MPM Position Description for Tour Guides for 1st-3rd grade students
PURPOSE: To conduct educational tours designed for 1st through 3rd graders in the museum's galleries.
QUALIFICATIONS: A love of children is a must! An interest in teaching young school children about a specific museum gallery related to their studies. A willingness to learn the content and artifacts of a specific program and relate these elements to young children at their intellectual level. Must be 18 years of age or older.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Wheel your artifact cart to your exhibit location. Conduct one (or more) of the seven programs using artifacts and interactive activities. The programs include Africa, Arctic Life, Animals of Wisconsin, Butterfly Science, Rainforest, Indians of the Southwest and Northwest Coast, Indians of the Wisconsin Woodland and Plains. Respond to questions from children, the teacher and the chaperones throughout the tour. Record your hours of service in the volunteer lounge.
HOURS and AVAILABILITY / MINIMUM COMMITMENT REQUIRED: Once trained, you become part of a pool of volunteers who deliver a program. When called by the 1-3 Coordinator, you deliver a program according to your availability. Programs are 50 minutes, Tuesdays through Fridays, between 9:00 and 3:00, September-June. Groups are 10-30 children with teachers and chaperones. You are called when the teacher books the program, well in advance of the scheduled date. If you can't make a scheduled shift, contact another docent to take your program, then notify the 1-3 Coordinator.
TRAINING: These are structured programs with printed paper work describing how-to access the cart, what to do, what information to deliver, and how to conduct these tours. Copies of the script are available for volunteers to take and study. Training is conducted by the 1-3 Coordinator and/or museum educators. New volunteers shadow experienced volunteers and familiarize themselves with the content, delivery, and artifacts used, until they feel confident to go solo.
SUPPORT: The 1-3 Coordinator will be available to train, monitor and support all volunteers.
DRESS CODE: Business Casual
CONTACT PERSON: Volunteer Coordinator will conduct interview & orientation to MPM. Position Coordinator will train you, help with the calendar process, communicate with you regularly, and be your primary contact for this position.