Tour and Information Session: Aviation Museum
By: Emily McMaster, GSA Operations and Communications Director
Our GSAs participated in a tour of the Aviation Museum of NH in Londonderry this week. This tour was both an educational experience for guest referrals, as well as an opportunity to learn more about volunteering there as a GSA center.
We were greeted by Jeff Rapsis, Executive Director of the museum, Debbora Losch, Education Director of the museum, and Chuck, a volunteer docent. Debbora provided a comprehensive overview of the variety of volunteer opportunities they have to offer. The museum has worked hard to increase their educational programs, including an inaugural summer camp this year. The museum works closely with guidance counselors, schools, and parents in order to educate students about the aviation industry.
Debbora gave us a brief tour of the entryway into the museum, which is the 1937 terminal of the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. The terminal was moved into the current location right next to the airport. The parking lot is a great spot to view planes landing and taking off.
Chuck gave us a detailed tour throughout the rest of the museum. He explained different exhibits, which change periodically. He showed us the Wall of Planes, the old planes located throughout the museum, and he gave us the history behind each exhibit. He also demonstrated the flight simulator in the library, which was very interesting to watch. Volunteers walked away with an even greater knowledge and appreciation of aviation history in the state of NH, ready to recommend this fabulous museum to guests of NH. Some volunteers will be returning to volunteer at the museum as a GSA Center!
Volunteer opportunities for GSAs include helping out at the front desk – welcoming guests and handling admission, assisting with educational activities at the museum, serving as a docent and offering tours (after significant tour training), special events, and more. GSAs should sign up through the Aviation Museum at this time, in order to set up your three sessions of mentoring. You will sign in and out of your shifts using the GSA tick sheets located at the museum. Interested in volunteering? Contact Debbora Losch at dlosch@nhahs.org. Please let me know (emily@nhgsa.com) if you have any GSA-related questions!
