postal museum volunteer opportunities - sept 11, 2010
DESCRIPTION
This presentation is for the September 2010 volunteer class at the Postal Museum. It describes the two volunteer opportunities available.TRANSCRIPT
Saturday, September 11, 2010Smithsonian National Postal
Museum
Volunteer Training
Volunteer Opportunities Available
Highlights Tour Docent
Collection Connection Station Facilitator
More information about both positions is available in your handbook!
What is a Highlights Tour?Fosters connections between visitors and
the museum’s collection and themes 40 minute guided experience through
multiple museum exhibit spacesBased on content research and personal
passionsIntegrates Visitors’ ExperiencesStorytelling
What does a Docent do?Sets up a set time to start a
tourArrives 10 minutes before
hand to review galleriesGathers tour group at the top
of the escalatorsIntroduces the theme and gets
to know visitors on tourConnects visitors to museum
themes through three to four interpretive object-based stops
Concludes tour
Example Tour ThemesRomance & Reality of
the MailsInnovation and the PostAmerican History and
the MailOops!“Letters Mingle Souls”
What is a Collection Connection Station?Fosters connections to the museum’s
collection and themes PersonalAcross galleries
Visitor-driven ActiveSocialFlexible, adaptive Short For everyoneFun
What do Collection Connection Facilitators do?Situate themselves in a high-traffic area,
facing the flow of visitors Welcome and greetObserve visitor characteristics and adaptOffer activity
What does a Collection Connection Facilitators do? (Continued) Use interaction techniques
Inquiryproblem solvingtactile
Engage visitors Make connectionsListenRecommend gallery elements Answer questions, orient, smile
Replicas of “Snowshoe” Thompson’s skis are available
for use at stations!
Example stationsFacilitators create their own station, starting
from scratch or a classic pre-existing station
OWNEY TAGSRAILWAY POST OFFICE MAIL
SORTINGBE A POSTAL HISTORIANTOPICAL STAMP COLLECTING
Let’s try one!I’m Owney, unofficial mascot of the Railway Mail. I traveled the country on mail trains and collected the tags you see on my jacket. Visitors ask many questions about me; I’m a perfect topic for a station! Woof!
The Owney Tag CartMaterials could include “phony Owney,” images
of Railway Post Office (RPO) clerks, a sorting practice case used by RPO clerks, etc
Directions the cart could go:Sharing Owney’s story Talking about life on the job for RPO clerksMaking a tagTrying out the sorting case
Recommended gallery stops:See the real Owney Explore the trainSee the dog sled
BE A POSTAL HISTORIANAdapting to
visitor’s needs
(kneeling)
Connecting to a gallery
experience (next, go see…)
Holding a piece of history (real
mailbag)
How does this benefit museum visitors?
What do you think?
How does this benefit museum visitors?Personalized engagement Personal connections make the experience
memorable, personal, and funActive learningFunOrientationEnergizing, fights museum fatigueEducation in action
What’s in it for Facilitators?Variety Showcase a story you loveVisitor-driven learning leads to pleasant
surprises; always learning something new
Questions asked on Saturday
How much space can I have?Your station should fit on a six-foot table. We will help you edit your station so that you don’t have too much or too little going on.
Questions asked on SaturdayDocents take tour groups throughout the
museum. Will I feel “stuck” in one spot?Many docents spend much of their tours
in the “Moving the Mail” exhibit in the atrium because it’s such a great area and story. This is where you will be! You will be recommending gallery stops to visitors and even shaping what they will see and do there. You are also bringing gallery topics and ideas out from their hiding spots into the atrium for more people to enjoy.
Questions asked on SaturdayAre artifacts available for me to use?
Yes! The Education Department collection includes snow skis, a World War II era mail bag, thousands of postage stamps, and more. We will do a “Show & Tell” at a future training to help you get to know these items and their stories. We are also prepared to purchase materials and props to turn your station concept into reality.
Questions asked on SaturdayWhen do stations take place?
Any two-hour shift between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. You could select an 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. shift, for example. Or 1-3 p.m. You decide!
How long do stations last?Shifts are two hours. This includes time at the beginning and end of your shift to set up and put away your station materials, record visitors numbers, etc.
More questions? E-mail Erin at [email protected]