Jitters

Photo credit: Dennis Owenby
  Yesterday was the first day of my internship at the Vance birthplace in Weaverville, NC. I worked one day this week and was very nervous. I've never done anything like this before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but everyone was very kind to me and that put me at ease. There are three full time staff members, Kimberly Floyd who is the site manager, Lauren May who is the assistant site manager, and Dennis Owenby who maintains the ground and does light interpreter duties. I have also been told that there is a part time employee named Timothy. I'm sure I will meet him at some point.

       I spent my time following Lauren around. I learned how the office works, how the cash register in the gift shop works, and how to greet people as they enter the visitor's center. In the morning I went on a small guided tour with a woman and her three small children. In the afternoon we had a summer day camp visit. There were 43 children ranging in age from 5 - 12. Because there were so many children they had to be divided into two groups. Dennis took one group into the classroom and did a hands on lecture called "History Mysteries" which is about some of the artifacts that would have been found on a farm in the 1800s, while Lauren and I took the other group on a guided tour of the site, then about an hour later we switched groups. Following the tours the children made a button spinner to take home with them. Overall, it turned out to be a good day and my jitters were unfounded!
Location: Leicester, NC 28748, USA

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