DISCOVERY ZONE TRAINING MANUAL SUMMER 2014
DISCOVERY ZONE TRAINING MANUAL SUMMER 2014 1 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) WELCOME TO THE TEAM! Kids learn by doing and by following their own curiosity. The Discovery Zone is a dynamic place for children and families to explore science. Most of our families include a child who is between 0-8 years old, but you will see guests of all ages enjoying the exhibit space and learning new things. We encourage our families to use their skills of observation, testing, measuring, and more to explore science. Our activities, experiments, crafts and demos highlight the Museum’s core science areas (paleontology, geology, anthropology, zoology, health and space science), other science topics (meteorology, physics and chemistry), and foster an appreciation of science. The Discovery Zone opened on June 7, 2014, and is located on Level 2 of the Morgridge Family Exploration Center. Volunteers and staff make sure that guests feel welcome, and help them to explore activities in these areas: Dino Gulch: Just inside the entrance to the Discovery Zone, a climbable life-size model of a plant-eating duckbill dinosaur welcomes you to Dinosaur Gulch. A photomural of Museum paleontologists and volunteers sets the stage for doing some digging of your own. Uncover dinosaur skulls, jaws, teeth, and more in three dig pits set within a multilevel faux-rock outcrop based on a western interior-inspired dig site. Opposite the dig, a colorful illustrated mural shows dinosaurs and other animals in their prehistoric environment. 2 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) Water Way: Open-ended, self-directed water play in the hands-on Water Way area awakens the natural scientist in every child. A multi-level water table provides opportunities for children large and small to enjoy the fun and physics of water, investigate moving water and propelling a variety of objects downstream. At the center of each of the four basins are laminar jets reminiscent of City Park’s iconic interactive fountain, H2Odyssey. Water in its most intriguing forms—ice and fog—fill a separate low basin, where children use spray bottles to pump water over chilled plates. Colorful tubes with bubbles of varying sizes offer observation experiences and create a playful room divider. Construction Corner: Beneath a scaled version of DIA’s iconic tensile roof, activities in the quintessential Construction Corner provide a rich variety of opportunities to try your hand at both gross-motor and fine-motor challenges. Tables accommodate removable bins for building materials, and a dynamic wall installation allows children to create their own ball course with movable track sections. Floor space is left open for free-form building projects with a variety of materials, and visitors can work together to build almost anything they can imagine using large foam blocks. Science Kitchen: Just as the kitchen is the heart of a home, the Discovery Zone’s Science Kitchen is a welcoming, multi-purpose area designed especially for group and individual science and art activities. From participatory science demonstrations at the “kitchen counter” experiment bar and individual tablebased science activities, to investigating the properties of color through hands-on painting projects and practicing scientific illustration of objects from the Museum’s collections, this area has it all. A dramatic, oversized “kitchen window” offers photorealistic views of a virtual outdoor world that mirrors seasonal changes and weather conditions. A real window offers a view into the “backyard”—the Big Backyard area on the other side of the wall. : ) Big Backyard: Entered through a low gate, the Big Backyard is a safe and inviting space for infants and toddlers to practice motor and emotional development skills, and to take on confidence-building challenges. Caregivers can keep their eye on the youngest Discovery Zone visitors as they explore and experience this multisensory, sized-just-right, immersive reconstruction of the natural world on their own. The area includes a baby pond with nearby fish tank and a semi-private nursing area, along with a wealth of age-appropriate activities. Explorer’s Playhouse: Staff perform shows on animals, seasons, dinosaurs, music and story time! In a setting reminiscent of a playhouse built by kids for kids, Discovery Zone visitors gather in the Explorer’s Playhouse for interactive performances and story time. The schedule is displayed on a digital sign board, with a variety of different programs offered throughout the day. Between shows, children have a chance to participate in dramatic play or explore science through the Museum’s education collections. 