Teen Volunteer Program

The purpose of the NMMC Teen Volunteer Program (TVP) is to promote youth involvement at the NMMC and to supplement the adult volunteers at the museum in fulfilling these duties.  Recruitment of local high school students to work here as volunteers — working with the public with interactive interpretation and exemplary visitor service — are the goals for the program. In having teens participate in this program, we hope to prepare and inspire students to become active participants in shaping their community, society, and the museum profession.

Participating teens perform two types of service within the TVP:

1. Teen Visitor Services Volunteers (TVSVs) manage the Front Desk as well as greet and orient visitors entering the museum. In addition, they are responsible for answering general questions that visitors may have about the museum while acting in a responsible and professional manner as a representative of the museum. TVSVs generally work on weekends, and during holidays and school breaks.
2. Teen Interpreters (TIPs) provide interpretation of objects to tell stories and in doing so, enhance the visitors’ overall knowledge and experience. Each TIP is trained on historical knowledge as well as professional interpretative methods to deliver to the public a story told through objects. Each TIP focuses initially on the interpretation of objects related to one period of Marine Corps history but do have the opportunity to learn and master other themed history carts over time. TIPs are responsible for writing their own scripts which are used in conjunction with the objects in providing their interpretation of the period to visitors. TIPs work alongside an adult volunteer of the NMMC when delivering their hands-on interpretations. The interpretive carts are used on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and school breaks.

DOWNLOAD THE TEEN VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
and email to Rachel Clark at rachel.clark@usmcu.edu.

TVSV training is conducted during the summer and includes 20 hours of formal classroom work with an additional 20 hours under senior volunteer mentors totaling 40 hours of training. Teen Visitor Services Volunteers will be instructed on front desk protocols (e.g. handing out wheelchairs, answering the phone, handling object donations, and greeting visitors). They will also be instructed on appropriate museum terminology and practices, museum history, gallery information, staff and general security procedures. Training will include history of the USMC, as presented within the various galleries, and object interpretation while staffing interactive gallery carts. Evaluation will be executed once training is complete and will be performed by peers, senior docents, and staff.

By participating in the NMMC TVP we believe that students will receive many intrinsic benefits that will support their future goals in life. Our current teen volunteers have told us they have developed leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills throughout their involvement in the NMMC Teen Volunteer Program as well gaining a sense of pride in themselves and in their community. An understanding of the Marine Corps and its history is another benefit which has assisted them in realizing the importance in preserving their community's and the Marine Corps heritage which are intertwined in many cases. Our hope that student participants would gain confidence, self-assurance, and pride in themselves as well as their community has been solidified and we couldn't be more proud of their accomplishments!

Students who desire to join the NMMC Teen Volunteer Program must be at least 16 years old, highly motivated, interested in history, and willing to work with people in public. We expect volunteers to commit to the program for a year and work a minimum of 8 hours per month. Students will be required to submit an application, a signed parental permission form, and 2 adult recommendation forms in order to be considered for the NMMC Teen Volunteer Program.