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Sounds great to me Dave - except that some interns may be 'older', but none the less positive and energized! I kinda took note of that because I'm considering an internship at the ripe ole' age of 43!

I'm half joking with you of course, but it does make me wonder if my back can handle anymore physically grueling work if this is required of other interns. My days as a shovel bum and moving collections really did a number on my spine. Hasn't stopped me yet though!

The work I did with supervising and training/educating interns was a positive experience too. It is great when you find something that works across the board - as it did for interns and volunteers I've worked with. And, when you have a good program, flexibility is not an issue. So varied schedules, work projects and the like are then easy to work with and around.

It is important to identify and acknowledge expectations from both sides. When you have a good internship program, more than not you will find that both you and your intern have exceeded these expectations.

This is what signifies a good internship program -and thus is undeniably positive. From what you write Dave, you have experienced this too. What do you think? If the expectations are just met - is this a so-so thing or does it have to go above and beyond to make it a positive and memorable experience?

Pam

In a message dated 9/28/2005 10:42:25 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:

Katie,

This is indeed a good topic.

I have supervised interns for years in a variety of situations - from
museum conservation labs to a university-based regional lab, to
private practice.

I have had interns who are either in a BA or BS program in college, in
a Masters program in conservation or museum studies, and
post-graduates as well.

I think that it is important to offer all interns, no matter their
experience or knowledge, a balance of both intellectual and physical
tasks, along with a project all their own if there is sufficient time.
I also encouraged interns to publish short articles or to do posters
on specific aspects of what they encountered that most interested them
during their time in the lab.

There may also be requirements in their educational institutions as to
developing a portfolio of projects or writing a comprehensive report
on their internship.

In return, you can have a very positive and energized young person who
can contribute and move projects ahead.I also made a point of getting
the interns out of the lab and encountering the collections in the
multitude of ways that they are used in interpretation, exhibits, etc.
And it is so beneficial to have an intern at work in the lab when you
have visits by the board or public tours - as it is an entry into a
conversation about the profession and how to get into our great field.

Like anyone in any position, I think that interns need a diversity of
experiences, and projects have to be chosen with the best likelihood
for success, so that positive experiences build on top on one
another.

In conservation we are training the intellect, as well as the muscles,
eyes, and hands. So, even though much of this is about "doing" it is
equally important to cultivate and develop the ability to "see" and to
evolve the critical skills in intellectually aproaching objects and
treatments.

Even though some may not be in conservation or museum work anymore, I
am still in touch with many of my interns, some from now many years
ago.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, California, USA