Minnesota Children’s Museum

Guidelines and Information for Special Guest Performers/Presenters

We are excited to be working with you at Minnesota Children’s Museum!Guests are an important part of the Museum’s programming, and bring a variety of unique skills and experiences to our visitors throughout the year. The Museum is committed to presenting programs and activities in a fun, friendly and professional way. We ask that you help us uphold this commitment by following these guidelines:

Clothing

Our goal is to look approachable, neat and professional. Casual clothing (Jeans, T-shirts, tennis shoes) in good condition is fine. Please avoid tank tops, clothing with slogans or logos, low-cut shirts and low-rise pants. You will be asked to wear a Museum sticker or other agreed-upon identification at all times while in the Museum. Management may ask you to change if you come to the Museum in inappropriateattire.

Basic Customer Service Expectations

  • Look friendly and approachable- smile, make eye contact, be alert. Keep your focus on the audience - no personal projects (such as using activity supplies to make your own projects, reading, knitting, etc.), and please no cell phone use on the floor (including checking the time).
  • Use positive and open body language- avoid leaning, crossing arms or putting your hands in your pockets.
  • Use appropriate language- don’t swear, don’t discuss personal topics, don’t complain.
  • Floor staff members in easily identifiable uniforms are stationed throughout the Museum and are available to help with anything from First Aid and lost children to helping with visitor questions.

Interacting with Young Children

  • Invite visitors over by greeting everyone (either with a wave or by saying hi) and ask if they’d like to try. As you are able, get down to the children’s eye level while you are talking with them.
  • Focus on concrete topics rather than abstract ideas. For example, rather than explaining how the circulatory system works, try asking the child to feel her own pulse or hear her heartbeat with a stethoscope.
  • Ask open-ended questions instead of questions that have a right/wrong or yes/no answer. For example, rather than asking “Do you know what happens when your heart beats?” try“What do you think is happening when your heart beats?”
  • Present activities that all children can be successful doing: Limit the amount of steps and/or adult assistance needed to complete the activity;no contests; and plan ahead of time for how you can adapt your activity for people of all abilities and ages.
  • If you need to get a child’s attention for safety reasons, please touch only their shoulder or elbow. If a child asks to give you a hug or wants to give you a high-five, that’s ok as long as you are comfortable with it. Otherwise, please avoid physical contact.
  • Children must be with their adults at all times, and it is against Museum policy for you to watch anyone’s children for them for any length of time.
  • And, last but certainly not least, have fun!

Loading Dock

You can use the loading dock in the alley behind the Museum to unload and load your items. Please let me know if you plan on doing this a few days ahead of time so I can give a heads up to Security.

Guidelines and Information,continued. . .

Parking and directions – for Volunteers

Free Volunteer Parking Coupons are available if you park in the World Trade Center Parking Ramp kitty corner across the street from the Museum. You can enter the ramp on Wabasha Street. Click here for directions to the Museum:

If you are not given a Free Volunteer Parking Coupon, please ask for one before you leave. Let the staff person know that I said you should get one. We are not able to reimburse for meter parking or parking in any other ramp.

Check-in

Please check-in at the Security Desk and ask for a staff person in the Daily Programs Department.

In case you’re late or for some reason cannot perform/present as planned

Please call my phone number to let me know, and leave a message if I don’t answer. If I don’t answer, it’s also very important that you call Security at 651-225-6056as well because they answer the phones and check messages at all times during open hours. Give them your name and information about the planned program and ask them give the message to the person you were supposed to ask for in the Daily Programs Department.

Green Room/Storage

If you need a space other than your program area for storing supplies or for taking breaks while you are at the Museum, please let me know so I can reserve a space for you. Do not leave valuables unattended anywhere in the Museum. If you would like to use them, lockers are available on a first come, first serve basis in the coatroom in the Museum’s lobby. Minnesota Children’s Museum is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (651)225-6022 or .

Thank you!

Joan Gunderson-Palmer

Public Programs Manager

Minnesota Children's Museum | 10 W 7th St, St. Paul, MN 55102 |