Best Practices and Suggestions for our Docents

 Help Visitors Broaden Their Horizons

No one knows everything, and guests come to a museum to find something new.

Ask questions to measure their interests and knowledge.

Use their existing knowledge and expand it when you can.  Introduce them to details and concepts they may have not thought about before.

Entertaining Without Sacrificing Integrity

“Fun facts” and polite humor added to an ongoing conversation can help fuel guest interest.  Be sure what you say does not lead to inaccurate assumptions or beliefs about details.

While our primary goal is education and awareness, people tend to learn more when they are enjoying themselves.

If you decide to study on your own, learn about incidents and people who can add to the exhibit stories and find opportunities to use these to grow our visitor’s interest and enjoyment of our museum.

Confident in your knowledge?  Docents aren’t expected to give tours, but you are welcome to offer that service if you would like.