California Science Center Week 1

Hi everyone!

This week started a little late for me due to some clearance issues, but my first two days at the California Science Center were quite an experience to say the least, but I mean that in the best way.

I started the week by meeting my supervisor, and she spent the morning giving me a tour, as well as briefing me shortly on the expectations the science center has for the staff. Later, she wrote me into the day's schedule, giving me plenty of time to explore the museum on my own. I spent a lot of time in the World of Biology because I loved how interactive it all was. After that, I spent my last two hours of the day going to different stations to shadow the staff and learn how to present to visitors. Because I am staff, I'm not allowed to have my phone out in front of visitors, but below is a quick picture I snapped of the Life Tunnel in the World of Biology.

My second day was a whirlwind of information. I spent a lot of my day at new stations, learning how to set up activities for visitors to interact with. There was also a lot of learning how to set up and put away all these stations, and I got a lot of tips from the staff who I shadowed on how to best work these stations which was extremely helpful. After that, I had a meeting with my supervisor, and she explained what my role as a Young Ambassador would be at the science center. She described what my main task would be, which is to collect and organize survey data from the center's summer camp, and she said she would try to connect me with their Communications Department to see if I could help them with anything because that is what I'm going to be majoring in. It was a very informational week, but I enjoyed myself and I'm excited for what more is to come.

Something I am finding truly interesting is how many new things about science I am learning. Throughout school, I always did great in my science classes, but it was never something that intrigued me. However, as I have gone through all these new stations, I have learned so much about wildlife, marine life, the life of cells, and so much more. I only remembered the very surface of all of these subjects from school, but being able to work at a place of learning such as this one makes it easy to be educated on things I didn't know before. I am by nature a very curious person, so I love that I get to explore this while also helping others do the same. 

I'm finding that Washington Week really helped me be able to adapt to such a fast paced work environment, and that those skills are proving to be important in a place like this. There is always something that has to be done, and the staff is always moving, so I'm glad I got to experience something similar while in D.C. It may sound odd, but I'm looking forward to having such a fast paced schedule once again. 

As for some small last minute things I want to share: there is a lady who sells hot dogs and chips outside of the science center, and she gives the teen staff discounts on their food, there is an IMAX theater where the staff is scheduled to watch movies every once in a while, the layout of the science center is really confusing but I'm learning how to get around, and I have finally figured out the bus system to get to and from my internship. My overall impression of my first couple of days was that I'm going to be busy trying to settle myself into this routine, but I know it won't be anything I can't handle. 

Until next time my friends,

Emely