Docent Program
We are currently not accepting applications at this time.
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VHS docents and staff pose for a picture at Virginia House. |
The Virginia Historical Society is looking for potential museum docents, with good communication skills, to conduct tours and other programs for diverse audiences ranging from elementary students to older adults. This is an excellent opportunity for volunteers with a love of Virginia history and is open to college students, retirees, or anyone with the time and motivation.
Previous education experience is not required, but applicants should have a desire to teach and must enjoy the study of history and culture. The experience of being a docent offers a variety of opportunities to interact with groups from around the state and to present ideas in thoughtful and creative ways.
Training includes:
• Learning Virginia history through workshops, individual training with VHS staff, and following tours conducted by established docents.
• Learning museum education pedagogy and skills for conducting tours.
• Learning to communicate with different audiences, including public and private schools, home schooled students, as well as a wide variety of community groups.
• Familiarization with Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) for history.
Docents are expected to attend training sessions at 10:00 a.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month between October and June. These sessions include special lectures and presentations by VHS staff as well as outside experts and sneak-previews of new exhibits given by their curators. The program also includes occasional field trips to other museums and historic sites in Virginia as well as an end-of-the-school-year luncheon and a volunteer party. Time commitment is flexible, but docents are expected to contribute two hours a month in addition to attending Wednesday meetings.
For more information about our docent program, please contact:
Chris Van Tassell
Program Coordinator
Phone: 804.340.2270
Email: cvt@vahistorical.org
Caroline Legros
School Program Coordinator
Phone: 804.342.9652
Email: clegros@vahistorical.org
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