Learning & Engagement

Learning & Engagement Volunteers are crucial to the success of our many programs here at the museum. From speaking at libraries, running a booth at a county fair, giving a tour to a school group to helping at a SPARK! event, these programs present opportunities for volunteers to work with a variety of audiences and historical topics. We ask that Learning & Engagement Volunteers assist with 1-2 events each month and receive specialized training depending on which programs they support. Here are some of the opportunities for volunteers:

Speaker’s Bureau Presenter: Volunteers involved with our Speaker’s Bureau present off-site lectures and presentations at schools, retirement centers, libraries, and other organizations. Volunteers are provided with scripts and any necessary materials and equipment. Topics include: A Day in the Life of Victorian Women, Denver Grows, Molly the Activist, Victorian Christmas and the Sinking of the Titanic. Volunteers can also assist or deliver outreach programs to schools throughout the Denver metro area. Daytime, evening, weekday and weekend hours are available. Training will be provided.

School Tours Guide: Tours for students are specialized to meet the curriculum needs of students in grades 3-6 in the Denver Metro area. Our Operation: Curator program combines a house tour with a hands-on activity where students examine artifacts from the house and from Margaret’s time. These programs are 75 minutes long. You do not need to go through full docent training to be a School Tour Guide. These tours are held on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 9:30, 9:45, 10:00 and 10:15 am during the school year. Volunteers will attend School Tour Training and be provided with School Tour Script and timelines.

Scout Saturdays: Our Scout Saturdays are specialized programs for Girl Scouts which help celebrate the life of Margaret and focus on what life was like to be a girl in the late 1800 and early 1900s. Scouts are given a tour of the house, participate in a tea, a hand-on artifact experience and a take-home activity. Volunteers are needed to help with food prep and serving for the tea, assisting in the take-home component or conducting the tour portion of the program.

Sensory Friendly Mornings: The guided tour experience does not always work well for people on the Autism Spectrum. Sensory Friendly Mornings offer visitors on the spectrum and their families the opportunity to explore the museum at their own pace. These events are held on Sunday mornings from 10:00-11:30 am.

SPARK Programs: SPARK! is a FREE program for people experiencing mild memory loss (early stage Alzheimer’s or a related dementia), and their family, friends and guests. SPARK! programs feature interactive experiences in a welcoming environment. Trained educators and guides engage participants in lively discussions, art-making, social engagement, and other hands-on multi-sensory activities. Programs spark the minds of participants with conversation, creativity and engagement. These events are held on Sunday or Monday afternoons from 1:30-3:30 pm.

Homeschool Days: Homeschool Days at the Molly Brown House Museum offer non-traditional students a unique opportunity to experience the museum and its programs. They include a specialized tour and hands-on activities on a variety of historical topics including J.J.’s Story, the Titanic, suffrage and mining in Colorado. These events take place 4 times a year on Tuesdays from 9:30-12:30.