I recently had the opportunity to shadow an amazing group of people at the Museum of Science (MoS) to experience the life of a MoS volunteer first-hand. From the moment the Museum first contacted me about participating in this volunteer shadow experience I was excited. Why wouldn’t I want to go play work ; ) at the Museum for a day!
My volunteer experience consisted of an afternoon with the very fun and smart crew over at Design Challenges. Through Design Challenges, Museum guests were given the opportunity to learn about the engineering design cycle by designing, building and testing their own “claw” that would be used to pick up toy alligators and/or flamingos in Arcade-style toy machines. My afternoon volunteering literally flew by. I loved engaging with and encouraging visitors as they built and tested their claws. Every Challenge participant was very motivated and passionate about creating a winning claw that would pick up the most toys. There was one particular group of boys that must have redesigned their claw at least twenty times, every time with more success. It was so much fun to watch their excited faces as their redesigned claws picked up more and more toys. The Design Challenge team had each participant excited about inventing and engineering which, in the words of one young participant is “SO COOL”!
The team of folks over at Design Challenge had a wonderful energy about them, stemming from a clear love of and excitement for their jobs! This love of the job was tangible in every volunteer that I met throughout the Museum. Whether they were welcoming guests entering the Museum, answering questions in the Butterfly Garden, or providing a hands-on experience through one of the many interpretations located throughout the exhibits, it was apparent that every volunteer had great joy in and pride for their job.
The Museum’s Program Manager for Volunteer Services is, in my opinion, one of the mains reasons the MoS has so many happy volunteers. She is a wonderful person who takes the time to get to know each volunteer and their interests. She is then able to match each volunteer to the position that best suits their personality, interests and the museum’s needs. And there really is a volunteer opportunity for every interest! Below are a few of the volunteer opportunities that seemed particularly interesting to me.
- The Butterfly Garden: Imagine volunteering in a tropical oasis filled with exotic plants, helping visitors experience the garden as beautiful butterflies fly around! This seems more like a vacation than work, particularly during those winter months, when the rest of New England is cold and covered in snow.
- The Discovery Center: I’m sure you’ve already figured out that I love children…which is why I think that volunteering in the Museum’s Discovery Center would be so much fun. The Discovery Center is “designed for children from infancy to age eight …..and offers an assortment of fun, hands-on activities that are designed to encourage discovery through play.” As a volunteer you’d be helping young children and their grownups learn as they explore the center.
- Eye Opener Program: Second Grade students across the city of Boston have the opportunity to experience the Museum of Science as part of the Museum’s Eye Opener Program. A small group of students is paired with a volunteer who provides a tour and encourages the children “to observe, compare, describe, ask questions and expand and share ideas.” What a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community while helping children discover and learn!
Volunteering for its own sake is nice but getting a few perks sure can make it more fun! The MoS certainly knows how to take care of its volunteers and make them feel appreciated. Free Admission to the Exhibit Halls, Omni Theater and Boston Ducks Tours, Birthday and Holiday Cards, free parking, discounts in the Cafe and Shops, Museum Membership and Appreciation Dinners are just a few of the benefits that MoS volunteers enjoy. The Museum also has a room with a phenomenal view for the the volunteers to enjoy and relax in, complete with a Volunteer Coffee Corner! In my opinion, it’s these perks and little touches that exemplify just how much the MoS cares for and appreciates its volunteers.
Don’t you love this view?
So, if you’ve been looking for a wonderful organization to become involved with then consider volunteering with the Museum of Science. Whether you’re an MIT grad or someone with absolutely NO background in science or engineering (like myself) I truly believe that you would find volunteering with the Museum of Science both enriching and rewarding. If you are interested in learning more please visit the Museum’s Volunteer Opportunities webpage or contact the Museum at [email protected].
I would like to give a big THANK YOU to Volunteer Services for hosting me and arranging this opportunity and to Design Challenges for welcoming me on your team and giving me a wonderful volunteer experience!