Become a Docent at Bush-Holley Historic Site

Docent - the word docent comes from the Latin word docere, meaning to teach. At the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, docents are educators trained to further the public's understanding of the rich cultural and historical collections of Bush-Holley Historic Site. Docents give tours of Bush-Holley House and assist with hands-on activities during our popular school programs.

Time Commitment: As a docent-in-training, docents attend weekly lectures and workshops on Mondays from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., September - June with a break in December/January. Additional time may be required to observe tours. Once a docent is ready to lead tours, they are expected to lead a minimum of 3 tours per month. Tours last approximately 2 hours.

This fall, lectures will focus on Colonial America and will feature topics such as such as New England Begins, Clash of Cultures, Portraiture of the 17th and early 18th Centuries, and Colonial Decorative Arts. Professional development workshops in Museum Studies include a Curator's Tour of Bush-Holley House, Working with K/1 School Groups, and training in Material Culture.

Benefits:

• Attend free educational lectures on American History, art history, decorative arts, and architecture
• The opportunity to work directly with children of the community as they are educated and inspired by Greenwich heritage, culture and history
• A creative and social atmosphere
• Complimentary Historical Society membership and free admission to Bush-Holley House and exhibitions
• Free or reduced admission to lectures and programs sponsored by the Historical Society
• Field trips to historic and arts sites such as Weir Farm National Historic Site, Yale University Center for British Art and Van Courtlandt Manor.
• An invitation to the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon

Please contact us if you are interested in joining our dedicated and enthusiastic docent corps. Call 203 552-5329, ext 3.

Teaching Artists Needed

The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich (HSTG) seeks artists working in all media to submit proposals for the Artist-in-Residence Afterschool Program. The Afterschool Program provides an opportunity for students to develop artistic skill and learn about the Cos Cob art colony. Participants benefit from increased exposure to the arts and the variety of learning experiences the arts provide. They also benefit from contact with successful teaching artists who serve both as instructors and role models. All artists considered for the program must have some elementary level teaching experience, an enthusiasm for working with children, and be comfortable managing a group of 10 to 20 children (with program staff). Employment is contingent on a full background check.

Applicants are asked to submit a current resume, examples of recent work, and examples of work created by students. Also required is a proposal for an 8-week program for students in grades 2 through 5 (ages 7-11) which includes a paragraph overview of the program, an outline for the program listing for each day the theme or lesson to be presented, the materials needed, and the objective for the day (what is to be learned or completed). Applicants are encouraged to make connections to the museum’s collection and/or upcoming exhibitions. Instructional time is typically 75 minutes each class. Artists are required to work 1-2 days per week on a seasonal basis. Required hours are 2:30 – 4:30 or 3:00 – 5:00 , Monday – Friday at Bush-Holley Historic Site in Cos Cob. Applications will be considered for the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 semesters.

Please send resume to: Assistant Director of Education
The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
39 Strickland Road, Cos Cob , CT 06807

Volunteer Needed

The Historical Society is currently looking for a volunteer to update on-line community calendars with the ongoing  Bush-Holley Historic Site events and activities. The work may be done from home and requires approximately three hours very 3 months. If you would like to volunteer, please call Sally Frank at 203-869-6899, ext 12.