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Coal Chute by Lisa Lapin

 

If you ...

  • have flexible time,
  • love the natural world,
  • are comfortable working with different kinds of people, and
  • are willing to commit to rigorous training and to ongoing service at the Reserve

... then consider applying to be a Point Lobos Docent!

 
Docent Voices

 

What Docents Do

Docents serve as visible representatives of California State Parks at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

  • We interpret the Reserve's natural and cultural history to visitors – its wildlife, bird and plant life, geology and social history. We invite participation and help visitors make discoveries of the natural and historical features of Point Lobos.
  • We interpret exhibits at the Whalers Cabin Museum.
  • We staff the Information Station, interpret the exhibits and handle merchandise sales to the public.
  • We inform and educate visitors about the requirements of a reserve versus a park.  We provide information about the rules & regulations of a reserve and encourage visitors to follow them.

We participate electively in some or all the following:

  • Setting up spotting scopes
  • Monitoring trails
  • Conducting guided public and/or school walks
  • Greeting walk-in visitors at the entrance gate
  • Setting up mobile interpretation (MINT) exhibits in the Reserve
  • Setting up and staffing Easy Access experiences to enable mobility-challenged visitors enjoy the Reserve

Maria Obiols by Don Blohowiak

What Makes a Successful Docent?

Docents must be able to:

  • Interact effectively and courteously in various situations with people of all ages, cultures and interests—both visitors and colleagues
  • Be comfortable with special groups and crowds, including large school groups, tour groups, and visitors with special needs
  • Utilize electronic communication including navigating websites, sending and receiving email, opening attachments and making use of interpretive apps e.g. Slack, Seek, Merlin
  • Remain calm and follow the Reserve’s emergency procedures
  • Staff both the Information Station and Whalers Cabin Museum for 2-hour shifts
  • Tolerate a wide variety of weather conditions
  • Navigate uneven, often rocky trails that may contain unstable surfaces
  • Receive questions from visitors and respond in an understandable manner

Our Docents have:

  • An abiding interest in the natural world, its conservation and stewardship
  • Willingness to say, “I don’t know,” instead of giving inaccurate information
  • The curiosity of a lifetime learner, a thirst for increased knowledge and interpretive skills and the confidence to share them with the public and fellow volunteers
  • Good communication skills and enthusiasm for the Reserve.  Bi-lingual communication skills are a welcome asset but not required
  • Willingness to commit time and energy to initial training, ongoing education, required shifts and other docent responsibilities
Training Requirements

Trainee Docents commit to a detailed and rigorous five month-long training program January through May.  There is only one intake and one training program per year. All applicants need to make several commitments to qualify as a volunteer docent: 

  • Participate in five full-day, formal training sessions at the Reserve on one Saturday a month (Approximately 35 hours). Specific dates are published during the application process. Docents-in-training must attend all five of these critical sessions. The dates cannot be missed.
  • Undertake self-study (reading, walking trails, joining training walks) (minimum 35 hours)
  • Shadow experienced docents (minimum 25 hours)(opens in a new tab)
  • Attend regular monthly docent meetings (3 of 5 during the training period). (Minimum 9 hours)
  • Complete ongoing training requirements as set forth by the Docent Leadership team. (Potentially 20 hours)
  • Participate in regular monthly meetings with mentor during training (22 hours)
  • Sign a State of California Volunteers in Parks Program (VIPP) Service Agreement and undergo fingerprinting and a background check.

Total Training Commitment 130-150 Hours

Ongoing Service

Following graduation, Docents commit to a minimum of 8 hours of public-facing at the Reserve per month – this includes doing one two-hour shift at the Information Station, and one two-hour shift at the Whalers Cabin Museum, as well as four hours of other public-facing activities (Trail Watch, Scoping, Gate Greet Guide, Public/School Walks, Easy Access, Other).

Docents are also required to attend 8 of the 10 monthly docent meetings per year on the first Saturday of the month in support of continuing education.  These meetings cover what’s going on in the Reserve, with presentations by Docents and outside speakers on topics related to the natural world and its conservation.

Duration of Minimum Commitment:  Following graduation, Docents are expected to serve for at least one year.

To Apply or for More Information...

To learn more, please join us at the Reserve for a “Docent For the Day” experience. (Required before applying.) You will walk the Reserve trails with an experienced Docent who can answer your questions about the docent program. 

Please note that our next docent training activities begin in the summer of 2026 (to graduate as a docent in May of 2027). However, you can start volunteering much sooner!  Please consider serving as a Gate Guide or a School Walk Guide ahead of applying to serve as a Point Lobos Docent.  We have immediate availability for these engaging public-contact positions, and you can largely train for these roles on your own self-paced schedule. 

To receive more information, please send an email to volunteers@plsnr.org.