DOCENT PROGRAM

Who can apply to the docent program?
Anyone interested is encouraged to apply. An ideal docent is a person with a passion for nature and education who enjoys having conversations with people from all walks of life. Prior teaching experience and knowledge of California's unique biogeography is helpful but not required.

Kiosk Docent 

Kiosk docents greet visitors as they enter the Preserve, offering them maps and suggestions on things to see, and, should the visitors ask, giving them further information on the trails and venues, as well as TWC's mission and preserve system. Hours are flexible, but it’s very helpful to have a docent at the kiosk while staff is taking their lunch breaks, usually sometime between 11 am and 2 pm.

Botanic Garden Tour Docent 

Botanic garden docents lead walks through the Preserve’s trails to instruct visitors on local flora and fauna. They guide groups of 5 to 20 people around the Preserve, mainly in the garden venues (Hummingbird Hill, Ruth’s Butterfly Garden, Falling Waters, Artist’s Palette).

Garden Docent 

Garden docents help with gardening tasks, particularly in the main botanic garden venues in the upper trails, helping to maintain the native plants and wildflowers and control the spread of weeds in the planters. This can be done in combination with any of the other docent tasks - for example, one could work an hour in the garden on the weekend, then work an hour at the kiosk. 

While working in the garden venues, docents also greet visitors and answer questions.

Education Docent 

Education docents primarily work with the preserve’s outdoor education department.  These volunteers will provide support for public programs, school field trips, and/or design their very own interpretive programs for the public. (Note: since they may be working with children, docents are required to pass the Live Scan background check.)  

Trail Docent

Trail docents help monitor visitor trail use during open hours. They may be assigned to a particular heavy-use area (e.g., near the Old Coot Station, Floating Dock) during periods of high visitation (e.g., Apple Season), or they may walk the entire loop, monitoring visitor behavior and answering questions. In addition, trail docents may help with ushering visitors off trails at closing time.

Community Science Docent 

Community science docents will gain valuable experience in conservation and data collection. The Oak Glen Preserve and nearby TWC properties have a number of conservation efforts in progress; for teen docents this is an opportunity to pursue or explore passions in science and data collection.