3 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) Who’s Who on your Team Natrisha Bayer, Coordinator of Volunteers for Education Programs [email protected] 303-370-6436 For any questions relating to your volunteer experience contact Natty. Natty helps coordinate multiple volunteer programs in the Education Department and can help answer questions about logging-in, badges, scheduling, and volunteer service verification (aka hours reports). She will be your main point of contact and will provide you with Museum updates and information about trainings or events. Kris Pohl, Educator/Coordinator for Discovery Gallery Programs [email protected] x6152 Cybil Holmes, Assistant Coordinator for Discovery Gallery Programs [email protected] x8243 Kris and Cybil are the leaders of the Museum Programs staff responsible for developing the shows and activities for the discovery zone, as well as activity maintenance. Kris is responsible for overall coordination of the Discovery Zone, with Cybil doing much of the day to day upkeep. They also serve as “Team Leaders” for the volunteers scheduled and help to plan shifts, rotations, and on-the-job training for volunteers. Museum Programs Staff One – three educator/performers from our Museum Programs department will be on the team of people working in the DZ daily. These staff wear all black or DZ t-shirts, and are responsible for facilitating activities, performing shows in Explorer’s Playhouse, and taking care of daily maintenance tasks. There are dozens of educator/performers who rotate between several of different programs in Expedition Health, Space Odyssey, Wildlife Halls, Field Trip Adventures, Summer Camps and Weekend Workshops. Discovery Zone Mentors Mentors are a group of leadership volunteers who have experience volunteering at the Museum and have completed special training. New volunteers will frequently be paired up with a mentor during shifts. A big part of on-the-job training will be achieved by observing them, hearing their tips and tricks, asking them questions, and receiving feedback from them as you learn to work more independently in the exhibit. The great thing about working with a DZ mentor is that they understand what it’s like to be a brand new volunteer. They were once new volunteers too! If you have any questions, PLEASE don’t hesitate to ask any of your many teammates during your shift! IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS . Discovery Zone Absentee Line DZ Volunteer Coordinator Security Subpost – Volunteer/Staff Entrance Security’s Emergency Hotline Museum Information Desk Volunteer Services Office 303-370-8232 303-370-6436 303-370-6343 303-370-6666 303-370-6357 303-370-6419 4 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) Volunteer Position Description: Discovery Zone Play Associate Reports To: Coordinator of Volunteers for Education Programs Responsibility Statement: Discovery Zone Play Associates support the Museum’s mission by helping young visitors and their families or teachers explore science concepts and develop science process skills through a variety of activities including science investigations, cause and effect play, games, puzzles, building, and crafts. Essential Functions and Standards of Performance 1. Complete specific training to learn content of activities and presentation techniques Complete the on-the-job training plan Read and be familiar with the Discovery Zone Volunteer Training Manual and Activity Handouts Attend a majority of the required Discovery Zone Group Volunteer Training Sessions 2. Engage visitors, primarily children, in exploring science using a variety of activities and investigations Create a welcoming atmosphere for each visitor by being friendly, informed, and enthusiastic Be knowledgeable about the supplies, the science content, and the teaching objectives of Discovery Zone activities Deliver accurate content information when interacting with visitors Focus on visitor needs and visitor experience 3. Work as a part of a team to ensure optimal coverage throughout the Discovery Zone Respond positively to directives and feedback from the DZ staff Act as a supportive team member with understanding of the structure of the Discovery Zone team, the roles of staff and volunteers, and the shift schedule Be able to facilitate activities at a variety of the activity stations in the Discovery Zone 4. Adhere to the Museum’s Education Collections policies while using specimens for interpretation Follow specimen handling with accuracy and be informed enough to know if specimens are damaged 5. Maintain the minimum time commitment and follow all scheduling procedures Respond to scheduling requests and sign up for training sessions before or by set deadline Understand the policy for schedule changes and absences 6. Represent the Museum in a positive and professional manner 5 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) Understand customer service expectations, training materials, and Museum policies Other Functions Attend a New Volunteer Orientation or Volunteer Registration Session (for teens) and be familiar with Museum policies and procedures as outlined in the Volunteer Orientation Handbook Read and be thoroughly familiar with the Discovery Zone Volunteer Training Manual Complete Education Collections Object Handling Training Other duties as assigned Experience/Education N/A Position Requirements - Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Genuinely enjoy working with kids Motivated to learn new