportunities to interested parties
- Co-organize virtual volunteer fairs to recruit new volunteers
- Maintain and update SJAA’s volunteer database
When: Flexible
Where: Remote
Time Commitment: 2 to 5 hours a month
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External Outreach Communications
Help SJAA respond to outreach requests from local libraries, schools, STEM events and other organizations
- Respond to new outreach requests, and communicate with program leads for planning
- Co-organize logistics for outreach requests
- Send recruiting call out for volunteers for outreach events
- Proactively working with outside organizations to get involved, e.g. coordinating with Santa Clara libraries to schedule Astro101 talks
When: Flexible
Where: Remote
Time Commitment: 2 hours a month
