Docent Council

WHAT WE DO
We're the museum's 400 docents—guides in the Art, History and Natural Sciences galleries who help visitors of all ages enjoy and appreciate California's natural wonders and cultural riches. We've seen the excitement in a fourth-grader's eyes when California's Gold Rush comes alive in a panoramic painting of early San Francisco, or when the class searches for gold in the History Gallery. We can feel visitors' growing concern about the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse when they spy this shy creature in the Natural Sciences Gallery. You can, too.

WILL YOU FIT IN?
Yes! No experience is necessary—just enthusiasm for learning what California offers and eagerness to share that enthusiasm. Some docents are former teachers, artists, historians or biologists. All are people who like being with people and talking about things that matter.

HOW YOU BEGIN
You spend your first year learning about your chosen field and training in techniques for working with school or adult groups in the galleries. (There is a fee for this.) When you've graduated, you are ready to help our visitors make their own discoveries about California's art, history and natural environment. The enrichment continues as long as you're a docent. We offer continuing training, speakers, and gallery talks with professionals and field trips throughout the year.

YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS
Along with your regular gallery assignment, you may choose to tour visitors in our special exhibitions. Subjects range from Surrealist art to Hot Rods, from Pomo Indian baskets to global warming. We also offer museum-wide tours for school children on Indian life or the Gold Rush, a tea time tour for seniors and tours for the Deaf.

YOUR COMMITMENT
When you finish your training, you will be asked to give regularly scheduled tours twice a month in the gallery of Art History or Natural Sciences for a minimum of two years. (Warning: many museum docents find it impossible to quit—in fact, a number have completed 30 years of touring.) After your first year, you also will be eligible to lead tours for the special exhibitions in your field.

YOUR REWARD
It's the excitement that comes with learning from top professionals in your chosen field. It's the opportunity to make new friends with people who have similar interests. It's being part of a great institution. Most of all, it's helping to ignite a spark in a young person's imagination, or the pleasure of leading visitors toward making discoveries that bring new insights about life in our great state.

If you would like information about the next docent training, please call (510) 238-3514. New opportunties currently being offered.