Volunteer Highlight:
Student Volunteers

About a half-dozen students age 12-17 get a real life education every weekend at ITM. Locomotive inspections and repairs are a regular sight at ITM and they are prime examples of learning experiences happening at the museum. Students are often participating in rail operations, helping out seasoned rail veterans with everything from brake tests and changing out brake shoes and replacing air brake hoses to cleaning engine blocks and spark arrestors.

Aaron Hutchinson, a regular student volunteer, said “It is a great feeling of accomplishment after working in the shop, to be a part of something of this magnitude – it is even better when you see the train run and know it is because you worked on it mechanically.”

Students also are known to spend time in the “front of the house”, contributing as coach attendants, learning about customer service and practicing their presentation skills. These types of experiences are excellent opportunities to exercise different skill sets and gain knowledge that can be applied down the line in college and career. 

Also this season, ITM has welcomed and trained several local teens as docents (educational guides) through participation in the Preserve America Program. We are glad that our organization is able to provide such a fertile learning ground to young minds! Learn more about becoming a student volunteer or mentor by visiting the volunteer page on www.ITM.org or by emailing Volunteer@ITM.org.

Volunteer Emergency Info

Although safety always comes first at ITM, we must maintain current information about whom to contact in case a volunteer does become ill or is injured. All volunteers are asked to fill out a form that, for convenience, is attached to the new General Policy Manual for Museum Volunteers currently being distributed.

Forms and manuals are available at the ITM office weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and during the season they will be available at the museum gift shop in Forest Park.

Once the form is filled out, tear it off and leave it with the volunteer leader who provided it, and then take the manual and study it! The information in the forms is treated as confidential. Copies are maintained in the Dispatcher's Office, in the Chief Maintenance Officer's office at the shops, and in the ITM Office in Noblesville.

THANK YOU!!

We ask for your cooperation as we continue to streamline our internal operations and enhance the overall customer experience. Thank you for your support as we work together toward our mission to "engage and inspire generations through the art, science and technological innovations of the railroad."