Volunteering with RASC Toronto Centre (TC) provides our members with exciting and meaningful experiences, as they team up with other members to advance astronomy in real world!
If you're curious about the type of events that you may be able to volunteer at, you are strongly encouraged to view our events webpage (https://rascto.ca/events) in addition to important Frequently Asked Questions, which you can find below.
If you already know you're interested in volunteering with our education and public outreach (EPO) team, please fill out this very quick form. Our EPO Chair, Aly Kamadia, will respond to you within 72 business hours. Kindly email him directly if you haven't heard back: publiceducation@rascto.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do I need to be an active member to volunteer at the RASC Toronto Centre?
A: Yes, you can only volunteer if you are an active member.
Q: Do I need to be highly knowledgeable and experienced in astronomy to volunteer?
A: Absolutely not, we welcome everyone from newbies to experts! Of course, while it may not make sense to try to volunteer for certain positions if your knowledge and experience is limited (e.g., giving a professional astronomy talk on the implications of JWST's most recent findings), rest assured that there are many opportunities for people of all backgrounds.
Q: Is there a person at RASC TC who is in charge of all volunteering opportunities?
A: Very generally speaking, volunteering opportunities are divided into three areas: Education and Public Outreach (EPO), the David Dulap Observatory (DDO), and the Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO).
To get a quick overview of each areas activities, please feel free to visit the following webpages:
https://rascto.ca/about-us/education-and-outreach
https://rascto.ca/about-us/david-dunlap-observatory-ddo
https://rascto.ca/about-us/ec-carr-astronomical-observatory-cao
Q: I want to know about upcoming volunteering opportunities. Where do I check?
If you're a member, which you'll need to be to qualify to volunteer, it's a great idea to keep an eye out on our Centre's internal forum. In addition, please visit our events webpage: https://rascto.ca/events
Q: If an event is scheduled for a specific time and date, obviously the event will take place at that time and date, correct?
A: Not exactly. As an astronomy organization, a number of our events (e.g., star parties and solar observing) are subject to a GO or a NO-GO call. For example, it doesn't make sense to hold some star parties if the skies are filled with clouds, rain and some lightening. So whether a volunteer and/or participant, you should be keeping track of whether the event you are planning to attend is a "GO" (posted on our website and social media).
Interested in reading more about volunteering? To get a general idea of volunteering at RASC, click here to see more!