Education
Docent Training
2010 Docent Training Schedule
| Tracks | Native Plants of Texas | Ecology & Conservation | Wildflower Center / Tours | Native Plant Horticulture | Interpreting the Center | |
| Week | Date | 9:30-10:30 | 10:30-11:30 | 12:30-1:30 | 1:30-2:30 | 2:30-3:30 |
| One | 1/21/2010 | Orientation | Orientation | Orientation | Orientation | |
| Two | 1/28/2010 | Botanical History | Sustainable Sites Initiative | Interpretation Basics | Horticulture Overview | Reaching Your Audience Pt. 1 |
| Three | 2/4/2010 | What's In a Name? | Restoration Philosophy & Basics | Teacher Training | Texas All Stars | Early Release |
| Four | 2/11/2010 | Parts Is Parts | Plant Conservation Basics | Landscape Management | Nursery/Rain water Harvesting | Interpretation Practical: The Visitors Gallery |
| Five | 2/18/2010 | Tools of the Trade | MSB Project Overview | Interpreting to the Little Ones | Giving a Great Tour | Leading Girl Scout Tours |
| Six | 2/25/2010 | Field Identification | Hill Country Ecology | Garden Tour | Top 10 Locations Tour | Membership/ The Store |
| Seven | 3/4/2010 | Field I.D. / Invaders Program | The Visitors Gallery | Garden Tour | Wildflower Folklore | Garden Practicum |
| Eight | 3/11/2010 | Field Identification | Speakers Bureau/ Phase II Prep | Tour Practical | Tour Practical | Tour Practical |
What is a docent?
Our docents are trained volunteers whose primary responsibility is to interpret the Wildflower Center for our visitors. They guide tours, give talks, serve in our Visitors’ Gallery, and answer questions throughout our grounds and gardens. Docents are the ambassadors of the Wildflower Center mission.
What does docent training involve?
Docent training is a three-part learning program that combines eight weeks (48 hours) of classroom and field study with 26 hours of practical experience. Graduated docents will continue to increase their knowledge through Phase III - Enrichments, which continue as long as the docent remains active.
Part I: Classroom and Field Study
Part I of the training program starts on Thursday, January 21, 2010. Classes will take place every Thursday from 9:00 am– 3:30 pm through Thursday, March 11, 2010.Part II: Experiential Learning
Part II of the training is the experiential learning component, which gives you the opportunity to apply your new skills in “real life” settings (Visitor’s Gallery, adult and family tours, special events – on and off site, etc.) and to work along side our experienced docents. The program allows you to “shadow” our current docents as they perform their duties and later to be “shadowed” by our current docents who will provide support to you. In the end, you’ll be well trained and ready to fly solo! The Volunteer Services Director will assist you in scheduling these sessions, which will require approx. 26 hours for completion. Phase II will take place in a flexible format during the week and/or on the weekend around your schedule. Part II of the training begins the week of Monday, March 15, 2010.
Part III: Enrichment
Docent enrichments are scheduled throughout the year, usually once a month, to give volunteers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world around them. Enrichments are typically lectures, nature walks, and talks on specialized topics given by our staff and visiting guests. Docents are strongly encouraged to participate in a minimum of three enrichments per year.
Those who have completed Part I and Part II of training will be certified as docents during a graduation celebration held in late May 2010.
Who is a good candidate for docent training? Anyone with an interest in the natural world and a desire to represent the Wildflower Center is encouraged to take docent training. In fact, we encourage you to invite like-minded friends to take docent training with you! It’s a lot of fun and a great way to spend time with people who enjoy being a part of the Wildflower Center’s programs. There is no expectation that you have previous experience in natural science or education. All you need is a healthy curiosity and a willingness to learn.
What will I learn in docent training? Core components of the classroom and field lectures include: Mrs. Johnson’s Legacy – The Center’s history and mission, Natural History of the Central Texas Hill Country, Botany, Plant Taxonomy and Environmental Science, Restoration Ecology and Plant Conservation, Native Plant Horticulture, Landscaping, and Gardening.
Core components of the experiential component include: Interpretive techniques for orienting visitors to the Center Teaching and learning techniques for families Resource skills for assisting visitors in the Gallery Presentation skills for representing the Center
What is expected of docents following graduation?
Your continued involvement following training is vitally important to the Center’s docent program. To remain in good standing, graduates are required to volunteer three hours per month (or 9 hours every quarter) in a docent position* and attend three Docent Enrichments per year. Docent Enrichments are programs designed by our education staff to give you an opportunity to further your study of the natural world.
* Docent positions include: working in the Visitor’s Gallery, guiding tours for adults and families, assisting with educational programming, participating in special events and festivals, and representing the Center at external functions. Many of our docents volunteer in other departments at the Center in addition to their docent requirements.
What is the cost of training?
To cover the cost of speakers and materials, docent training is $65. for members and $100. for non-members. The non-member’s fee includes a one-year individual membership to the Center.
What if I’m interested in the classes offered to docents but don’t want to serve as a docent?
This program is designed solely for the purpose of preparing volunteers to represent the Center in a docent capacity. If you’re not interested in volunteering as a docent or don’t feel you can complete the entire training, please consider other educational opportunities offered by the Center. For a list of classes, seminars, and programs, please visit our website at www.wildflower.org or stop by and pick up one of our monthly calendars.
How do I sign up for docent training? Please download an application mail it with your fee ($65. for members/ $100. for non-members). We will contact you to confirm receipt of your application. Class size is limited and the spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis. In the event the class is filled, we will contact you immediately to make arrangements to add you to next year’s class. If you have questions about docent training, please contact Carrie McDonald, Volunteer Services Manager at 232-0102 ext. 102 or cmcdonald@wildflower.org.
