With all of the problems happening in Florida
recently, supervision of underage volunteers is a
definite risk. And, this is so unfortunate, as this is
a way to get young people interested in Science and
other museum specialties.

During the 1980s, Pittsburgh's original Buhl
Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science had a
fairly simple policy regarding underage volunteers.
The child could volunteer, so long as a parent or
legal guardian was in the building at the time the
child was volunteering.

So, this did limit the time the child could volunteer.
However, in most cases, the parent would have to
transport the child to and fron the museum,
anyway--so, it really was not that limiting.

Often, it turned-out the entire family [or, at least
one of the parents with the child or children]
volunteered. There are at least two families, that
immediately come to mind, that volunteered in this
way; and there were probably a few others.

Two of these underage volunteers from the 1980s went
on to work at Buhl Planetarium--and, later, The
Carnegie Science Center. And, one of these underage
volunteers from the 1980s recently wrote to tell me
that, this Summer, she will be participating in an
Astronomy research team that will use Lick Observatory
to look for planets in other star systems!

So, even with the limitation of having parents or
guardians attend with a child, underage volunteering
can be successful!

gaw

>>>Original Message:
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 09:24:54 -0700 
From:  "Richard Fields" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Underage Volunteer Policies 
To: [log in to unmask] 

Osiyo List!
I am looking for examples of policies on using
underage volunteers in the museum. Because of the
dangers of having minors volunteer, I want to be
especially careful in this area. During my military
time, a boy scout volunteer in my unit went to prison
based on an allegation from a youth, so I am
especially careful in protecting my staff and
children. You may reply directly to me off list if you
prefer.

Richard A. Fields
Cherokee Heritage Center

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] > 
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://www.planetarium.cc > 
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago: 
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer & Optician John A. Brashear: 
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com > 
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: 
  < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc > 
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://www.incline.cc >

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