** We did this one on our trip to England in 1998.
We found some links while looking for careers info, listed below.
Skill Builder:
SB #1: We visited Belvoir Castle and Nottingham Castle. While there we asked the guide about the mission for the museum, which is to educate the public about the castles history, and life during earlier times.
SB #4: We both visited Pax Lodge and the B-P (Baden Powel) House in London. One of us also visited GSUSA's National Headquarters and it's museum earlier that same summer.
SB #5: We drew a blueprint of a medieval castle and described it.
Technology:
T #2: We asked about the security methods in Belvoir Castle but the museum workers were hesitant to explain. We did notice that many items were secured to the walls with bolts/chains, there were security camaras, temperature gauges for several articles that higher temps could damage, and "guards" throughout the museums. If anyone seemed to stay too long in anyone place they were asked to move along to make room for others. Also, NO photography was allowed inside the museums. Since postcards/slides of the items inside the castles/museums were available, we decided that this must be for preservation of the items not necesarily for protection/security.
T #4: Nottingham Castle had different displays set up for the blind with braille, and hearing impaired. Also, there was a ramp for wheelchair access. An improvement on one display with words written on pronounciation could be to have a tape of verbal pronounciations for the visually impaired.
Belvoir Castle would not have been accessible to anyone with a wheelchair. The jousting event would not have been as enjoyable to a visually impaired person due to the antics of the performers.
Both castles could provide a "hands-on" model of the castles and specific objects for persons to "feel" instead of see.
Service Projects:
SP #1: While in England, we discussed with the English Scouts about activities we might do while at Sherwood '98 the International Camp we attended. We got to participate in two flag ceremonies for the US flag. We also facilitated some games and songs for other scouts camping nearby.
Career Exploration:
CE #1: After returning home, we got online and searched the web for museum related careers. We emailed several in hopes that three would reply. We were really lucky in that one person we emailed was the head of her department at a University and Museum associated with the university and she required three different (career) people under her to reply to our questions via email.
Submitted by:
Thistle and Roo, Troop 446
Links:
American Association of Museums
What do museum professionals do?
How should I prepare for a museum career?
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian
Metropolitan Museum of Art in N.Y.