We’re so excited that you’re interested in joining our docent community at All Hands Ecology. Please fill out the application below if you would like to volunteer as a school program docent. Before applying, we invite you to carefully read through the information below so you have a clear sense of the training commitment and the experience ahead.
Our docent program is designed not only to prepare volunteers to lead meaningful field experiences for students, but also to build a joyful, supportive learning community rooted in curiosity, stewardship, and connection to place. Throughout the 2026–2027 school year, trainees will learn alongside experienced docents, spend time outdoors with students, and grow their natural history knowledge and facilitation skills together.
We will be hosting a new volunteer training cohort throughout the 2026–2027 school year. The training includes a series of 7 required training days held over the course of the school year. In addition, trainees are required to spend time in the field with school groups by shadowing experienced docents during the Fall Season and co-leading hikes with them during the Spring Season. These field trip dates are flexible; however, trainees will need to complete at least 4 hikes in each season in order to gain the practice and experience needed to feel confident in the role. Additional optional learning opportunities and community-building experiences will also be available throughout the year.
This training prepares volunteers to serve as docents at both Martin Griffin Preserve, Stinson Beach, and Bouverie Preserve, Glen Ellen. Trainees may choose to volunteer at one preserve or participate at both locations.
In order to maintain the quality, mentorship, and close-knit feel of the training experience, we are limiting this year’s cohort to 12 trainee docents.
Applications accepted up to Friday, August 14. We will contact you within two weeks of your submission for a brief screening call.
About School Programs:
Our school programs bring children into the outdoors to explore, wonder, and build meaningful connections with the natural world. We host environmental field trips for school classes at two of our preserves, offering hands-on, place-based learning experiences during two hiking seasons each year: Fall (mid-September through mid-November) and Spring (March through mid-May).
During each field trip, docents lead a small group of 4–6 children, accompanied by a school chaperone, on a 3–4 hour hike through the preserve. This small-group model allows docents to build relationships with students, encourage curiosity, and create space for thoughtful observation, exploration, and joy in nature.
Docents are provided with a menu of lesson and topic options and are encouraged to thoughtfully follow the interests and energy of the children along the way. No two hikes are exactly alike, and part of the magic of the program comes from being responsive to the season, the landscape, and the questions students bring with them.
In addition to facilitating learning and connection, docents are responsible for helping maintain the safety and well-being of the children throughout the field trip experience.
Video about school programs at Martin Griffin Preserve: https://vimeo.com/359850001
Video about school programs at Bouverie Preserve: https://vimeo.com/359853024
Our Educational Theory:
Our programs invite students to engage directly with nature through exploration, observation, discussion, and discovery. Along the trail, students are encouraged to think like scientists, ask questions, share ideas, and make meaningful connections between the natural world and their own lived experiences and cultural identities.
Our teaching practices are grounded in how people learn best. Field experiences are designed around the learning cycle and culturally responsive teaching practices that help students feel seen, included, and empowered to participate. Rather than simply being given answers, students are encouraged to use curiosity, careful observation, collaboration, and reflection to figure things out together and build confidence in their own thinking and sense-making skills.
The educational philosophy behind our programs is deeply informed by the BEETLES project and their research-based approach to teaching and learning in outdoor science education. We encourage prospective docents to explore more about the BEETLES teaching approach, including sample activities and educational resources, here lessons: https://beetlesproject.org/resources/for-field-instructors/
Requirements:
We are looking for people who are excited to learn alongside children and who feel inspired by spending time outdoors. The most successful docents tend to bring a combination of curiosity, reliability, flexibility, and care for both people and place. A keen interest in nature and working with children is essential. Conversational Spanish fluency is especially sought. While not required, it is especially valuable in helping us create welcoming and inclusive experiences for all students and families.
Because our programs take place during the school day, docents must have availability on weekdays during school hours and be able to reliably attend all required training dates throughout the year.
Before filling
out the application, please review the following document carefully: Docent
Position Description
Additional training requirements and information:
Fingerprinting: A fingerprint-based criminal background check is required by law before working virtually or in person with minors. The cost is fully covered by All Hands Ecology.
Field Experience with Students: Trainees are required to shadow field trips during the Fall season and partner-teach field trips during the Spring season as part of the learning process and mentorship experience.
CPR Certification: This is needed once training is complete, before leading a group alone. We offer CPR certification courses twice each year. The fee is $65, and scholarships are available as needed. Participants are also welcome to complete certification through another provider if preferred.
TRAINING SCHEDULE:
Zoom Q&A: Thursday, August 27, 2026,
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m (Optional)
Required Training Dates:
Training #1: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (Bouverie Preserve, Glen Ellen)
Training #2: Friday, September 18, 2026, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (Martin Griffin Preserve, Stinson Beach)
Refresher Docent Training: Tuesday, September 22 or Thursday, September 24 2026, 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m. (Bouverie and Martin Griffin Preserve - you pick one to attend)
Training #3: Thursday, November 20, 2026, from 11a.m.–1:00 p.m. (Bouverie Preserve, Glen Ellen)
Training #4: Tuesday, February 23, 2027, from 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (Bouverie Preserve, Glen Ellen)
Refresher Docent Training: Tuesday, March 2 or Thursday, March 4, 2027 9:30a.m.-2:30p.m. (Bouverie and Martin Griffin Preserve - you pick one to attend)
Training #5: Friday, May 14, 2027, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Martin Griffin Preserve, Stinson Beach).
No Cost to Participate:
School Program Docent Training at All Hands Ecology is offered free of charge. We are grateful to be able to invest in training volunteers who are passionate about connecting children to nature and supporting meaningful outdoor learning experiences.
After completing the training program, we ask docents to commit to leading at least 4 hikes per season in order to remain an active volunteer. Our Fall season runs from mid-September through mid-November, and our Spring season runs from March through mid-May.
Many of our docents find that once they begin working with students on the trail, they look forward to spending even more time outside with the program community — and we always welcome volunteers who are excited to hike more than the minimum commitment each season.
California Naturalist Course (Optional):
Separately, we are hosting a California Naturalist Certification course. This will be ideal for those interested in deepening their knowledge of local natural history and ecology. This 12-week course, starting in January 2027, includes both in-person field days and online classes. This course is fee-based, but scholarships are available. More information will be posted when the registration period is open.
Questions?
Our Bilingual Environmental Education Specialist, Andrea Salazar, is available to answer any questions via email on asalazar@allhandsecology.org and will call all applicants to review your application and discuss the role and training in more detail.
If you are ready to apply, please complete the application below! Thank you for considering joining us to do this important and gratifying work.
All Hands Ecology Membership: Though not required, many volunteers choose to also support All Hands Ecology financially. We would welcome your membership! More info – and benefits of the Volunteer-level membership– here
