Education Program
Become a Docent
We invite you to join us!
Docent training for the Learning Laguna program is offered once a year from March through May. We are currently accepting applications for the 2009 training. Please view the application for Docent Training 2009.
Laguna Docents...
lead school groups in the Learning Laguna program as well as leading community groups on field trips and hikes in the Laguna, throughout the year. Our docents work with school districts in Sonoma County to bring 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students into the Laguna to learn about the wonders of this wetlands treasure in our own backyard.
Orientation Events
Plan to join us for one of the Orientation sessions where we will introduce you to the Laguna, the Foundation and you'll have fun participating in some of the dynamic education activities docents present in the classroom. Plus, you will meet some current docents and have opportunities to ask your own questions.
Tuesday, February 10 from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Sebastopol Library
OR
Monday, February 23 from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Central Santa Rosa Library
EXPERT TRAINING Program
Experts in biology, hydrology, natural history and environmental education train docents in 10 lively sessions held on Mondays beginning March 9 and running through May 18, with a spring break on Monday, April 13. The classes are held at the City of Santa Rosa's wastewater treatment plant classroom on Llano Road. Each meeting includes a lecture and a fieldtrip and runs from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. Docents receive a binder with reading and reference material. There is $145 fee to cover the cost of the materials. Payments can be arranged and partial scholarships are available.
After training, docents are asked to make a two-year, minimum 40 hour per year volunteer commitment to the Laguna Foundation. During that time, docents are expected to participate in elementary school classroom and fieldtrips each school season, Fall and Spring. Because the program is focused around the classroom, and school year, it requires that docents be able to schedule during school hours (8-3), Tuesday through Friday. Some docents are interested specifically in leading community hikes , and in alternating years, additional training is provided for those docents. Other volunteer opportunities are also available.
For further information about the docent program, please contact Christine Fontaine, Director of Education Programs, at 527-9277 x102 or email christine@lagunafoundation.org. If you would like to receive the Docent Brochure and the training application via US mail, please email the Education Program Director with your name and address. Be sure to put "Docent Information Request" in the subject line. Once the application is fully completed, please mail to:
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, Attn: Christine Fontaine
PO Box 7886
Santa Rosa, CA 95407-7886