Outreach Volunteers Needed for the William S. Hart Museum

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The William S. Hart Museum is the retirement home of the famed silent-film actor and director who produced a series of hit Western movies in the early 1900s. The museum houses his personal collection of western-themed and Native American art, as well as Hart was a active member in the Santa Clarita Valley community during the time that he lived here from 1927 to 1946. to continue on with his legacy, the William S. Hart Museum conducts school outreach visits to 3rd and 4th grade classes in the Santa Clarita Valley area.

Each session lasts just under an hour and we can accommodate up to three classes a day. Both programs tie into standard curriculums in the area, so as a result it is only available for Santa Clarita schools. The interactive nature of these outreaches allows students to physically engage with history and actively participate with the teaching points. They both also provide crafts that students can bring home with them at the end of the session

Fall Topic
The fall program is called Acorn, Sea, and Sage and it focuses on Chumash Native American daily life prior to the Spanish arrival. After a brief talk involving artifacts, the students get to interact with docent-led stations where they can do things like grind acorns.

Spring Topic
In the spring, we offer 500 Years of Santa Clarita History, which takes students on a journey through time to see how the Santa Clarita Valley evolved into what it is today. The program structure is the same as above, but the content and activities are linked to more western themes like gold mining.

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help facilitate and lead these lessons.
Museum staff will provide training on content knowledge as well as teaching techniques for informal, inquiry-based learning.

Successful applicants will join a dedicated and passionate team of individuals who work together to engage guests with the Hart collections and keep William S. Hart's legacy alive.

You do not need any special experience or background to become a Hart Volunteer - just an interest in the Hart material, an out-going personality, and an enthusiasm for working with children. We will provide all the training and support you need to succeed.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
-Must be at least 16 years of age
-Must be able to pass a background check
-Should be available to help at least 5 hours a month (however this varies based on school bookings).
-Ability to travel to and from a variety of schools in the Santa Clarita Valley
-Weekday morning availability is required as the lessons take place during school hours.