

Working at The Children’s Museum and Roaring Brook Nature Center is a fun way to get involved in your community, meet interesting people (and animals), and help children discover and learn new things about science and nature! Click here to get your application!
ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM GROUP
Founded in 1927, The Children’s Museum Group (TCMG) is located in West Hartford, Connecticut and includes The Children’s Museum, The Children’s Museum Preschool, and Roaring Brook Nature Center. TCMG serves as a pioneering nonprofit institution dedicated to inspiring lifelong, experiential learning and innovation for children, adults, and communities that support them. Listed as the nation’s fifth oldest children’s museum, its mission is to foster creative thinking and ongoing education through hands-on science and nature experiences. TCMG offers interactive demonstrations, workshops, exhibits, the wildlife sanctuary, and special events, engaging participants in stimulating, multi-sensory learning.
Roaring Brook Nature Center, located in nearby Canton, was integrated into TCMG since 1973 and now enriches the visitor’s experience through animal and environmental exhibits, nature programs, and outdoor activities. Situated on 165 acres adjacent to a state wildlife refuge, Roaring Brook Nature Center serves as an outdoor classroom, featuring trails, gardens, and wildlife habitats. TCMG Preschool, incorporated into the West Hartford campus, uniquely combines science experiences into early childhood education. Educational initiatives extend to schools statewide, providing innovative inquiry-based science learning techniques and teacher training programs.
After 65 years in West Hartford Center, TCMG moved to its temporary location at Emanuel Synagogue, where it remains a vital community asset, fostering curiosity, confidence, and innovation in participants. This commitment to education extends well beyond the museum walls, exemplified by its mobile programs that bring interactive science and nature programming, including live animals, to schools and communities across Connecticut.
Posted 01/28/2025
Visitor Services Associate – Part-time
As a customer support team member, you will have the opportunity to welcome and educate children and their caregivers through exploratory opportunities. You will admit our guests and guide diverse learners through exhibit exploration and engaging experiences. As a friendly and supportive Customer Service representative, you provide the first contact with our guests both in person and by phone. As a dynamic and energetic facilitator, you will make each child and family experience one that is informative, rewarding, and fun.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Facilitate the process of admitting children and their caregivers into the museum and successfully address customer service needs as they arise.
- Process admission, membership, and gift shop merchandise sales into a computer-based ticketing system, Blackbaud Altru. Accurately handle cash and credit card transactions and maintain cash controls in the registers.
- Proactively identify opportunities for membership, program registration, and event ticketing, in-person, by phone, and through electronic communications.
- Facilitate hands-on learning, for families and children, in the Museum’s exhibits and programming spaces.
- Prepare and maintain exhibit manipulatives and materials for museum exploration and program delivery.
- Assist in disinfecting, cleaning, and maintaining general public and exhibit spaces.
- Other duties as needed to provide administrative and program preparation support for multiple departments.
Qualifications:
- Previous experience with young children (ages 3-12) in either formal education settings, informal education settings, museums, childcare, or recreational settings.
- Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt to the use of new technology and programs.
- Must possess the ability to present a consistent friendly and courteous demeanor with guests.
- Ability to be flexible and assimilate feedback from colleagues and participants.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully work independently as well as collaborating with others.
- Background checks must demonstrate that employees are appropriately qualified to engage with children and families in a public setting.
- Programs require the movement and transportation of equipment and supplies. Must be physically able to safely bend, stretch and lift up to 30lbs. Working within children’s exhibits often requires the need to work while sitting on the floor or bending to floor level.
- Holiday and school vacation periods are generally our busiest time for family visitation to the museum. The ability to maintain shifts during these periods is required.
Additional Preferred Experience:
- Visual or performing arts experience is helpful.
- Customer service and cash handling experience.
- Experience with CRM and POS systems is helpful.
- Early Childhood Education experience is helpful. Preference is given to those individuals who are successfully listed with cleared background checks in the OEC Registry with the State of CT and are willing to occasionally assist in our preschool classrooms on occasion.
