Get Involved

State Park Docent Training Scheduled

Morro Bay, CA: California State Parks is currently recruiting volunteer docents to share their knowledge and love of the Central Coast with our visitors.

Our docents are the heart and soul of our programs.  We could use your help and creativity in a number of areas, including assisting with exhibits and collections, working with school groups, leading nature walks, acting in Living History presentations, and supporting various other programs.

Docents participate in activities at Pismo State Beach, Montana de Oro, Morro Bay State Park, Morro Strand State Beach, Estero Bluffs, Harmony Headlands, and the Los Osos Oaks State Reserve.

Four training sessions are provided to new docents. They are scheduled to take place Saturdays from 9:30a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on October 30 and November 6, 13, and 20, 2010 at the Pismo State Beach Visitors Center, the Montana de Oro Visitors Center, and the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History.

Put your special talents to good use, expand your circle of friends, and come have a great time in some beautiful settings.

To be considered for a position with us, leave a message at the Morro Bay Museum, 805-772-2694 or call Carolyn Frank at 805-528-8578

California State Parks - Actors and Actresses

California State Parks is looking for a few actors and actresses interested in portraying the ranching and/or Native American history of Montana de Oro State Park.

The Docent group at that park has been conducting Living History, in which individuals research the lives of persons living in the late 1800s-early 1900s, dress in period costume, and give presentations - alone or in groups - to portray those characters or fictitious ones who have characteristics of actual historic figures. Our group of volunteer Living History Docents has decided to retire, but will be available to coach and advise new volunteers. To the extent possible, we use historic accounts, local histories, letters, newspaper clippings, historic photographs, and other historic archives to create as authentic an experience as possible. We hope to offer presentations at least one day a month, and two days would be better. Schedule is negotiable.

Options are open at this point. You could:

*Present in first-person, as a real or fictitious (but based on fact) figure, speaking about that person's life as if it were your own.

*Present in third-person, speaking generally about life in the historic period represented (for example, as a ranch hand or houseworker).

*Recreate a real or fictitious Native American person from any period prior to the present, and especially in or prior to the ranching period.

*Recreate a real or fictitious ranching person from the late 1800s-early 1900s.

*Continue one of the current Living History characters if this piques your interest.

Skills in costume and/or clothing-making are helpful, but not essential. Funding may be available to help defray the cost of period costumes and/or artifact replicas. For further information, please contact:

George Wright, Montana de Oro Docent Chair, Joyce Cory, Montana de Oro Living History Chair, or Rouvaishyana, Manager, Morro Bay Museum of Natural History

We look forward to meeting you and working with you to continue this very effective approach to teaching history to State Park visitors.

We invite local, non-profit groups to send information about themselves and volunteer opportunities in the Los Osos to Cambria area. Send your submission to Judy Sullivan before the 25th of the month with the subject line: Get Involved Listing Request.

We reserve the right to decline any request we receive. Material we find offensive in any way will not be published.

Peregrine Falcon image on banner by Cleve Nash