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Community Corner

How to be the Best Field Trip Chaperone Ever

Fun advice from a museum manager on how to be a great chaperone.

As April turns into May, and the change of seasons from winter to spring finally looks like it is really going to happen in Northern Illinois, there’s a change of seasons inside museums as well. May signals the end of field trip season at the , with a short break before summer programs begin. Students are back in the classroom, busy beginning the final push to the end of the year, and parents are dreaming of summer vacation, while wondering how they’ll ever pay for the gas.

While the museum had fun hosting over 3,000 students this year, so many students gave us a chance to observe a lot of field trip chaperones too. And although we like every parent who comes to the museum as a chaperone, we love some of you. With those parents in mind as examples, here’s our fun guide to being the best field trip chaperone ever.

1) If you’re interested, they’ll be interested too.

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It’s true. As an adult you have so much influence over the attitude of kids—even kids you’ve never seen before! If you look interested and pay attention when the museum staff member is speaking, then the kids are much more likely to be interested too. Your attention shows them that this is something cool and important that grown ups like, and that alone will give them a reason to look at things with respect. 

2) It’s okay to talk in museums.

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In fact, we get worried if you don’t talk! While we’d like everyone to use inside voices, a museum is not a library. The main goal of most museum people is to spark discussion among visitors. Whether that means “Wow, look at the size of that model cow, are real cows that big too?” or “That’s the kind of phone Mommy had to dial when she was growing up” anything that makes you and the children think and talk is good in our book.

3)  You don’t have to read all of the labels.

It’s okay, we know that only a few museum geeks actually read all of the signs. We don’t expect you to. However, do try and look at some of them, because you may learn an unexpected story, or a really cool fact. Nobody can know everything anymore, which is why labels are great—we’ve done the work for you! Most of the time, if you read the labels, it will explain why certain things are important, and you can share that information with the kids.

4) It’s okay to ask questions.

Yes, the program is for the kids, but you’re part of the audience too! If you have questions, the museum wants to hear them. Ask after the kids are done asking their own questions, or ask the museum educator later on, when they have a minute to spare for you, but please ask, we love to answer.

5) It’s also okay to ask the kids questions.

The teacher and the museum guide can’t be everywhere at once, so it’s part of your job to keep the kids involved too. Asking questions is one of the best and easiest ways to do this. “What do you think that machine was used for?” “Have you ever seen a computer that old?” “Would you have liked living 100 years ago?” There’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer, it’s just a good way to get people to think.

6) But don’t ask questions right in the middle of the speaker’s program.

It might not seem like it, but most museum programs are arranged in a certain order for good reasons. Museum guides get a rhythm going while they are speaking to their audience, and if you break that up by shouting out questions (even adults should raise their hands), it can seriously compromise the flow of the whole presentation, and make it much less effective. For that matter, the cell phone going off is a big bummer too. You know better. And we shouldn’t have to say this, but please don’t text. If the kids see you, it makes it look like you don’t want to be there.  Even if the kids don’t see you, the museum staff does, and we don’t like it much either. The only exception is if you think we’re so cool you’re adding us to your facebook page right this minute, and even that can wait until you’re back on the bus.

7) You’re the grown-up.

That’s a good thing. You know more, and this is your chance to show off a little bit.  You get to look cool for your child, and show your child’s classmates that you’re fun and interesting. However, this also means that you’re in charge of discipline too.  The museum staff should tell you about any special rules—but you already know the basics, and they’re just as important here as anywhere else: No Running, No Yelling, and Everybody Takes Turns.

8)  Have Fun!

I know we’ve made it sound like work, but really, this should be fun for you too!  After all, you’re off of work and out on an adventure.

With all that said, we’d like to pay tribute one more time to all of the parents who volunteer as chaperones on field trips. The school and the museum couldn’t make it happen without you, and we’re so happy to have your support. Come back and see us again anytime!

Bonus—They asked, You answered

Three great things we’ve heard chaperones explain while on field trips to the Raupp Museum:

  • The difference between a creamery and a crematorium
  • The difference between a salon and a saloon
  • Why boy cows don’t have an udder
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