Oct
30

Volunteers get special access with new enrichment initiative

The Office of Visitor Services is excited to share with you the first in a series of enrichment opportunities open to all Smithsonian volunteers.

The goal of this initiative is to offer Smithsonian volunteers opportunities for personal and professional development while building a strong sense of community within our volunteer corps. These enrichment opportunities will include tours, talks and other special programming, at both Smithsonian and non-Smithsonian locations, and are designed to engage volunteers while providing information that can be directly applied to your volunteer opportunity.

Group photo

Volunteers pose for a group photo during an enrichment trip to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 2017. (Photo by Kris Hamilton)

In August, we had a soft launch of the newest  initiative; in which 55 volunteers participated in a tour of the Department of the Interior, at the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building Museum.

People listening to tour guide

Smithsonian volunteers on a tour of the Department of the Interior in 2018. (Photo by Kris Hamilton)

Enrichment activities will be held once a quarter with a variety of weekday/weekend opportunities to be as inclusive as possible for our volunteers.  These activities are open to all active Smithsonian volunteers unless otherwise noted and reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure they are accessible to all.

Seated volunteers listen to tour guide

Smithsonian volunteers get an inside look at the U.S. Supreme Court, 2017. (Photo by Kris Hamilton)

The goal of this initiative is not to take the place of any current enrichment programming provided by volunteer coordinators; but it should complement and build-on current programming.

Please see the calendar of events for more information and how to RSVP for our next unique enrichment opportunity or download a printable pdf: SI Wide Enrichment Calendar for FY2019 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for enrichment opportunities, please contact Kris Hamilton at HamiltonK@si.edu or 202.633.5258.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the next enrichment!

Two women looking at specimens; Bill Blandy in background

Volunteers Lynn Hounslow (left) and Sallyann Pogowski (right) examine a specimen from the National Museum of Natural History’s amber collection. (Photo by Kris Hamilton)

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Posted: 30 October 2018
About the Author:

Kristina Hamilton has been with the Office of Visitor Services since 2016, serving as the Volunteer Recruitment and Retention assistant. Cars, football, and Great Danes take up much of Kris’ free time. Avid car enthusiasts, Kris and her husband spend their summers working on their cars or taking them to the track with their ‘road dogs’ Shadow and Brodie.