How to Volunteer at a Museum

1.Before you do anything else, determine how much time you want to or are willing to give to the museum. An hour a month? Twenty hours a week?

2.Short term or long term help? The museum needs to know your volunteering plans. Is this a one-time thing, something to last a summer, or are you planning on volunteering for several years?

3.Why do you want to help? Think about what you want to accomplish by volunteering. Do you want to help the museum finish a specific project? Help the museum get funds? Earn college credits for you? Learn something?

4.Choose a museum. If you are volunteering for a special project, you have probably already chosen a museum. If not, choose a museum that will best help reach your objective above. You might have to call several museums before you narrow it down.

5.What can you offer the museum? Are you a warm body they could put to any task or do you have an expertise or talent for a particular job? Figure out (before you contact the museum) some positions you would like to hold.

6.When you know the answers to the questions above, call the museum. Tell them you are interested in volunteering; they will likely transfer you to a volunteer coordinator.

7.Don't expect the museum to bow down and kiss the ground you walk on. They will likely thank you for your interest but be skeptical of your reliability.

8.The volunteer coordinator will probably ask you in for an informal interview. Like all interviews, dress nicely (perhaps not as formally - depends on the museum) and be on time.

9.Sometimes a resume or application is recommended / required. This is not meant to scare you off; instead, it is meant to help the museum best match your skills and expectations with a position in the museum.

10.Just as the museum is examining you, you should examine the museum. Does this museum have a position that would suit you? Will you be happy volunteering here?

11.Once you have started, make sure you are always on time and act professionally. Though you are not getting paid, you should respect your position and the museum you are helping.

12.Be honest with the person in charge of volunteers. Are you happy in the position you were given?

13.Volunteering is a wonderful thing. Enjoy your new responsibility of helping others.

Top 6 Reason to Visit a Museum

1) Museums make you feel good.
Times are tight in this economic climate, and it’s often easy to use a museum admission price as an excuse to stay at home. But, studies have shown that people are happier when they spend money on experiences rather than material purchases. Visiting a museum, can also become a meaningful part of one’s identity and contribute to successful social relationships in a manner that material items cannot. So consider foregoing an outing for items that you may not need; going to the museum will make you happier in the long run.

2)Museums make you smarter.There is no doubt that a primary role of museums is to engage and educate the community. Museum exhibits inspire interest in an area of study, item, time period, or an idea– but there’s more going on in museums in regard to education than one might think. Even the museums themselves often have interesting histories to inspire you. It becomes nearly impossible to exit a museum without having gained any information or insight during your visit. Remember, knowledge is power and how much fun will the conversation be after empowering your children with some amazing educating information from a day at your local museum?

3)Museums are community centers.Museums are a lot more than collections of artifacts; they allow you to meet with neighbors, discuss thoughts and opinions, and become and become an active part of the community. There are often yoga class, Rock Band Summer Camps, Farmers Markets, Book Signings, BBQ’s, Glass Blowing Classes, Seminars and festivals all their own. Just pull up all the museums on Chicagofun.com and see what they have to offer in your area.

4)Museums inspire.Museums provide inspiration through personal connections with visitors, and through physical community outreach efforts. Through donating your time and skills, you create memories that never expire. Share 1 day a year or 1 day per month and teach your children the gift of giving that will last a lifetime.

5)Museums are a great way to spend time with friends and familyMuseums provide a great excuse to spend time with friends and family in a positive way. Personal connections can be made easier at a museum by giving your family something interesting to discuss and learn about together. Make it a family date each month.

6)Museums are free… sometimes.Several museums nationwide offer free admission during specified hours or days of the week. Visit the chicagofun.com and search museums to see if they feature something like this near you. Several museums offer free events as well. OR….Check out the Chicagofun.com Facebook page this week and enter to win FREE museum tickets just by being clever and sharing it with your friends.

What to Bring to Your Favorite Waterpark!

