NEW! 2009 Docent Training Opportunities
Something truly special happens when you share yourself with others...
For over 30 years, the East Bay Regional Park District has provided opportunities for members of the public to do just that--share their love of nature or their passion for history by becoming docents.
Remember the first time you positively identified a red-tailed hawk? Or how excited you were when you first saw a butterfly chrysalis? These are life changing moments for many of us. If you become a docent, you could be the one to share these moments with other park visitors!
If you have a passion for learning and sharing, a love for nature or history, and and would like to share your passion with like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for encouraging stewardship in the parks, then you will find a visitor center that can help you become an East Bay Regional Park District docent. New docent training programs will be offered this winter at most of the visitor centers, so call a Visitor Center today and find out how you can get involved.
- Download the Docent Volunteer Brochure
- Docent Training Programs
- To Apply for a Docent Training Program
Docent Training Programs
After completing training classes, docents work alongside naturalists to provide hands-on learning opportunities to students, and assist with special events. Minimum requirements are that docents must attend the training sessions and agree to volunteer a minimum number of hours per month, which varies by interpretive center. A $35 fee covers classroom instruction and supplies.
| Location | Program Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont |
Assist with farm and field chores, educational programs, and historic demonstrations. Cook on a wood stove, teach historic crafts such as spinning, weaving, and toy making or tend the Victorian herb garden. Please check out some of our Photos!  |
Call (510) 796-0199 or cgarcia@ebparks.org |
| Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Antioch |
Help with special events, educational programs, bluebird box monitoring, and sand- and coal mining-era artifact cataloging. | Call (925) 757-2620 or mmoran@ebparks.org |
| Botanic Garden, Tilden Regional Park |
Help propagate and maintain potted California native plants for sale to the public. Help maintain the garden by weeding, raking and nursery work. Lead tours of the Garden for weekend visitors and special groups. | Call (510) 841-8732 or Volunteers@ebparks.org |
| Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont | Help build and maintain native replica structures and objects for educational programs; assist in bird surveys, tree plantings and habitat restoration. Please check out some of our Photos! |
Call (510) 544-3216 or bortiz@ebparks.org |
| Crab Cove, Alameda |
Learn to share your love of the outdoors with children and families and assist our naturalist staff with programs. Beautiful San Francisco Bay, its ecology, and the area's rich cultural history is our primary focus. Please check out some of our Photos! |
Call (510) 521-6887 or |
| Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks, Fremont |
Weed, fertilize, and prune in the antique-variety apple orchard; help with gardening tasks at the Meyers Estate historical garden. | Call (510) 544-2515 or Volunteers@ebparks.org |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland |
Habitat restoration work, non-native plant removal, picnic table refurbishing, and shoreline cleanup. | Call (510) 544-2515 or Volunteers@ebparks.org |
| Redwood Regional Park, Oakland |
French broom removal. Meet on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Redwood's Skyline Gate parking lot on Skyline Blvd. in Oakland. Riparian Restoration Volunteer Project: on the second Sunday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. |
Call (510) 482-6024 for information |
| Sunol Regional Wilderness, Sunol |
Assist with educational programs, resource management, planting trees, trail rehabilitation, and management of the native grass nursery. | Call Katie Colbert at (925) 862-2604 or e-mail her at Kcolbert@ebparks.org |
| Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley |
Help with activities at the Little Farm and handle small animals in the farm classroom. Assist naturalists with tours of the Native Butterfly Garden, Kid's Garden. Other docent activities include pond studies and conversations about the exhibits at the Environmental Education Center. | Call (510) 525-2233 or e-mail Linda Yemoto at LYemoto@ebparks.org |
To Apply for a Docent Training Program
To apply for a docent training program, do one of the followings:
- Download and fill out a docent interest card and mail the card to the Visitor Center of your choice along with your name, address and daytime phone number. For the mailing addresses of our visitor centers, visit the Visitor Centers page.
- Fill out the online Docent Interest Form.
- Call the visitor center where you would like to volunteer. For the phone numbers of our visitor centers, visit the Visitor Centers page.
A docent coordinator will contact you with more information about becoming an East Bay Regional Park District docent volunteer upon receipt of your interest card.