things Appreciation of different learning styles Interest in learning and using customer service skills Experience or interest in learning oral communication and public speaking skills Solid team building and people skills Strong ability to assess customer needs Ability to stay focused on job duties and visitors in a dynamic environment with many potential distractions Supervisory N/A Financial N/A Equipment Carts, toys, and Museum Education Collections Physical Working Conditions Must have the ability to sit and stand for long periods of time Physical Effort Required Light physical effort required by handling objects up to 20 pounds occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently 6 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) Volunteer Logistics POLICIES & PROCEDURES Schedule Requirements Summer Schedule: Summer Shifts are available June 13–August 31, 2014. Shift Times: Morning Shift (from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Afternoon Shift (from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Minimum Commitment: The minimum commitment varies depending on whether you are a new volunteer, mentor and whether you are also volunteering for our Children’s Programs Department. Generally, we ask volunteers to come in 7-9 shifts during the summer and 4 shifts each semester of the school year. HOW TO SIGN UP FOR DISCOVERY ZONE SHIFTS NOTE: You cannot sign up for the morning and afternoon shift on the same day. 1. Click on the link below to visit the Volunteer Information Center: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=14675 2. Enter Your “Login name” (Your email address) 3. Enter your “Password” (If you don’t know your password, you can request it on the login screen) 4. Click on “My Schedule” 5. At the top of the page, in the blue “Sign Up!” box, there is a drop down menu. Please select Show openings in: “Discovery Zone Play Associate” (Note: This is your volunteer position name!) 6. Use the green “Next Month” Button to scroll to other months. Inside specific dates on the monthly calendar, you can click on “Help Wanted” boxes to view open shifts. 7. To sign up for a shift, click on “Schedule Me.” To go back to the previous screen, do not click on your browser’s back button, instead click on “Calendar View.” 8. After clicking on “Schedule Me,” you will be asked if you would like to sign up for this shift. Select “Yes” or “No” 9. After signing up for each shift, you must click on “Continue” at the bottom of the screen for the system to save your selection. TO VIEW YOUR SCHEDULE Repeat steps 1 – 4 above. 5. Your scheduled shifts will appear on the calendar in black font with your shift time and the volunteer job name, “Discovery Zone Play Associate” 6. You can sign up for additional shifts (by following the directions above) and you can print your schedule (month by month) by clicking on “Printable View” at the bottom of the screen. SCHEDULE CHANGES POLICY Please follow the procedures below to communicate all schedule changes. 7 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) Advance Notice Absence/Change You cannot remove yourself from a scheduled shift using the VIC. If you cannot serve a scheduled shift, please login to the Volunteer Information Center and sign up for a new shift, then send your volunteer coordinator an email with your job name, the date & time that no longer works. DZ Volunteer Coordinator and Your Supervisor.. …[email protected] 303.370.6436 Absences & Tardiness It is essential to notify us if you will be absent or late for your shift. If you will be late or absent from a shift, call the Absentee Line………………… 303.370.8232 If you are able, please also send a text message to your supervisor…………..303.748.9615 Substitutes If you are absent, you are NOT required to find a substitute or to “make-up” missed shifts. Showing Up for Extra Shifts Please do not show up unless you are scheduled to volunteer. If you would like to sign up for any additional shifts, you are welcome to login to the VIC and sign up for openings at any time. HOURS & SHIFT TIMES The Discovery Zone’s hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Teen & Adult Morning Shift Teen & Adult Afternoon Shift Family Group Morning Shift Family Group Afternoon Shift 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. BEFORE YOUR SHIFT: At the beginning of your shift, you will report to the Discovery Zone Office and check-in with your team. A Museum Programs staff person or DZ Mentor will first share any announcements or relevant information with you. Next you will determine your shift schedule and break time. If you need any additional information or training about the activities you will be doing for the day, please let the staff know. We will do our best to pair you up with a mentor or staff person and help you get started. All your teammates are here to help you; please don’t be afraid to ask questions! DURING YOUR SHIFT: During your shift, you will participate in 3 rotations at our various exhibit areas and activity stations. Each rotation will be about one hour and fifteen minutes long. Mentors and new volunteers will be paired up when possible so that new volunteers can learn by observing and so that all volunteers will have a helpful and supportive person nearby. 