All who are interested must complete the Volunteer Application, participate in an orientation meeting with museum staff, and complete the Tour Guide training procedure.

All Tour Guides in training have the opportunity to observe fully trained, experienced guides. We expect all trainees to observe/shadow three different tours from three different guides. These observations give the volunteer knowledge of the tour content, flow, and timing and how each guide brings their own individual flair to the role. After observing, a guide leads a practice tour with staff. On a Tour Guide’s first real tour, they are observed by staff, as a means of support and opportunity for feedback.

The most successful Tour Guides, fundamentally, are comfortable with groups of elementary students. They are able to memorize some content and able to communicate that content in a way that appeals to and entertains students. They are able to stay on a given schedule. They are able to stay flexible, calm, and patient, and they are excited to learn and hone their skills.

• The vast majority of tours take place during elementary school field trips to the museum on weekday mornings. Depending on the school, tours begin at 9:30, 10, or 10:30am. Most often, but not always, a Tour Guide leads two tours in a row, with a small break in between.

• There are, however, tours that take place on other days/times and with other participants. Occasionally, Tour Guides can lead tours with groups of seniors or groups of individuals with disabilities, or groups of older students or young professionals

Tour Guides arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour start time in order to check in, gather and prepare materials. When the group arrives, they help the individuals enter the museum and stay together. The guide leads a four-station tour, being sure to move stations on the appropriate schedule and to generate participation from the group. At the end of the tour, the guide facilitates a bathroom break and introduces lunchtime expectations before allowing the students to have lunch. The guides then get a brief break before preparing for the second tour. The second tour begins with a bathroom break for students, followed by the same sequence of four stations as the first. At the end of the second tour, guides lead their groups to the appropriate room for the students’ departure. After they depart, guides help to reset and tidy tour materials.