Green Explorers (MERL)
MERL Green Explorers Volunteer
Location:
The Museum of English Rural Life
Role Description
Volunteer Shift:
Last Sunday morning of each month
9.15am-12.30pm
Why we want you
The MERL Green Explorers sessions provide an amazing opportunity for up to 20 children aged 5+ to experience nature and build their outdoor skills, along with their caregivers.
Led by Charlotte, a local environmental education teacher and Level 3 Forest Leader, sessions are themed around the museum collections and our changing seasons. Activities vary each session but will include shelter building, finding out all about the birds, animals and insects, identifying animals from the clues they leave behind, woodcraft tool use, insect discovery and preparing snacks and craft activities linked to the garden using natural materials.
These sessions will allow children and adults to connect and build their confidence, while creating positive relationships with their natural environment, encouraging them to grow up willing and able to protect it.
You will become part of the team to help ensure the smooth running of sessions.
What you will be doing
- Setting up and tidying away activities
- Meeting and greeting families
- Helping with craft activities
- Supervising some areas to ensure we are compliant with health and safety measures
- Helping new families to settle in and
discover all the activities on offer
This role will suit you if you are
- A people person
- Enjoy the outdoors
- Able to work as part of a team
- Enthusiastic, outgoing and polite
- Enjoy working with young children
- Willing to engage with members of the public
- Self-motivated and pro-active
- Have good communication skills
What you will gain in return
- Meet new people
- Work with a team of museum staff & volunteers
- Experience of working with children
- Gain knowledge of seasonal observations in nature
- Gain ideas on how to encourage free play and exploration for children
How much time will it take up?
You will join a team of volunteers on a monthly Sunday from 9.15am-12.30pm. It is not essential to attend every month, you would just sign up for the shifts that suit your world. The volunteer shift includes set up and take down time. Visitors attend between 10 and 12pm.
What do I need to wear?
Please note that these sessions take place outside in The MERL garden, and run throughout the year, in all weathers! The entire session will remain outdoors, no matter what the weather does! Please bring suitable clothing.
Who will I report to?
The overall supervisor of the role is Danielle Eade (Public Programmes Manager)
The sessions are led by Charlotte Allchin and Faris Al Ali who will allocate tasks and support you on the day.
To apply
New prospective volunteers - If you are not already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please register on our volunteering platform, ensuring you tick the box next to ‘Green Explorers’ in your ‘Interests’.
Existing volunteers - If you are already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please log in to the volunteering platform, click on My Profile, select the ‘Interests’ section, and ensure you tick the box next to ‘Green Explorers’.
Matching to the Role
To help us select our volunteers, we will look through all the application/ registration forms of those interested, and we draw up a shortlist of those who most closely match our ideal requirements.
We will invite a limited number of prospective volunteers to an informal interview to discuss the role.
