I'm a grad student finishing my master's in education and am looking to
get into the museum education field.  I've got several summers and semesters
worth of museum experience already working for a local nature center, my
college's planetarium, and a Life Sciences' museum.

I'm currently debating between an applying for an internship with the
American Youth Museums, applying to be a docent with the National Museum
of American History (one of the Smithsonians) or doing volunteer work with
one of the other Smithsonian museums.

Which would be the best?  The American Youth Museum association is a
national organization which supports youth museums whereas the Smithsonian
is local to DC but are nationally known.  I want to do museum education
as well as exhibit design.  Are potential employers more impressed by
the actual work done or the museum/organization volunteered at?  What is a
good way to get challenging volunteer?

Any other advice on how to network and start in the museum education field
would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

Deb Fuller
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