8 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated) BREAKS Discovery Zone Volunteers are scheduled to one 15 minute break during their shift. It’s really important to take this time to take care of yourself! Go to the bathroom, get a snack, enjoy the free beverages in the staff & volunteer lounge and get to know your teammates. Please be respectful of others and clean up after yourself. Please also keep track of your break time because other staff & volunteers’ break times may depend on a prompt return from your break. UNIFORMS & DRESS CODE It's important that guests are able to recognize staff and volunteers in the Museum. Therefore, all volunteers are required to wear the official "uniform" when they are working: 1. 2. 3. 4. Yellow Discovery Zone T-Shirt Solid color pants, long skirt or long shorts (no blue jeans) DMNS Identification Badge Safe shoes (no open toe shoes) Note: We will have rain ponchos available for the Water Way. But you might want to bring an extra pair of clothes because it’s possible to get pretty wet after spending an hour playing in this area. FOOD AND DRINK Food and drink are only allowed in designated areas including the staff and volunteer lounge, the DZ Office, and TRex Café Seating areas on Level 1. Please be a good role model for our guests with strict adherence to this policy. This means NO FOOD or BEVERAGES in the Discovery Zone Exhibit. If you are carrying food through the DZ and into the DZ Office, it needs to be in closed containers and not visible to our guests. If we do not do a good job keeping the DZ Office clean and crumb free, we could lose our food privileges, so please be conscientious and respectful of others and take the time to clean up after yourself. Water is acceptable throughout the Museum as long as it is in a container with a lid. We encourage you to bring a water bottle with you during your shift. If you bring food with you make sure it is labeled with your name. You can store it in the community refrigerators in the lounge or DZ office. PERSONAL ITEMS If you have bags, backpacks, snacks, jackets, bike helmets or other personal things please bring your own lock and plan to keep your items in a locker in the staff & volunteer lounge. Personal items should not be left in the DZ in view of guests or on shared work surfaces. There is an area for small items, like a sweatshirt, small bag or water bottle in the Discovery Zone office area. If you have any valuables with you, please plan to leave them in a locker in the staff and volunteer lounge. You can have your cell phone with you, but we ask that you do not use it while actively volunteering. Plan to place phone calls or send messages before or after your shift or during your break times. If it urgent and you need to answer a call or send a message, please let a staff person know your situation. You first need to step outside the exhibit or go in the office area to use your phone. This should only be done on rare occasions when waiting for a break or the end of your shift is not possible. VOLUNTEER BINDER Instead of posting information on a bulletin board in the staff & volunteer lounge, we have a “Volunteer Binder” located in the Discovery Zone. The Volunteer Binder contains: A Copy of the Volunteer Schedule DMNS ©2014 Training Checklists (during the school year this is your roadmap for learning additional DZ activities) Updates & Newsletters Information about Upcoming Events (like volunteer trainings & parties!) VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT Please review and sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct for a description of our expectations LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION You will invest a lot of time and energy in your volunteer work and some of you will we need an adequate amount of time to write a letter of recommendation that appropriately reflects your strengths, your areas of improvement, and your accomplishments as a Museum volunteer. Before requesting a letter of recommendation read the information below. 1. 2. 3. 4. Contact your Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] 303.370.6436 You must provide 5 business days notice for letters of recommendation. You will be asked to complete a self-evaluation form. Please include pertinent information in your request (recipient of letter, purpose, deadline, description of program or scholarship) VERIFICATION OF HOURS You must provide 2 business days notice when requesting an official “Hours Report” or verification of how many hours you have volunteered: To do this, contact your Volunteer Coordinator [email protected] 303.370.6436 If you need something signed to confirm your service, plan to scan and email the document to be signed to save time. If it is not possible to email the document, you must set up an appointment with your volunteer coordinator via phone or email to bring it in and get it signed. Important: If you need a letter of recommendation or “Hours Report” mailed to you, your school or a special program, please include a few days for mailing in your planning timeline. If Natty is not in the office, contact the administrative assistant in the volunteer department. FAMILY & FRIENDS For liability reasons we ask that you do not bring your family members or friends with you to volunteer. If someone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer, please have them contact Natty or give them the main number for the Volunteer Services Department for information about the application and interview process. Volunteer Services Main Line and Admin Assistant ……………………..