Kitty West, a CSPM volunteer who is working on a records retention project, won’t let the closure of the 1903 courthouse stop her from helping, “I was delighted when I got the message, ‘Come back!’” Like many of her peers, Kitty volunteers to stay “cognitively sharp. I love that volunteering with the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum allows me to use my brain.”
This month, as part of National Volunteer Recognition, we want to thank and honor volunteers like Kitty who, despite the HVAC renovation project, have continued to support our efforts to preserve and share our cultural history. From administrative tasks, to outreach programs, to ongoing collections work, to downtown walking tours, our volunteers have been busy.
The CSPM Boards and committees serve the Museum by supporting our visionary goals including the HVAC Renovation and Exhibition Expansion project. Prior to the start of construction, these dedicated volunteers strategized how to continue our operations and engage the community with history during the main facility’s closure. Volunteers hosted committee meetings at their businesses, served as ambassadors to share about the HVAC project and the capital project, participated in our On the Road programs and much more. Although their service looked a little different, every individual rose to the occasion to continue serving the Museum and support this transformative moment in our institution’s history.
When the CSPM Annex at the Plaza of the Rockies opened on July 26, 2023, the museum faced the challenge of staffing the space. Fortunately, our front desk volunteers didn’t hesitate to resume their roles in the new space. Over the past 9 months, volunteers have welcomed guests, shared information about featured exhibits, and helped communicate updates on the HVAC renovation.
Collections volunteers have also continued to work tirelessly towards two critical projects – the Colorado Springs Gazette Back Pages and the Evergreen Cemetery Ledger Transcription project. For the Back Pages, a team of volunteers conduct research to share articles from 50, 75, and 100 years ago in the Colorado Springs Gazette —totaling to over 1,000 articles each year. The Ledger Transcription team is working to digitize over 60 ledgers, transferred to the CSPM, from the City of Colorado Springs cemetery.
Each year the CSPM welcomes thousands of students to the historic courthouse for field trips. Many teachers expressed concern that their students would not be able to participate in the same beloved programs they had enjoyed for years. School program volunteers quickly shifted gears, learning four new activity stations for our History Detectives Outreach Program. Acting as Mission Agents, volunteers traveled to regional schools and guided students through activities featuring invisible ink, decoders, magnifying glasses, and puzzles to analyze artifacts, documents, and photographs from the Museum’s collection.
Our adult tour guides took history to the streets with our “Great Outdoors” History Stroll. Starting in Acacia Park and ending at the Exchange Coffee House on S. Tejon, volunteers helped guests consider our community’s unique relationship with the natural environment. This included a stop in the new AdAmAn Alley, a creative placemaking project examining the storied history of the AdAmAn club, which since 1922 has climbed Pikes Peak and lit up the sky with a dramatic fireworks display at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The 2023 Class of Junior Docents included 11 local high school students. Over the course of the summer, the JDs contributed 804 hours in the museum’s education, collections, and marketing departments. Through training and practice, the students developed important communication, interpretive, and leadership skills.
We are also thrilled to work with special project volunteers, like Kitty West, who are endeavoring on an extensive records retention project. Volunteering takes on many forms at the CSPM, with no role overlooked or unappreciated!
At the end of this special month, we will host our annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. This year’s program theme is aptly named “Building Together.” This is always an exciting gathering. It’s a time for fellowship, reflection, and gratitude. We always look forward to the special tradition of honoring the Volunteer of the Year where CSPM staff has the impossible task of choosing a recipient of this important recognition. We are fortunate to have so many contenders!
Please join us in thanking CSPM volunteers for everything they do to help the museum thrive!
Meg Yevara, CSPM Program Coordinator
Interested in being a Volunteer at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum? Learn more and apply today.
719.385.5631 | Meg.Yevara@coloradosprings.gov