WHAT TO BRING

Lockers are typically available (usually for a fee) in which you can store clothing or extra belongings such as the following:
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• A well-fit swimsuit. Wear it under a light-weight coverup for greatest ease. Make sure your suit fits well so it will stay in place when you go down a waterslide or on a water ride. (Avoid tops or bottoms with ties that can come undone.)
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• Sunscreen. Use it liberally and apply it often throughout the day.
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• Swim shoes. They’ll allow you to go directly from one water feature to another without having to take shoes off and on before getting in the water.
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• Plastic swim diapers on your infants or toddlers. Most parks require their use. If you don’t bring them, parks will often have them for sale. (Note where changing areas are located and use these designated, sanitized changing spots.)
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• Sick guests. If you or one of your party has an illness, such as diarrhea, it’s best to stay out of the water, whether you are at a waterpark or other aquatic facility. That way, you’ll help keep the water clean and safe for other guests.
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What to leave at home
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• Valuables. Leave valuables—such as jewelry or watches—at home or at your hotel. You don’t want to lose them in the water.
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• Cut-off jeans, shorts and any articles of clothing with zippers or buttons. They may damage the slides, and most waterparks prohibit them.
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• Rafts or other air-filled flotation toys. Most parks don’t allow you to bring in these items as they obstruct lifeguards’ views of pool bottoms and thus can interfere with lifeguards’ abilities to make sure all guests are safe in the water. Most parks offer their own tubes or rings either for free or for a small fee.
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• Water wings. These air-filled swimming aids shouldn’t be used in place of life jackets or life preservers with kids. They provide both parents and kids with a false sense of security, which can increase the risk of drowning. They also are at risk of being punctured and deflating. Most parks offer life jackets or preservers, often for free.

Visit one of Chicagofun.com's favorite waterparks today!

Celebrate your Birthday at the Waterpark

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Birthday parties are a popular event at many waterparks.
Birthday party packages usually include:
• Admission to the park
• Reserved group area for a maximum amount of time
• Food, such as pizza or hotdogs, a beverage and a dessert such as cookies or ice cream

Often, the birthday party child receives a special gift, too. Be sure to book your party in advance to ensure you get the date you desire. And don’t forget the sweet birthday treats. If the waterpark doesn’t offer a cake make sure you bring some special theme cupcakes or sweets to go with the occasion.

Game Ideas for the Water Park

• You can add to the traditional water park experience by suggesting a waterpark that your kids can play while splashing in the wave pool or shooting down the tube slides. Younger children can play "Simon Says" or "What Time is It Mr. Wolf?" in the shallow end of the pool. Older children enjoy playing hide and seek. If you restrict the game to the pool, say that the "it" child has to swim to tag the people they spot. You also can allow the game to cover the entire water park, but change the rules to say that hiders are out if the "it" person sees them, to avoid dangerous running on pool decks. Challenge the kids to make up their own synchronized swimming routines or develop secret handshakes. Turn it into a contest and award the "best" team with a prize, such as a small package of hard candy for each child.

Crafts and Goody Bag Ideas

• You can give guests tattoos in goody bag and a colorful Tie-dye T-shirt so when heading out to the water park the T-shirts can be used as beach cover-ups before hitting the pool. This idea will help you keep track of everyone. If all the shirts are in the same color and not decorated yet, when the party's over, give each child his own bottle of fabric paint or a few fabric markers in their bags to decorate the shirt at home. Mini sun lotions and lip gloss with SPF’s are also fun goody bag ideas.

Celebrate your next birthday at one of Chicagofun.com's Favorite Waterparks!

WATERPARK DISCOUNTS

Most Waterparks Have discount packages somewhere!

Check Chicagofuncoupons.com for your favorite waterpark specials.

Hotel tie-ins
Many outdoor waterparks have cross promotions with local hotels that can shuttle you to and from the waterpark. These specials often include: 1 night stay, Day passes, Shuttle Service and even breakfast.
Discount/Wholesale Clubs

When you’re purchasing your extra-large cans of green beans, check whether you can also get discounts to your local waterpark. Discount clubs such as Costco, Sam’s Club or B.J.’s often offer discounted tickets.

Association memberships
Are you a member of AAA, AARP or some other large, national association? As part of your membership benefits, you may be able to buy discounted tickets to waterparks.

Product tie-insCross-promotions are common between waterparks and soda companies, cereal makers, fast-food retailers and supermarkets. Call the waterpark and ask if they are offering any promotional tie-ins with local or regional retailers.

Annual passes
Annual passes are a great money-saving option. If you plan on visiting a waterpark more than once in a season, buying an annual pass usually will pay for itself in as few as two or three visits. If you will be traveling around the U.S. on your search for water fun, check whether corporate parks - such as Six Flags, Palace Entertainment, Disney and others - offer annual passes you can use at all the parks in that chain.

