attending Discovery- Theater could schedule a docent-led tour 

 of the exhibition to learn more about the significance of the 

 ceremonial adznkra cloth and the depth of meaning 

 symbolized in its rich iconography. This project was 

 supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Educational 

 Outreach Fund. Youngsters come to Discovery Theater with 

 school and youth groups and on Saturday outings with their 

 families. Ticket prices are kept low to give everyone a chance 

 to attend. Presentations are geared to specific age groups, 

 while themes reflect the interests of diverse audiences. A free 

 learning guide for each production helps teachers prepare 

 children for the experience. The productions are often interactive, 

 opening avenues of self-reflection and offering enjoyable ways for 

 parents and teachers to demonstrate life's lessons. 



Vital Volunteers 



They are rhe Smithsonian's most active ongoing 

 partnership: the nearly 8,000 men and women who 

 contributed their time this year to the Institution's mission of 

 education and public service. Volunteers are a familiar 

 presence as they invite a child to climb on the highwheeler in 

 rhe Hands On History Room at the National Museum of 



American History, staff the Smithsonian's public inquiry 

 telephone lines, or assist with Smithsonian Associate 

 programs. More than 1,000 volunteers serve as docents; every 

 museum, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 

 and the Smithsonian Institution Building all have docent 

 programs. The Visitor Information and Associates' Reception 

 Center (VIARC) manages two Institution-wide programs in 

 which 2,068 participants contributed 275,989 hours this year. 

 In VIARC's Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program, 

 volunteers support everyday activities in offices, conservation 

 labs, libraries, and elsewhere. The Volunteer Information 

 Specialist Program staffs information desks in most 

 Smithsonian buildings. This year, 470 volunteers turned out 

 to help the Festival of American Folklife run smoothly. On 

 the "America's Smithsonian" tour, more than 2,100 volunteers 

 helped their communities enjoy treasures from Smithsonian 

 collections. Through Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), 

 the Smithsonian Women's Committee, and Young 

 Benefactors, more than 1,600 volunteers helped generate 

 financial support for the Institution. 



"Without question, volunteers are one of the Institution's 

 richest and most enduring assets," says Secretary I. Michael 

 Heyman. They will be "instrumental in securing the viability 

 of the Smithsonian into the next century and beyond." 



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