… 303.370.6419 BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL CONTACT As a general principle, we ask volunteers not to have affectionate or unnecessary physical contact with any visitors. Physical touch is an important element in the care of children and is an essential part of the nurturing process in close relationships. However in the Museum setting, physical contact may be misconstrued by a visitor, parent, or teacher. Touching kids, including wellintentioned gestures such as putting an arm around a child’s shoulder or patting their back, could potentially, upset a child and/or their adult caretaker. DMNS ©2014 You will demonstrate your goodwill and friendliness, by assisting children in their explorations of the exhibit space and activities and helping them play and learn here at the Museum. Acceptable Forms of Physical Contact There will be times that a child self-initiates appropriate forms of physical contact. See list below for examples: Hand shake High five Tapping your arm before asking a question Taking you by the hand to lead you something else in the room Unacceptable Forms of Physical Contact There will also be times when children might initiate physical contact that crosses the line of what is appropriate in our Museum setting. Even if the child is comfortable with the contact, we ask that you re-direct your interaction in an effort to avoid the following things. A child asks you to hold them, pick them up, or carry them A child asks to sit on your lap A child tries to hang or climb on you *You can also tell a child that you are not comfortable with contact they are initiating. Examples of this might be latching on to a leg or playing with your hair. If children are participating in unsafe activities with you or others (e.g. rough housing or kicking) please try to get them interested in doing something else. If this doesn’t work, find a staff person to help you. The above lists are not entirely inclusive. We rely on you to have a high level of awareness about physical boundaries and exercise good judgment within the varying circumstances you will encounter. If you have questions about this policy or about interpreting it, please speak with your volunteer coordinator or a staff member. DISCIPLINE AND LIMIT SETTING You will see that every adult has their own standard and style of dealing with errant behavior. In most cases, we defer to the adult accompanying the child to do their best to help manage that child’s behavior. However, there will be times when there is a need to set a limit or modify a child’s behavior or activities. For example if a certain behavior could cause a visitor to injure themselves or others, to damage Museum property, or to cause a disruption to someone else’s ability to play and enjoy the exhibit, and the adult accompanying the child isn’t doing anything to prevent the behavior, we’d like you to try and intervene. Redirect, redirect, redirect! As a standard first measure, try to re-direct a child. For example: If a child is throwing blocks and you are worried they will hit another someone, try to get them engaged in a more positive behavior. 1. Try saying, in a really excited voice, “Do you want to help me build a REALLY TALL tower?!” etc. If redirecting does not work, explain why a behavior is not safe. If a few attempts to redirect a child or group of children does not work, politely ask the children to stop what they are doing. Also tell them why the behavior is unsafe or disruptive and offer an alternative. It might also help to then inform the accompanying adult about your concerns in a polite and tactful manner. DMNS ©2014 2. Next you can try saying, “We can’t throw blocks in here because the blocks could hit someone and hurt them. There are babies and other kids playing here too, and we need to keep everyone safe. I need your help to keep this area safe. Instead of throwing the blocks like that, we can use them to build an arch, or a tower, or a building. Or I could help you build something else. What do you think we should make?” etc. Again, remember that touching guests is never permitted especially when setting a limit. Volunteers are not expected to act as major disciplinarians. If there is a problem with the behavior of a visitor that is beyond your control, or if you are not comfortable trying to modify someone’s behavior talk to a staff member. If necessary the staff person can call Security. Security officers are trained to provide assistance in