New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

 

Junior Docents -  The Junior Docent Program is 21 Years Old!

The Junior Docent Program at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is a summer volunteer program for students who are entering eighth grade through twelfth grade (ages 13-17) in the school year following the summer program. Students learn public presentation skills, customer service skills, and science content while they work as educators in the Museum's exhibit halls.
 
Junior Docents discover that they are part of a large number of students throughout the area who are interested in science and education. Junior Docents are introduced to a wide variety of science and museum-related career possibilities and leave the program with a wider appreciation for and support of science.

The only requirements for a Junior Docent are the willingness to learn, to participate fully in the program, and to volunteer 35 hours over the course of the summer program. Participants attend a week’s training in the beginning of the summer, volunteer for the course of the summer, and are given the option of volunteering on Saturdays during the school year.

Our Junior Docent Program provides a comprehensive, hands-on, minds-on museum experience for middle and high school students. Junior Docents gain natural history and science content knowledge, communication and interpretive skills, and provide our visitors with an enhanced museum experience. Students learn about the nature of museums as places of education and entertainment, and the many museum career opportunities available. A key feature of the program is the opportunity to work with volunteer adult mentors, museum scientists, and educators while learning about the importance of community volunteerism.

Since this program began in 1991, more than 750 young people have gone through the program, representing over 40 schools and homeschool cooperatives in the area.

Dates for the 2012 Program: 

Training Dates: June 5th - June 8th - Mandatory for all 2012 Junior Docents.
 
June 13th - July 28th – Volunteering on the Museum Floor!
 
Age:  13 - 17 years (no exceptions) and entering 8th through 12th grades
 
Fee Required to offset training/materials:  $100.00  Financial assistance is available. Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
 
2012 Summer Junior Docent Program is full! 
 
Please visit this page in January 2013 and have a wonderful summer!