Hi Melissa,
I'm wondering if you're looking for help communicating with groups that are being guided by a staff member or docent or groups that are self-guiding? We send chaperone information to group organizers in both instances and I'm happy to send you those documents. We also found that having some of these documents translated into multiple languages has helped for our audiences.
On the day of the visit, we have a staff member or docent address the chaperones directly. I typically encourage docents to speak to their chaperones before the start of their tour: introduce themselves, shake their hands, and thank them for helping out that day. This usually gets chaperones more bought-in to acting in a support role.
All that being said, we still have chaperones who are disengaged and sometimes are not modeling the behaviors we'd like to see in the museum (e.g., playing with their cell phone, not staying with the group, and even touching works of art!).
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Kelsey Donahue
Museum Educator
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-15-2018 05:24 PM
From: Melissa Sarver
Subject: Group Chaperones
We are looking to improve our communication with chaperones for all of our groups. Specifically we are hoping for advice on how and when you reach out to your chaperones. (not just the group leader who makes the reservation) What language do you use? What action do you have them take to ensure they understand their role as being a chaperone is more than just making sure they have the same amount of kids coming into the museum as going out of the museum. :) Any help would be appreciated! I can also be contacted at : msarver@cosi.org
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Melissa Sarver
Call Center Manager
COSI
Columbus OH
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