handing disruptive visitors. LOST CHILDREN If you encounter a child who has become separated from his/her family or group, please notify a staff member or ask another volunteer to get a staff member while one of you stay with the child. Becoming separated in a building as big and crowded as the Museum can be a terrifying experience for both a child and a parent or caregiver. Please turn your full attention to the situation in an effort to help. This is now your most important priority. If the adult accompanying the child cannot be located quickly and easily in the Discovery Zone, the staff person will call Security. The person who stays with the child should talk calmly and reassuringly to the child. This will usually be a staff member, unless you are comfortable to talk to the upset child. Try saying, “My name is ____ and I am going to stay with you and help you. Were you with your mom or dad or teacher? Do you remember what color (mom, dad, or teacher’s) hair or shirt is? Let’s look around together.” Do not “announce” to others around you that the child is lost and “ask” for someone to claim the child. This can put a child in danger of being abducted. If you have not yet spotted a worried adult by this time, Security Staff will likely be on the scene to take over. LOST AND FOUND The Security Subpost is the central lost-and-found location for the Museum. If you find something valuable please let a staff member know right away so that one of you can take it to Subpost as soon as possible. In turn, if you lose something, check with staff at Security Subpost. If you find something as you are entering or leaving the Museum, please turn it in directly to the Security officer on duty. INJURIES In the case of any injuries, notify a staff member right away. They will determine if a band-aid is adequate or if our Security Department needs to be notified. Security Staff are trained in first aid and will respond with the appropriate first aid assistance. Note: There is a first aid kit in the DZ Office, but please check-in with staff anytime someone gets hurt. EMERGENCIES In an emergency DO NOT use the elevators or escalators unless directed to by Security. If you hear any alarm and announcement, please report to a staff member. They will help you interpret the information and direct you appropriately. You might be directed to leave the Museum DMNS ©2014 or you might be directed to help guests leave the exhibit and get to a safer location within the Museum. The following is general information. Please note that every situation is different and staff will help you understand the best action to take in any emergency situation. Volunteer Evacuation Responsibilities During an evacuation or a call to take shelter, your role as a volunteer will be to help communicate with guests and direct them to safety. In either emergency, please avoid the elevators and escalators and instead use the stairs. Where are the Stairs? There are two sets of stairwells near the Discovery Zone. There is a stairwell just north of the Discovery Zone front door, which exits inside the Museum on Level 1 near the south school doors. Using this stairwell and going out the south school doors will get you outside of the Museum very quickly. Once outside, staff, volunteers and visitors are asked to walk around to the North Parking Lot and gather near the Evacuation Assembly Area. There is also an alarmed emergency exit located in the Science Kitchen across from the family restroom. This door leads to a stairwell that ends on the first floor in a locked hallway near our south loading dock. You cannot get back into the main Museum if you use this emergency exit and stairs. Instead you will exit the Museum through a door that takes you directly outside. Fire Alarm When a fire alarm is activated, you will hear several tones and the announcement. Listen to the announcement for information. One person from your team might need to stand by the front door or outside the Discovery Zone to hear. After a fire alarm, do not direct guests to evacuate unless given the specific instructions to do so. Tornado Call to Take Shelter The tornado call to shelter has no investigative period. It is your notice to IMMEDIATELY begin directing guests to shelter. The two stairwells closest to the Discovery Zone (described above) are safe shelter areas. You can also use the set of stairs to the north of the DZ front door to access Level 1. Once on Level 1, if you walk north 20 paces, you will find another set of stairs (behind the school lunch room). You can take those stairs to a safe shelter area in the basement. Fire Evacuation Using the stairs closest to the DZ, exit the Museum. Once you are outside the building, walk around to the North Parking Lot and gather near the Evacuation Assembly Area. Power Outage If a power outage occurs, please stay calm. Be assured that Security is investigating and taking the steps necessary to be sure that the situation remains under control. After the Security Department has assessed the situation and determined how long the outage is going to last, you will be notified of what