Discovery Park
Volunteering

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CLASS OF 2008 DISCOVERY PARK DOCENTS

Seven folks recently completed the Docent Training at Discovery Park. The trainees started their journey in February and finished in October completing over 100 hours of training. The graduation consisted of a delicious potluck dinner, certificates for the graduates, and a challenging game of "Discovery Park Salad Bowl."  New graduates were especially lucky to receive a Robert Frost poem reading by a veteran Docent, welcoming them to the crew!  Each year a docent recommits to lead at least 12 programs on natural or cultural history to both children and adults (such as: "sensational spiders", "Looking at Low Tide", "Seattle is for the Birds"). Some Docents lead over 100 programs! Currently Discovery Park is home to about 50 docents and the next class begins in February 2009. No experience necessary to join.

DOCENT PROGRAM 2009

Interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of the Puget Sound region? Do you love sharing nature with others? Then you might be the perfect candidate for the Discovery Park docent program. Docents (volunteer naturalists) participate in 12 weeks of training and commit at least one year to volunteering at Discovery Park. Their responsibilities include everything from helping children catch a tadpole for the first time to teaching the public the important role spiders play in the world. Docents facilitate discovering the wonders of nature for park visitors of all ages. They do these things through leading programs for school groups, teaching interpretive programs on the weekends, and staffing hands-on discovery stations in the busier areas of the park. Docents' backgrounds are as varied as the people they teach - the common thread is their desire to share nature with park visitors.

Applications due January 30, 2009
» Information & Application Packet (PDF)

Training starts February 19, 2009
For information contact the Docent Coordinator at 206-684-7256.

ADOPT-AN-AREA - ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP / HABITAT RESTORATION

The purpose of Discovery Park's "Adopt-an-Area" program is to improve habitat for wildlife in the park's 534 acres. Within the park there are forests, meadows, thickets, wetlands, and beach habitats. Volunteers do a number of activities including invasive removal, beach cleanups, and planting trees. People are matched with their interests and time commitment. You can volunteer as an individual, or group.

For more information,
contact the "Adopt-an-Area" supervisor at (206) 386-4295 | dorothy.guernsey@seattle.gov

ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Discovery Park Advisory Council is the official citizen group that advises on the education programs, needs, and issues of the Park and oversees the program budget. They also support and implement the Park's Master Plan and ensure that the natural environment is protected, restored, and interpreted. We are currently looking for teachers and individuals with fundraising experience to join the Discovery Park Advisory Council.

If you are interested, please call manager at (206) 233-3712.

> more about the Associated Recreation Council

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