Science Night
I worked my first Science Night sleepover on Saturday. 470 children aged between 8-12 slept over in various galleries in the museum and I was one of the evening ushers. I got there early as I was paranoid about being late and helped set up some stands and then enjoyed chatting to other helpers from different departments whom I don't normally get to see. I caught up with someone off my Leicester course who is now an explainer at the museum; met someone from documentation; collections and events.
At 6.30 I joined the other two ushers in charge of the Purple Astronaut group and got ready to meet the arrivals. We helped the groups put their snacks in a trolley and then showed them their sleeping area. Most of the groups were there for birthday parties. We had a Cub group and they were by far the best organised. When I asked for their snacks, they handed me a ready made cool bag full. I asked if their water bottles were in there and was told they had another cool box full of drinks. I said "oh I knew the Scouts would be prepared". Unfortunately, this came out as a cringey pun. I didn't mean "Be Prepared" just "be prepared" but I think the Scouters were unimpressed and I felt v embarrassed.
Next there was a sleeping mat crisis. We seemed to have run out but we still had a group of 12 without any. I had other adults coming up to me and slyly pointing out that some people had taken two. I went to investigate, found some people had two and some elderly women had three. I felt terrible taking some away from them but the group without any were getting cross. In the end I left them with two and said I would replace them if I could. Then I came across three lads who had 10 between them! They took it in good part. They seemed to realise they were being cheeky but had felt that it was worth a try. Fair play to them. I spent the rest of the evening feeling guilty about the elderly women remembering how I had to take some cushions off old ladies at Wimbledon and ruined their day to the point that they left early. Thankfully, I found a couple of extra mats by the end of the evening and could sleep easy that night.
My job was to help ferry the children to and from the various activities. After the Health and Safety talk, they had a trail in Making the Modern World, before learning about and making snot and then watching a show called It Takes Guts where we saw a film of inside someone's digestive system which made me want to throw up. One child did throw up early in the night before snack time and any of the activities so goodness knows how he fared afterwards!
At my break time we were treated to a buffet and I drank too much apple juice.
The two ushers I was working with were great. The girl and I laughed our way through. The guy was really competent having done loads of these before and was really chilled out about the whole thing so we followed his lead as both of us were inexperienced.
One group of 8 children had 8 adults with them despite not having any disabilities of Special Educational Needs. As soon as we saw this on the chart we knew they would be a problem group. Any adult who thinks that ratio is necessary is bound to have issues and we were right. They kept coming up asking stupid questions and wanting to know everything, despite having been sent loads of prep info. The children were fine though.
In a way I was sorry to leave at 11.30 as I had just got into it and to know the people, however, wouldn't have got any sleep if I had and besides I am staying on the next one. I was lucky enough to get a paid for taxi home all to myself as no one else lives near me. I was very excited about the taxi home and made sure I stayed awake throughout to relish the moment. It only took half an hour - I wish it did during my commute.
The next science night is a Brownie and Guide one and I am very excited about it. According to the guy usher in my team, the Guiding and Scouting groups are always the best behaved. I am thinking of wearing my Promise badge on the night to indicate to the leaders that I understand Guiding, however, this depends on me being able to find m badge tab!
At 6.30 I joined the other two ushers in charge of the Purple Astronaut group and got ready to meet the arrivals. We helped the groups put their snacks in a trolley and then showed them their sleeping area. Most of the groups were there for birthday parties. We had a Cub group and they were by far the best organised. When I asked for their snacks, they handed me a ready made cool bag full. I asked if their water bottles were in there and was told they had another cool box full of drinks. I said "oh I knew the Scouts would be prepared". Unfortunately, this came out as a cringey pun. I didn't mean "Be Prepared" just "be prepared" but I think the Scouters were unimpressed and I felt v embarrassed.
Next there was a sleeping mat crisis. We seemed to have run out but we still had a group of 12 without any. I had other adults coming up to me and slyly pointing out that some people had taken two. I went to investigate, found some people had two and some elderly women had three. I felt terrible taking some away from them but the group without any were getting cross. In the end I left them with two and said I would replace them if I could. Then I came across three lads who had 10 between them! They took it in good part. They seemed to realise they were being cheeky but had felt that it was worth a try. Fair play to them. I spent the rest of the evening feeling guilty about the elderly women remembering how I had to take some cushions off old ladies at Wimbledon and ruined their day to the point that they left early. Thankfully, I found a couple of extra mats by the end of the evening and could sleep easy that night.
My job was to help ferry the children to and from the various activities. After the Health and Safety talk, they had a trail in Making the Modern World, before learning about and making snot and then watching a show called It Takes Guts where we saw a film of inside someone's digestive system which made me want to throw up. One child did throw up early in the night before snack time and any of the activities so goodness knows how he fared afterwards!
At my break time we were treated to a buffet and I drank too much apple juice.
The two ushers I was working with were great. The girl and I laughed our way through. The guy was really competent having done loads of these before and was really chilled out about the whole thing so we followed his lead as both of us were inexperienced.
One group of 8 children had 8 adults with them despite not having any disabilities of Special Educational Needs. As soon as we saw this on the chart we knew they would be a problem group. Any adult who thinks that ratio is necessary is bound to have issues and we were right. They kept coming up asking stupid questions and wanting to know everything, despite having been sent loads of prep info. The children were fine though.
In a way I was sorry to leave at 11.30 as I had just got into it and to know the people, however, wouldn't have got any sleep if I had and besides I am staying on the next one. I was lucky enough to get a paid for taxi home all to myself as no one else lives near me. I was very excited about the taxi home and made sure I stayed awake throughout to relish the moment. It only took half an hour - I wish it did during my commute.
The next science night is a Brownie and Guide one and I am very excited about it. According to the guy usher in my team, the Guiding and Scouting groups are always the best behaved. I am thinking of wearing my Promise badge on the night to indicate to the leaders that I understand Guiding, however, this depends on me being able to find m badge tab!