State Parks Seeking Volunteer Docents

Point Mugu and Leo Carrillo state parks need docents to greet visitors, assist with school programs and help protect tide pools at Leo Carrillo State Beach during low tides.

“We can use as many people as will come,” said Ranger Connie Breakfield. “We now have 10 to 15 docents, and we wish we had 50 or 100.”

Volunteers will receive three days of training, on Jan. 10, 17 and 24. The four-hour sessions will include instruction in park philosophy, how to deal with the public, how to assist rangers and how to present information about the parks, Breakfield said.

Docents can set their own schedules and work as little or as much as they want, she said. Some work a day or more each week, others a day per month. Duties include work at the visitor centers, helping with programs and providing a presence at Leo Carrillo’s tide pools, a fragile environment.

Docents help educate visitors, showing them where not to step and how to enjoy tide pools without causing harm, she said.

For more information about the docent program, call 488-1827 or 986-8591.