Get Involved
Volunteer
Docent
Welcome and engage visitors in conversations about Bainbridge Island and the Museum. Assist visitors in the Museum research library.
Teacher Docent
Facilitate group learning in the Museum through conversation and critical inquiry.
Volunteer
Assist staff with a variety of projects, such as social media, grant writing, and cataloguing library and Collection materials.
Docent Job Description
Docents are ambassadors for the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum who provide positive experiences for visitors of all ages and from all over the world. A docent facilitates a connection to the Museum’s exhibits and collections, sharing their interest in and enthusiasm for Island history with visitors. Reports to Volunteer and Tour Coordinator
Essential Responsibilities
- Greets visitors.
- Opens and closes the museum on time and handles Museum transactions.
- Provide brief orientation to the exhibits.
- Provide information on local area and things to do on Bainbridge Island.
- Communicates with staff about museum operations and shares ideas for improvement.
- Sell membership, promote upcoming events, and ask for donations.
Expectations
- Arrive on time, preferably 10-15 minutes before the Museum opens.
- Comfortable with public speaking.
- Basic knowledge of/ willingness to learn about Bainbridge Island history
- Basic understanding of Winslow shopping/dining
- Able to work with a co-docent or docent-team; flexible, sociable, and respectful.
- Provide excellent customer service.
- Willingness to receive feedback from, and offer feedback to, Museum directors, staff and/or lead volunteers.
Selection
Based on applicant’s stated background, skills and availability, fit with the Museum’s needs, an interview with the Volunteer Coordinator, and ability to attend orientation. All applicants must consent to a background check administered by Washington State Patrol.
Training
Attends general volunteer orientation, and any additional volunteer trainings.
Commitment
3-12 hours per month / 1 year minimum commitment.
Docents must notify the staff, in advance, if they cannot make it to their scheduled shift. If possible, docents should find a substitute for their shift and/or offer to switch shifts.
Teacher Docent Job Description
The main activity of the teacher docent is to lead museum tours for groups who have scheduled a tour. The teacher docent may engage groups of visitors of all ages with a number of educational programs including exhibit-specific activities, storytelling programs, history camps, off-site presentations, and historic site tours. Reports to Education Outreach Manager
Essential Responsibilities
- Give tours to the general public and scheduled tours
- Lead tours of groups that break into groups of 6-12 (students or adults)
- Help plan and facilitate educational programs in classrooms or off-site and for events
- Assist with early childhood programs, experiences for VIP groups
- Assist with groups wanting to focus on certain subjects, and learners of all ages
- Voicing improvements and opportunities to help with planning and program evaluation
Expectations
The teacher docent has an appreciation of Island history and the Bainbridge community and a desire to share this enthusiasm with people of all ages
- Arrives on time for assignments
- Able to commitment sufficient to deliver and evaluate engagement
- Enjoys public-speaking
- Attends orientations, teacher docent trainings and workshops
Selection
Based upon applicants stated background, skills and availability, fit with the Museum’s needs, an ability to attend orientations, and an interview. Previous experience in education, teaching or public speaking is a benefit, but not necessary. All applicants will be required to consent to a background check administered by Washington State Patrol.
Training
All teacher docents are required to attend an introductory training as a visitor docent. This includes learning how to open and close the Museum, making sales, logging hours volunteered via Track it Forward etc. Further special training in inquiry-based learning and how to lead tours is required and special meetings where the content and timing for programs will be decided.
Commitment
Docents are expected to attend volunteer trainings. In general, shifts are 3 hours; and are scheduled to start as early as 8am, but are usually between the hours of 9:30am and 3:30pm. Teacher docents may also guide a tour for an event and/or during weekend and evening hours.
Volunteer Job Description
Volunteers provide organizational and technical support to the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum’s Administrative Coordinator. A Volunteer handles the management of the Research Library as well as takes on various other tasks as assigned by the Administrative Coordinator or the Volunteer and Tour Coordinator.
Reports to: Volunteer and Tour Coordinator/ Administrative Coordinator
Essential Responsibilities:
- Library management
- Coordinating membership
- Database management
- Document scanning
- Gift Shop Inventory
Expectations:
- Arrive on time for assignments
- Ability to work in a team-oriented environment and establish effective working relationship with Administrative Coordinator and other staff.
- Must be detail-oriented and capable of following complex instructions
- Comfortable working in cramped and occasionally noisy environment.
- Knowledge of computer databases and a familiarity with office tasks such as word-processing, printing and scanning.
Selection:
Based upon applicant’s skills and experience, fit with the Museum’s needs, and an interview with the Volunteer and Tour Coordinator and Administrative Manager. All applicants will be required to consent to a background check administered by the Washington State Patrol.
Training
Attends General Volunteer Orientation and receives additional training provided by Staff.
Commitment:
10 hours per month / 3 month minimum commitment.
Want to get started? Have questions? Email Visitor Experience Coordinator Em Hall (she/her) at [email protected] for more information.
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