Docent

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Share your passion for nature and learn even more about wildlife and the Nisenan Maidu culture at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael. You will gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead groups on nature hikes and provide tours in the Museum and Discovery Room. Most opportunities are Monday through Friday, between 8:45am to 1:30pm. Summer Docents assist naturalist staff in providing fun, safe, and educational nature camp programs Monday through Friday with various shift opportunities ranging from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

In a typical nature area tour, Docents lead school groups through the Nature Center, bring out one of our non-venomous animal ambassador snakes so children may see and touch a snake and then lead the group out on the trails down to the river for an hour long walk, fostering nature connection as you go.

Our docent training, will broaden your knowledge of the animals and plants along the American River Parkway. We will mentor you as you learn to handle non-venomous snakes. Teach you skills in environmental education, group management and progress your skills through professional development opportunities available to our docent community of volunteers.

This is a long-term commitment with an initial self-paced training of 6 to 8 weeks (unless you already have experience as a docent, naturalist, environmental educator, or other relevant experience), followed by at least 9 months of volunteering 3 to 8 mornings a month during the school year. If you love nature and children, this position is for you!

For the training period, you must be available (in general) at least 2 weekdays a week for flexibility on signing up to observe tours. (At this time we are not recruiting for weekend Docents.)

This is a perfect opportunity for nature enthusiasts, prospective or retired teachers, or others who want to help foster a deeper connection to nature for the youth in the Sacramento region!