submitted by Flint Hills Discovery Center, written by Deanna Likes
MANHATTAN - The Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) has hired Kristen Hoffman as the Volunteer Coordinator. In this position, Hoffman is responsible for the ongoing recruitment, training, and management of FHDC volunteers and the volunteer program.
"I am thrilled to welcome Kristen Hoffman to our team as our new Volunteer Coordinator", says Sally Dreher, Curator of Education. "Her passion for community engagement, volunteer experience, and vast knowledge of the Flint Hills will undoubtedly enhance our volunteer program’s impact, enabling us to better serve our community even more effectively."
Volunteer training incorporates information about the Discovery Center, including permanent and temporary exhibits, educational programs, and events; the Flint Hills ecological region; and local sites of interest like the Konza Prairie. Volunteers also have the benefit of meeting guests from the area and around the world.Volunteers assist in all aspects of the FHDC including serving as greeters, interpreters, tour guides, exhibit installers, animal care specialists, and gift shop assistants. Volunteers work during normal open hours as well as for special events and education programs throughout the year.
"I'm excited to step into this role with the Flint Hills Discovery Center as the Volunteer Coordinator," says Hoffman, "as it merges two passions of mine together - the love of the Flint Hills eco-region, and the ability to work with like-minded individuals who also share a passion for the education and preservation of our unique area."
Having grown up on the edge of the Flint Hills in Marion County, KS, and then moving around the country, Hoffman finds herself back home landing in Manhattan with her partner, their two cats, and dog. Previously, she has coordinated volunteers for childcare in disaster relief, supervised donations for refugees and asylees, and has also worked in a nursery with plants. Hoffman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Peace Studies from Manchester University in Indiana.