Docent Program

Become a Docent for the Petaluma Public Wetlands

The Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA) provides training each winter for community members who are interested in becoming city-appointed docent volunteers for the Petaluma Public Wetlands. Here are some of the activities performed by our docents:

Great Horned Owl

  • encourage public visitation to the wetlands by leading tours for rhe public at Shollenberger Park, Alman Marsh, and the Ellis Creek Wildlife Sanctuary 
  • educate the public about the value, ecology, history, and beauty of the wetlands
  • visit elementary school classrooms and lead school tours at Shollenberger Park, using hands-on, science-based activities about a wetlands
  • operate docent and volunteer-work programs
  • help generate funds for the docent program through grants and public contributions
  • work with the city on wetland management issues
  • solicit organizations or groups to help with various wetland-related activities

Docent training is eight consecutive Thursday mornings, 8:30 a.m. to Noon, January thru February. Training takes place in Petaluma at the Lucchesi Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd. and/or Shollenberger Park, 1900 S. McDowell Blvd.

The course consists of lectures on wetlands, ecology, plants, birds, other wetlands’ animals, and hands-on techniques used with school groups.

Docents with Group of KidsDocents are asked to make a two-year, 20-hours-per-year commitment as a docent.  Contacts for further information:  Docent Bob 763-2934, nrdyer@comcast.net; Education Chair 789-0282, phbheal@sonic.net; Chairman Gerald 763-3577, glmemoore@comcast.net. Use the button below to send an online application. Normally those accepted into the program would need to pay $40 to help offset the cost of a docent manual.  However, this year in 2013 (because of the bad economy), we have lowered the course cost to $20.

Docent Application Form

* all fields are required

First Name*:

Last Name*:

Address*:

City*:

Your Email*

Please list any work experience, educational degrees, coursework, or personal skills which may be relevant to your work as a docent (attach additional sheet if necessary).*

"I affirm that all the information above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. If accepted as a docent trainee, I understand and agree to a two-year commitment to the Petaluma Wetlands Docent Program. I agree to give at least 20 voluntary hours per year. I am available to attend the training classes and to provide services during the week. If I am not available during weekdays, I agree to help lead up to four community walks each year for two years." *

Please enter the characters in the field below exactly as they appear. Do not add any spaces between characters

captcha

If you did not receive a confirmation after clicking "Send" make sure you checked the box by the affirmation statement above.

Comments are closed.