SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Church History Museum is currently recruiting individuals for its next guide services training class, which begins in January 2012. Museum guides, also called docents, give presentations about the museum’s exhibits and provide general information and guest services to museum visitors.
Applicants must be members of the Church and willing to make a three-year commitment to the museum.
Interested individuals should call 801-240-9573 as soon as possible for application information. The application deadline is Friday, October 21, 2011. Interviews will be conducted and selections made based on an applicant’s qualifications, interests, and availability. Those accepted will receive callings as part-time Church Service Missionaries.
Church History Museum guides serve four to six hours a week and are assigned a regular morning, afternoon, or evening shift Monday through Saturday, based on availability. Saturday docents serve every other week. “Many of our evening and Saturday docents have full-time jobs. They are very dedicated people who love serving in the museum,” said Nancy Andersen, the museum’s docent coordinator.
“Applicants for our museum guide program should be outgoing and friendly individuals who like teaching and working with people,” Andersen explained. “It helps to have a basic understanding of LDS Church history, but to enjoy interacting with people, especially children and youth, and to have a desire to teach in creative and new ways in a museum setting is even more important.”
The training class will prepare successful candidates to teach and work with museum patrons of all ages. Training classes are held once a week starting in January, 2012, and will run through May, 2012. Classes will include orientation sessions on Church history, LDS art, the museum’s exhibits, informal gallery guiding, basic guest services, and tour teaching techniques and programs.
“Our museum guides provide numerous services for our visitors and they do a wonderful job,” said Museum Director, Kurt Graham. “We currently have more than 250 volunteers and are looking for more!”
Interested applicants should call the Church History Museum at 801-240-9573.