Group discounts
Many waterparks offer group discounts for people. Discounts can be substantial, so check with individual parks to compare savings. Similarly, many waterparks offer corporate programs and group picnics. Check with your local waterpark to see what is available in this regard. For details on the various group sales offerings available at your waterpark, contact the group sales director.

GENERAL TIPS FOR A FUN FILLED DAY AT THE WATERPARK

Follow these tips
• If you want to avoid crowds, arrive early—before noon—or later in the afternoon. Also, weekends tend to be more crowded than weekdays, so shoot for visits from Monday through Friday.
• Check whether picnic areas are available outside the park. Many parks allow you to exit and re-enter the park with proof of ticket purchase if you want to enjoy a picnic you bring yourself. If picnic areas aren’t available, most waterparks offer a variety of refreshments at concession stands. Note: Glass and alcohol are usually prohibited both inside and outside park grounds.
• If your group splits up, be sure to have a set meeting place and time.
Special kid tips
• Warn kids about swallowing park water. Chlorine and pH readings are usually posted at large waterparks.
• Follow age and height restrictions. Size and coordination can be critical to certain rides.
• Keep toddlers in shallow play areas, such as zero-depth entry pools with no appreciable water depth.
• Pay attention to kids. Make sure an adult has young children in constant view when they are swimming or playing in water. Don’t participate in any distracting activities when watching children, such as talking on a cell phone or reading.

BE WATER AWARE

BE SAFE IN THE WATER! HERE'S HOW!You can greatly reduce the chances of you, your friends or family becoming drowning victims or being injured if you follow a few simple safety tips. Check out water safety videos from your favorites Olympic swimmers, Amanda Beard, Janet Evans, Jason Lezak and Mark Spitz, by clicking here. Listen to tips on learning to swim, following posted safety rules, watching children in the water, wearing a life jacket and more! Then, read through the following list for a few more important tips:

Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes both adults and children.
Look for lifeguards. Be sure the area is well supervised by lifeguards before you or others in your group enter the water.
Pay attention to kids. Make sure an adult is constantly watching young children swimming, playing or bathing in water. Do not do any distracting activities while supervising children around water.
Never swim alone or in unsupervised places.
Teach your children to always swim with a buddy.

Don’t drink alcohol. Avoid alcoholic beverages before or during swimming, boating or water-skiing. Never drink alcohol while supervising children around water. Teach teenagers about the danger of drinking alcohol while swimming, boating or water skiing.
Spit it out. To prevent choking, never chew gum or eat while swimming, diving or playing in water.
Avoid water wings. Do not use air-filled swimming aids (such as “water wings”) in place of life jackets or life preservers with children. Using air-filled swimming aids can give parents and children a false sense of security, which may increase the risk of drowning. These air-filled aids are toys and are not designed to be personal-flotation devices. After all, air-filled plastic tubes can deflate because they can become punctured or unplugged.
Check the water depth. The American Red Cross recommends 9 feet as a minimum depth for diving or jumping. ure the area is well supervised by lifeguards before you or others in your group enter the water.
Watch out for the dangerous “toos.” Don’t get too tired, too cold, too far from safety, exposed to too much sun or experience too much strenuous activity.
Use sunscreen. Apply sunscreen on all exposed skin to ensure maximum skin protection. Hats, visors and shirts are recommended to prevent overexposure.
Don’t take risks. Don’t take chances by overestimating your swimming skills.

Keep toddlers in shallow play areas. Zero-depth entry pools have water games, sprays and fountains with no appreciable water depth.
Follow age & height instructions at waterparks. Restrictions apply to many rides in a waterpark. Size and coordination is critical to safety inside open water flumes
Read all posted signs. Follow the rules and regulations given by lifeguards. Ask questions if you are not sure about a correct procedure, especially at waterparks.
Watch water depth. When you go from one waterpark attraction to another, note that the water depth may be different and the attraction should be used in a different way
Warn kids about swallowing park water. Chlorine and water pH readings are usually posted at large waterparks.
Use plastic swim diapers. Many parks require them. Note where changing areas are located and use these designated, sanitized changing spots.
Notice health restrictions. Guests with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prevalence toward motion sickness or pregnancy may not ride high-speed or rapid- descent rides.

Most important? Be water aware! Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies.