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2008 Docent Training Information  

If you are a Flagstaff-area resident who would enjoy sharing nature with people from around the world, consider joining our docent team.  Docents provide tours of The Arboretum grounds and  assist with special events throughout the year.  

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Requirements

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Training Schedule

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Registration

Requirements

First Year

bulletThere is a $75.00 fee to enter the training program.  ($50 will be reimbursed once the docent has led 25 hours in tours.)
bulletAll 12 training classes are to be attended. Classes that are cancelled will be rescheduled for May.
bulletIn addition, docents will be asked to attend three meetings to clarify any questions or concerns that may have arisen.
bulletThe tour season for docent trainees is from May 1- Oct 31. After training is completed, docents may continue to work throughout the year.
bulletFollowing training, we rely upon docents to provide a minimum of 25 hours of service, primarily by giving public tours of the grounds and gardens.
bulletIt is requested that during the tour season, docents be available to work one weekend day per six weeks.
bulletDocents are encouraged to create new programs and participate in special events as part of their service.
bulletWe ask for a one-year commitment to The Arboretum’s docent program.
bulletWe ask that docents maintain an annual Arboretum membership.
bulletDocents providing 50 or more hours of service will receive a 15% discount in the gift shop.
bulletEnrollment in the docent program offers several benefits: continuing education for all active docents and trainees, expert instruction, a broad assortment of instructional materials, use of the reference library, Brown Bag get-togethers, a field trip to the Desert Botanic Garden, docent vest, and nametag.
bulletTraining will be cancelled in accordance with the Flagstaff Unified School District's snow day schedule.

Following Years

bulletDocent tour season is from April 1- Oct 31. Active docents may choose to work throughout the year.
bulletWe rely upon docents to provide a minimum of 25 hours of service, primarily by giving public tours of the grounds and gardens.
bulletIn addition, docents will be asked to attend three meetings to clarify any questions or concerns that may have arisen.
bulletIt is requested that during the tour season, docents be available to work one weekend day per six weeks.
bulletDocents are encouraged to create new programs and participate in special events as part of their service.
bulletWe ask for a one-year commitment to The Arboretum’s docent program
bulletWe ask that docents maintain an annual Arboretum membership.
bulletDocents providing 50 or more hours of service will receive a 15% discount in the gift shop.
bulletActive docents may continue to take advantage of enrichment opportunities: participate in a field trip to the Desert Botanic Garden, Brown Bag get-togethers, expert instruction and materials, and use of the reference library.

Training Schedule

The Arboretum invites those of you who have interest in and/or knowledge of the natural history, botany, or high elevation horticulture of the Colorado Plateau to join The Arboretum’s sixth annual docent training program.  This is your opportunity to share your interests and enthusiasm with friendly people from around the world.  If this sounds like something you would like to pursue, consider attending The Arboretum’s twelve-week series of instruction directed toward providing informative, one hour tours of the grounds and gardens.

Training takes place at The Arboretum every Tuesday between 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. from February 5 through April 29, 2008.  There will be a $75.00 initial training fee, plus membership dues.  Once the docent leads 25 hours of tours, $50 will be reimbursed.  Enrollment provides special benefits such as expert instruction from local professionals, a field trip, instruction manuals, a docent hat, and a nametag.  Folks who are interested in joining the docent program are invited to attend an introductory session on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. before committing to the program.

To enter the program, we ask for a one-year commitment, which includes 25 hours of service, maintaining a yearly membership, and attending all classes.  For further information or to RSVP for the introductory session, contact Rachel Edelstein at 774-1442 x 110.  

The following schedule includes the classes and instructors for the 2008 training sessions.  Unless otherwise noted, all instructors are staff at The Arboretum at Flagstaff.  Following the formal classroom training, docents observe trained tour leaders each of the first four Tuesdays in April.  Docents then meet three times during the rest of the year.

2008 Docent Training Schedule

All classes are held from 1-3:30 pm in the Horticulture Center classroom unless indicated otherwise.  Please contact Rachel Edelstein if you have any schedule conflicts or questions at (928) 774-1442, ext.110 or Rachel.Edelstein@nau.edu.

January 29  Come to an Introductory Session for prospective docents.  Executive Director Steve Yoder and Public Programs Manager Rachel Edelstein will provide an overview of the roles of a docent and the benefits of volunteering at The Arboretum.  Learn about The Arboretum’s mission and current programs for 2008.  At 2:00 p.m. all docents and staff members are invited to join us for refreshments and socializing.  Meet in the Living Room of the Walter Reichardt House.

