Columbia, CA…Do you want to give back to the community and help your local California State Park at the same time? Become a Columbia State Historic Park Docent! A Docent is a volunteer who has completed a training program with the park which includes history talks, park etiquette and rules, costuming guidelines and more. Columbia is in need of Docents to perform a variety of functions at the Park, both in costume and behind the scenes. Activities include staffing the museum and information center in the middle of town, teaching historic lessons at the schoolhouse, gardening throughout the park, sharing the Park and its history with visitors as a costumed volunteer at special events throughout the year, and many others!
The current Docent program includes more than 75 active docents and an additional 100 volunteers from around the state who help on special event days. The park depends on its volunteers to staff certain buildings to be open to the public. You can help by donating your time! Fully-trained Docents are asked to commit eight hours a month or 96 total hours each year. Shifts vary depending on job duty and season.
The park is now accepting applications through January 7th for individuals interested in this winter’s full Docent Training classes. Call the park office at (209) 588-9128, go online at www.parks.ca.gov/columbia, or stop at the museum to pick up an application. Docent Training classes begin January 21st and will run five consecutive Saturdays. If you are a motivated individual who is interested in helping one of our beloved California State Parks, fill out an application today!