2010 Docent Training Program

To apply, please download and complete our IHMEC Docent Application Form, which can be mailed to the Museum or emailed to the Education Department as an attachment.

Objective: To advance the educational mission of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center by conducting tours and facilitating conversations with visitors of all ages and diverse backgrounds, through all exhibitions of the Museum.

Job Description: Docents conduct tours of the Museum for groups of children and adults. Utilizing the techniques of dialogue and inquiry, the docents encourage students to explore the exhibitions of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Each tour program is two to four hours in length.

Qualifications and Essential Attributes:

• Enthusiastic personality
• Public speaking ability
• Positive energy
• Creative & critical thinker
• Ability to solve problems
• Embrace change and challenge
• Capable of physical activity, including standing for long periods, kneeling, and bending
• Able to work with a team, dependable, and flexible
• Enjoy interacting with the public and communicate effectively with individuals, families, and school groups
• Extensive prior knowledge of the Holocaust or genocide is not required, but a prospective docent should have a working knowledge of European, world, or Holocaust history and a desire to learn
• Must have access to internet and email
• Able to work weekends (Saturday or Sunday) and evenings a plus
• Bilingual a plus but not a requirement

Docent Class Training Details:

Applications are due by March 31, 2010.

Interviews will be held April 26 and 29, 2010. We are currently looking for 25 additional candidates. Not all applicants can be chosen to participate due to the small size of docent classes. Being a docent is just one of the many volunteer opportunities with the Museum.

Docent trainees will need to attend a two-week Summer Institute:

• “Teaching the Holocaust” (June 14-18, 2010)
• “Teaching Human Rights and Genocide” (June 21-25, 2010)

The Summer Institutes will be followed by two sessions on technique training on Wednesday, July 28th and Thursday, July 29th from 10am-2pm.

Docent trainees must also complete a full compliment of shadowing IHMEC’s veteran Docent Corps, followed by co-docenting.

After successful completion of the training, each docent will be assessed by an IHMEC staff member, while giving a co-docented tour.

Financial Responsibility: Docent candidates will have one-time fee of $300.00 to cover the cost of training and materials. Docents must maintain a valid Museum membership.

Ongoing Professional Development: Docents are required to attend and actively participate in ongoing trainings, which focus on touring strategies and exhibition content.

What IHMEC Offers You!

• The opportunity to learn about and investigate the history of the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights issues.
• The ability to gain skills in working with people of all ages and interests.
• The chance to improve your public speaking skills.
• The occasion to work with others as part of a motivated and dedicated team.
• The enjoyment of volunteer appreciation events, special programs, and ongoing training.
• The opportunity to meet new and interesting people.
• The chance to make a difference!

To apply, please download and complete our IHMEC Docent Application Form, which can be mailed to the Museum or emailed to the Education Department as an attachment.

Inaugural Docent Corps

Congratulations to the first cohort of IHMEC docents, who completed a 20-week docent training program and are now working in the Museum. These docents lead school field trips and adult groups through each of the Museum exhibitions.

Thank you to everyone who is dedicating enormous time and effort to being a docent for the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.