Student Comments for MS108: Fundamentals of Museum Volunteer Programs:
I feel that this course was an excellent experience that will help start my volunteer program in the right direction, thanks.

Articles were useful. Chats were useful times where you could talk out ideas.

I definitely liked taking the class online and being able to schedule my time around it. The assignments were a good foundation for putting what I learned into action. The resources were terrific. And I really enjoyed "Hostetter-Outlaw" Commentaries as a "getting to the point" outline. I am happy that you have filled a special niche for museum personnel who are interested in learning to be the best they can be.

It made me realize that there is more to volunteer policy than just asking them to participate. The chat time was really helpful as to the direction our policy should follow. (I liked) The availability of the instructor and the prompt feedback she gave.

Everything I read and did was helpful and only hope the "people who do not like change" can be convinced sometime down the road that we need to implement some if not all these procedures. I liked the forums and quick problem solving ideas best.


The Instructor:
Karin Hostetter has over thirty years experience with museum education. With a career that includes natural history museums, cultural history museums (including first person interpretation), nature centers, and zoos, Ms. Hostetter is experienced in interpretive writing, program and curriculum development, and staff and volunteer training. As a museum educator, she was Curator of Education for the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary (McKinney, TX). Among her award-winning education curricula are several programs she developed for the education departments during her five years at the Heard Museum and her twelve years on staff at the Denver Zoo. As an interpretive writer, Ms. Hostetter has written text for exhibits, wayside exhibits, visitor brochures, and professional magazines. Her skill is in making technical information understandable and meaningful to visitors.

Karin has worked with volunteers throughout her career, becoming the first paid volunteer coordinator at the Denver Zoo. Ms. Hostetter taught the National Association for Interpretation's two-day volunteer management course for volunteer coordinators and served on their panel about volunteer programs. She authored a series of articles for the National Association for Interpretation's Legacy magazine, providing guidelines for developing and maintaining a volunteer organization. Ms. Hostetter now consults with organizations on structuring and improving volunteer programs.

Over the years, Ms. Hostetter has been responsible for small animal exhibits and animal care at both the Heard Museum and the Denver Zoo. She worked with wild animal rehabilitation and public education animals, work that included training volunteer animal handlers. Karin co-founded the Zoos, Wildlife Parks, and Aquaria special interest section of the National Association for Interpretation.

Karin Hostetter is owner of Interpret This, a consulting company specializing in interpretive writing, program and curriculum development, and volunteer program management. When she is not consulting with other museums, she likes to volunteer and contract teach at them with a special love for preschool and family programs.

MS108: Fundamentals of Museum Volunteer Programs               Sep 7 - Oct 1, 2010               Course Description & Info - Student Login               Price: $475     [Add to Cart]   [View Cart]               Instructor: Karin Hostetter