steps to take (including whether an evacuation of the building is determined to be necessary and what your role will be). NOTE: Guests Needing Assistance Staff and volunteers should direct any guests needing extra assistance in evacuating to the atria bridges and Security will assist them. DMNS ©2014 DMNS Teen Volunteer Code of Conduct As a Teen Volunteer, please remember that you are a professional representative of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Your actions and words make a lasting impression on our program participants and guests and affect how our institution is regarded within the community. Please help us continue to build our reputation for quality educational programs and exceptional customer service. I agree to perform the volunteer duties outlined in my volunteer job description(s) to the best of my ability. When I need clarification, I will ask questions. I will accept supervision and feedback about my performance, demonstrate integrity, strive for excellence, and promote respect for our environment and community. I will act appropriately and responsibly in an effort to be a positive role model and professional representative of the Museum. I understand that I am responsible for following all policies and procedures outlined in my volunteer handbooks. I have visited the Volunteer Portal at volunteers.dmns.org and know these documents and additional resources are available online. I have been informed of the two-step procedure to follow when I am running late or will be absent for one of my scheduled shift times. 1. I will call 303.370.8232 to inform Museum staff of tardiness or absence for a shift. 2. If I have a cell phone, I will ALSO send a text message to my supervisor. Children’s Programs – text Stefan @ 303.845.2322 Discovery Zone – text Natty @ 303.748.9615 I am also aware that the following things are not appropriate, nor acceptable to do while volunteering: Demonstrating disrespect for any program participants (This includes children, parents, staff, or other volunteers) Using profane language Talking or Texting on a cell phone or wireless device while actively volunteering Wearing headphones and listening to music or playing phone games while volunteering Eating in exhibits or areas in the Museum which are not approved spaces for food Leaving your group or position or without telling someone on your team Failing to adhere to the dress code for your position and in the DMNS Teen Volunteer Dress Code Policy Bringing friends or family members to “volunteer‟ with you or to visit with you during your shift or bringing your personal guests into non-public spaces As a DMNS volunteer, I will make every effort to enhance the experience of the Museum’s guests and program participants by being friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and approachable. By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the terms of this document, the volunteer handbooks, my job description(s) and the policies specific to my volunteer jobs. I understand that failure to comply with the aforementioned may result in dismissal from the program. Volunteer Name Volunteer Signature DMNS ©2014 Date TIPS FROM CURRENT VOLUNTEERS A part of being a volunteer is welcoming children and families to the Museum and introducing yourself and activities. We asked our own DMNS Volunteers what being friendly looks like. Below are some of their creative answers to the question of how to be warm and approachable. Discovery Zone Volunteers suggested: Tell guests your name & ask them their names Ask about their visit. “What things have you already seen today?” Say “hello” with a puppet Give them a challenge. “Do you think you can build a tower taller than your brother?” Ask a question “Do you want to try this?” Find something unexpected about an activity: “Can you make the magnet cars move without touching the magnet wand to the cars?” Draw their attention to something you are doing. “Hey, check this out!” Invite kids and parents to color or make a craft or dig for dinosaur bones Try to join in their play, by saying “can I help you ?” Smile Tell them a joke Ask them and ice breaker question to get the conversation started Children’s Programs Volunteers suggested: Acknowledge and welcome children when they arrive for the day Tell children your name and that you are going to play with them and help them Be enthusiastic and sociable Be aware of children’s needs and offer help when appropriate It’s important to focus on interacting with children during camps and socialize with your fellow volunteers before or after you shift Be a good listener Learning new things keeps volunteering interesting When you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” Then try to find someone who does know the answer (ask another volunteer, your teachers, Stefan, Kerri or other staff members) Be curious, it’s contagious Ask questions to find out what kids already know Involve kids in discovering the answers for themselves! Have fun! 15 Discovery Zone Play Associate Training Manual DMNS ©2014 (updated)
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