Ringling Museum Guide - Ca' d'Zan

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The Ringling’s Guides facilitate active explorations of the museum’s collections and its history. Our upcoming training will prepare Guides to engage visitors in Ca’ d’Zan, the Ringlings’ opulent 1920s mansion.

To be considered for the 2023 Museum Guide Training for Ca’ d’Zan:

1. Send an email to the Volunteer Services Department to express your interest: volunteers@ringling.org
2. If you don’t currently have an application on file,submit one online by visiting the museum's website at www.ringling.org/volunteer-application
3. Applicants will be invited to participate in model tours of Ca’ d’Zan led by experienced Guides or Education Department staff. Then, applicants will take part in a group interview with fellow applicants and staff so we can learn more about everyone’s skills and experience. These activities will be scheduled by Education Department staff during October 2022.
4. Final notices of acceptance into the training will be sent in mid-November 2022.

Once admitted into the program, Museum Guides are required to:

• Engage visitors and lead tours using current tour techniques and approved materials and resources that are provided by the museum
• Give a minimum of 25 hours annually to the museum consisting of volunteer shifts, meetings, and trainings
• Participate in required trainings, meetings, and performance assessments as needed to ensure the highest quality of visitor experience
• Abide by the policies set forth in The Ringling Volunteer Handbook and Volunteer Services Advisory Council (VSAC) Bylaws

Museum Guides should:

• Share our commitment to ensuring the museum is a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive place for our diverse audiences
• Demonstrate solid public speaking skills
• Be flexible, dependable, highly motivated, and a team player
• Possess good customer service skills and problem solving abilities
• Be skilled at using computers, tablets, and/or smart phones for viewing videos, reading materials, and communicating with staff and volunteer colleagues

Please note:To provide tours beyond Ca' d'Zan's first floor, individuals need to be comfortable standing and climbing stairs as seating is unavailable. Motorized scooters can only be accommodated on the first floor. Due to the historic nature of the house, individuals using wheelchairs may need to transfer to a smaller chair. Use of Ca' d'Zan's historic elevator to reach the second floor is contingent on on-going repairs and conservation work.

Training Provided

The 6-week training for Ca’ d’Zan begins Monday, January 9, 2023. Participants should expect an estimated 8-to-10-hour commitment per week. Volunteers who are new to the museum will also be required to attend an in-person orientation session prior to the start of Guide training.

Week 1:

• Class will be held via Zoom for all participants.

Weeks 2 through 6:

• Participants will review videos online and complete readings and other assignments in preparation for one in-person session each week.
• The class will be organized into 3 groups, and each group will attend the in-person session on a different day during the week. In-person sessions will be held Tuesdays at 9:00 AM, Thursdays at 6:00 PM, and Saturdays at 10:00 AM.
• If a participant misses an in-person session, they will need to work with Education Department staff to schedule a make-up date in order to continue with the training.