February 5     The Ideal Tour - Public Programs Manager Rachel Edelstein will cover basic touring techniques, provide an outline for a general tour, and present "The Top 20 Plants" of The Arboretum.  Please come prepared to share with the group a story about your favorite tour.

February 12     Botany Basics I –Research Botanist Sheila Murray will introduce the class to some key concepts of botany such as classification systems, floral anatomy, tree anatomy, and a discussion of what is a native plant.

February 19    Botany Basics II – Research Botanist Sheila Murray will conduct some hands-on plant identification activities to help docents learn about specific characteristics of native plants.

February 26     Forest Health  - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.  Find out from Mary Lou Fairweather of the Forest Service what is happening to our local stands of Aspen.    Pine and Juniper Health and Restoration - 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.  with Tom DeGomez of the University of Arizona Extension Office in Flagstaff.  He will explain the current state of our ponderosa pine forest and what we can do to manage forests wisely.

March 4    Greenhouse Tour and Propagation Demo– Horticulturist Hanna Raiter will explain how the passive solar and fully automated greenhouses function.  We will learn about the business of plant propagation and get the chance to do a small horticulture project as well.

March 11     Gardens Department - Gardens Director Brian Keeley and Gardens Manager Nathan McLeod will discuss the main theme in each of the gardens within the cultivated area at The Arboretum.  Weather permitting, they will take the group outside.  Future garden plans will be covered as well.

March 18        Research Programs/Invasive Weeds - Join Arboretum Research Scientist Kristin Haskins for an overview of past and current research efforts at The Arboretum.  Laura Moser of the Forest Service and Cynthia Warzecha of the Coconino County Cooperative Extension will help to familiarize docents with invasive, noxious weeds that are a grave threat to native species.

March 25       Field Trip – The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.  We will meet at the Wal-Mart parking lot at 7:00 a.m. and travel in 12-passenger vans to Phoenix.  Please bring water, a hat and sunscreen.  Lunches are available for purchase at the garden.  Pam Levin of the DBG Education Department will meet with our group and we will have the chance to experience a docent-led tour of the gardens as well.  We plan to return to Flagstaff by 5:30 p.m.

April 1        Tour Shadowing w/Rachel Edelstein - Join staff and volunteers on the daily tour at 1:00 p.m. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and research topics of interest following the tour.  Docents in training will conduct practice tours with peers following the model tours.

April 8        Tour Shadowing w/Maybelle Little and Practice Tours - Same activity as April 1.  Begins at 1:00 p.m.

 April 15      Tour Shadowing w/Loni Shapiro and Practice Tours - Same as above.

April 22      Tour Shadowing w/Steve Yoder and Practice Tours –Same as above.

April 29       Docent Graduation and Golf Cart Training - We will meet in the Walter Reichardt living room for festivities and refreshments.

In case of inclement weather, please listen to the local radio stations for school closures.  If schools are cancelled due to snow, docent training will also be cancelled and rescheduled.  Late snow days should not affect the docent training schedule.

Registration

Registration materials will be available at the introductory session on Tuesday, January 29, 2007. You may complete the Docent Application form, found below, in advance.  The $75.00 docent training fee and an additional membership fee (if you are not yet a member) will be required by the first day of training.  You may also hand these items to Rachel on the afternoon of January 29 or you can mail fees to Rachel Edelstein, Public Programs Manager, 4001 S Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff AZ  86001.  Please RSVP for the introductory program.

 

Docent Application

Name:              _________________________________      Date:    _________________

Address:           ___________________________________________________________

City:                 __________________            State:    ________        Zip:      ___________

Phone (H):        ________________________            (W):     _______________________

Email:               ________________________________________

 Education:        (Circle last year completed):      High School       1          2          3          4

                                                                        College             1          2          3          4

                                                                        Graduate          Masters            Ph.D.

 Educational Focus:        _____________________________________________________

 

List previous work or experience that may be relative.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

 

Explain special skills, training, and interests.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

  List two personal references:________________________________________

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Time available for volunteer work.

 Hours per month:          _____________          Regularly each month? (circle)    Yes     No

 Preferred days:             _____________            Preferred Hours            _______________

Available for special events?  (circle)  Yes    No

Copyright © 2007 The Arboretum at Flagstaff
Last modified: Monday May 12, 2008