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3 people are interested
Become a Tour Guide at the Camron-Stanford House
ORGANIZATION: Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association
Please visit the new page to apply.
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3 people are interested
Ever wondered about the lone Victorian on the shores of Lake Merritt, and hoped for a chance to look inside? This is the Camron-Stanford House, an architectural treasure that is a City, County, and State landmark, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The beautifully restored home, built in 1876, housed several prominent residents before becoming the city's first public museum. Volunteer docents open the house for tours on a weekly basis, and changing exhibits explore life in Oakland at the turn of the 19th century.
This fall the Camron-Stanford House will offer the opportunity to join an innovative team of volunteers interested in local history. Learn about Oakland’s exciting past, polish your public speaking skills, become a history detective and take part in the creation of new exhibits. And the great news is, we will be taking our training online! Once we are able to re-open, you'll be ready to jump in as a docent.
This is a terrific opportunity to expand your knowledge and learn to give guided tours of the historic Camron-Stanford House. No previous guide experience is necessary, but curiosity and desire to share what you’ve learned are essential! The House was built in 1876 and is not fully disabled-accessible. Prospective guides must be able to climb stairs and stand for up to an hour while giving tours.
Class meets bi-weekly on Saturdays, 10am-1pm, online via zoom. Mid point break of 30 minutes is worked into each meeting.
Tuition is $50 per person, which includes museum membership and course materials.
Visit cshouse.org/docent-training for more information on our program and to reserve your space.
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During this time we have made adjustments to take our docent training program digital. Our course meetings will take place via Zoom, and we will be utilizing Googlge Classroom for sharing training materials. An important part of becoming a docent at the Camron-Stanford House is practicing your presentation skills, and we will work together on these skills during our online course. In order to fully complete the program, you will need to complete an onsite training. Your safety is our highest priority, so this component will be scheduled individually or in small groups once we better understand when we can safely re-open, and when you personally feel comfortable returning to the Camron-Stanford House.
More opportunities with Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association
Location:
1418 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA 94612, US
Mission Statement
The Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association was formed specifically to preserve, restore, maintain, and utilize the property for the public as an historical and educational example of the architecture and lifestyle of the Victorian era of California, and to engage in activities related thereto.
Description
The graceful Italianate Victorian structure is located in Lakeside Park at 1418 Lakeside Drive in downtown Oakland. The House is situated on the shore of picturesque Lake Merritt. The Victorian structure was built in 1876 and was the first of many stately homes that once encircled the Lake. During its time as a private residence, it was home to some of Oakland's most notable families. During the first decade of the 20th Century, the City of Oakland created Lakeside Park to provide public access to Lake Merritt and transformed the house into the Oakland Public Museum, the first teaching museum west of the Mississippi River. In 1965, artifacts from the Oakland Public Museum were transferred to the newly constructed Oakland Museum just two blocks away. The fate of the old, deteriorating Victorian soon came into question. A small group of individuals concerned about Oakland's architectural heritage came together in a successful effort to save the building from demolition. The group reopened the stately Victorian to the public in May of 1978 as a house museum. Today, it is more important than ever to protect the history and beauty of the past for the enjoyment of future generations. There is no special requirement for volunteering other than an interest in the House and its programs. C-SHPA draws its volunteers from a richly diverse community throughout the Bay Area. Please join us in our efforts.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
1418 Lakeside DriveOakland, CA 94612
DATE POSTED
August 14, 2020
SKILLS
- Community Outreach
- People Skills
- Public Speaking
- Verbal / Written Communication
- Storytelling
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Orientation or Training
- Volunteer docents are expected to sign up for at least one four hour shift per month, but are welcome to sign up for as many as they would like.