- Experience working with a diverse group of learners, including children who have special needs.
Availability: Must be available for the following shifts on a regular weekly basis.
- Wednesday 9 am-4 pm, Thursday 9 am-4 pm, and Sunday 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Rate of Pay: $16.35/hour
Worksite location: The Children’s Museum, 180 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford CT 06117
Position is Part-time at 19-24 hours per week and is non-exempt.
To Apply:
- Stop by in person to complete an application, Wednesday–Friday from 10 am–4 pm or Sunday from 10 am–4 pm at The Children’s Museum, 180 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117.
- Or, Send your resume and cover letter for consideration to:
Email: HR@thechildrensmuseumct.org
Mail:
Human Resources Coordinator
The Children’s Museum
180 Mohegan Drive
West Hartford, CT 06117
(No phone calls please)
Posted 01/06/2025
Preschool/Pre-K Assistant Teachers – Part-time and Full-time opportunities available
We are hiring qualified Preschool/Pre-K assistant teachers to support the Lead Teachers in the classroom. All Preschool staff must have great love and patience for children. Qualifications needed to teach them effectively include knowledge of best practices and preschool educational methods as well as the ability to engage them and earn their trust and attention. The goal is to contribute to the healthy mental and emotional development of the child so they can more easily acclimate to the next level of education.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Deliver engaging and creative activities suitable for preschool children.
- Employ a variety of educational techniques (storytelling, educational play, media, etc.) to teach children.
- Observe each child and help them improve their social competencies and build self-esteem.
- Encourage children to interact with each other and resolve occasional arguments.
- Guide children to develop their artistic and practical capabilities through a carefully constructed curriculum (identify shapes, numbers, or colors, do crafts, etc.).
- Organize nap and snack hours and supervise children to ensure they are safe at all times.
- Track children’s progress and report to lead teachers.
- Communicate with parents regularly to understand the children’s background and psyche.
- Collaborate with other educators.
- Maintain a clean and tidy classroom consistent with health and safety standards.
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in a childcare setting.
- Basic Understanding of the principles of child development and preschool educational methods.
- Familiarity with safety and sanitation guidelines for classrooms.
- Excellent communication and instructional skills.
- Ability to act as a mediator between children.
- Cool-tempered, friendly, and reliable.
- A balance between a creative mind and a practical acumen.
- Certification in child CPR and first aid is preferred prior to hire. New hires, without current certification, will be considered and will be required to obtain certification with-in three months of hire.
Qualifications:
- Associate (Preferred)
- Teaching: 1 year (Preferred)
- Experience in Early childhood education: 1 year (Preferred)
- First Aid Certification (Preferred)
Compensation and Benefits: Pay ranges from $16.35 to $17/hour. Entry wage will be determined by candidates level of education and qualifications as outlined in the CT Office of Early Childhood experience levels. The Children’s Museum Group also participates in the MyCTSavings retirement savings program, along with other benefits that are equitably available to all employees, including paid sick time. Full-time employees receive additional benefits, which include paid PTO, holidays, as well as health and life insurance.
Job Type and Schedule: Part-Time or Full–Time and is Non-Exempt; The Museum Preschool is open Monday to Friday 8 am-5 pm. Part-time shifts range from 12-30 hours per week, Full-time shifts are 40 hours per week.
Location: The Children’s Museum Preschool, 180 Mohegan Drive West Hartford CT 06117
This position directly reports to the Preschool Director.
Interested candidates should send all of the following materials for consideration:
Resume, cover letter, and three references:
Email: jbostrom@thechildrensmuseumct.org
Mail:
Human Resources Coordinator
The Children’s Museum
180 Mohegan Drive
West Hartford, CT 06117
In-person: Mon-Fri 9:30 am-4 pm at The Children’s Museum Preschool, 180 Mohegan Drive West Hartford CT 06117.
(No phone calls please)