Volunteer at the Harrison Institute: Become a Docent
About the Docent Program
WHAT IS A DOCENT?
The word docent comes from the Latin “docere,” to teach. We use the title docent to refer to individuals who are trained to provide educational services to the public in a museum context.
BECOMING A DOCENT AT THE HARRISON INSTITUTE
The Harrison Institute is looking for enthusiastic and committed volunteers who will serve as docents for the exhibits and the entire building. In addition to greeting visitors and cultivating a welcoming atmosphere, docents will be trained to serve as educators and interpreters. They will be responsible for answering questions about the content of both the permanent (Declaration of Independence, Flowerdew Hundred) and rotating exhibits, as well as about the building as a whole. They will participate in adult and K-12 tours and programming and may also provide for the general public brief tours of the building upon request. Docents will be an essential resource for the public, offering visitors a greater understanding of the content of the exhibits and the general nature of the Harrison Institute and Small Special Collections Library.
A successful candidate for the docent position will enjoy interacting with a variety of people of all ages. He/she will have an inquiring mind, a genuine interest in both learning and teaching, and have active interest in history and literature. Additional qualities include enthusiasm and flexibility. Docents should also be comfortable standing on their feet for up to two hours.
We ask that docents commit to a regular weekly schedule, 2 hours a week.
TRAINING
Docent training classes take place twice a year. The ten-session classes start in September and in February.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL DOCENT:
• Committed
Questions?
- To apply or find out more about the Harrison Institute's Docent Program, please contact:
- Hoke Perkins 982-2865
- hp8n@virginia.edu
• Interested
• Enthusiastic
• Prepared
• Flexible