CHARLESTOWN, N.H. – Volunteering at The Fort at No. 4 is more than just giving your time – it’s about becoming part of a story. Whether you’re passionate about history, education, craftsmanship, or community engagement, The Fort offers meaningful ways to contribute while learning new skills and connecting with others. If you’ve reached out before and not heard back, please reach out again. We are rebuilding and need you more than ever. History needs storytellers.
At The Fort at No. 4, you don’t just tell the story, you become part of it.
One of the most popular volunteer roles is serving as a historical interpreter. Dressed in period-appropriate clothing, interpreters demonstrate daily colonial life – cooking over open hearths, tending gardens, explaining tools, or discussing the challenges of frontier survival. You don’t need prior reenactment experience, just curiosity and a willingness to learn. We need trades and crafts demonstrators, living-history interpreters, program development volunteers, events and reenactment support, and behind-the-scenes support.
Do you enjoy working with your hands? Volunteers skilled or interested in traditional trades like blacksmithing, woodworking, weaving, or cooking can help demonstrate these crafts during events and regular open days. It’s a chance to preserve historic skills while engaging visitors of all ages.
The Fort hosts school groups from across the region, offering hands-on educational experiences. Volunteers assist with tours, lead activities, and help students understand colonial life in a tangible way. If you enjoy working with children or have a background in education, this is an especially rewarding role.
Throughout the year, The Fort hosts special events, including reenactments, encampments, and themed weekends. Volunteers are essential in everything from setting up tents to portraying soldiers or townspeople. These events are high-energy, community-driven, and a lot of fun.
Not all roles are in costume. Volunteers also help with admissions, gift shop operations, gardening, maintenance, marketing, and administrative support. These behind-the-scenes contributions are critical to keeping The Fort running smoothly and growing our success as one of the reasons people come to Charlestown and our region of New Hampshire.
The Fort at No 4 is a community like no other. Volunteering at the Fort at No. 4 means joining a passionate, welcoming community. Many volunteers form lasting friendships, return year after year, and take pride in preserving a piece of regional history.
Getting started is simple. Visit The Fort’s website, www.fortat4.org/volunteering, reach out through the contact page, or stop by during the season to speak with current volunteers. Whether you can give a few hours a month or immerse yourself in full weekends of reenacting, there’s a place for you.