Volunteer: Winter Wildlife Docent

Winter Wildlife Docents don their famous red vests and educate park visitors about the marine mammals that call Point Reyes home!

NPS Photo/S. Frisbie

 

 

Overview

The Winter Wildlife Docent promotes awareness and protection of northern elephant seals, gray whales, and other marine life by helping visitors view, understand, and appreciate these species; helps visitors understand the ongoing management and research issues relating to northern elephant seals in Point Reyes National Seashore; and provides general park information and assistance to visitors.

Duties

• Staff public wildlife viewing and educational areas at Drakes Beach, the Lighthouse Observation Deck, Elephant Seal Overlook, and the Historic Lifeboat Station.
• Help visitors view, understand, and appreciate northern elephant seals, gray whales, and other marine life by interpreting observed behaviors and educating visitors about the natural history of these species
• Help visitors understand the ongoing management and research issues relating to northern elephant seals in Point Reyes National Seashore
• Set up and break down spotting scopes and interpretive and educational materials at public viewing locations.
• Provide general park information and assistance to visitors
• Professionally represent the National Park Service by interacting with visitors in a friendly, courteous, tactful, and helpful manner
• Operate a two-way radio to communicate with fellow docents and park staff

Knowledge/Skills/Experience Desired

Docents must possess good oral communication skills with a diversity of people and be able to work independently. A desire to learn about the park and specifically the elephant seals and whales which are the focus of the program is necessary. Four days of training in the fall are required for new docents. Seven shifts of approximately 7 hours are required between mid-December and the end of April.

Docents will be required to provide services in a variety of weather conditions including tolerating sun, wind, fog, and cold. While much of the work with the public involves standing and walking, appropriate accommodations can be made.

Schedule and Time Commitment

The Winter Wildlife Docent Program runs daily from mid-December to mid-April. The 2025-2026 season will run from Friday, December 19, 2025 through Sunday, April 26, 2026. The daily docent shift is generally from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and docents are expected to sign up for a minimum of seven shifts per season.

 

NPS Photo/J. Weinberg

Training

Docents are required to attend training as follows:

New docents must attend the full four-day Winter Wildlife Docent training, which is scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025 and December 6 and 7, 2025.

Returning docents must attend the two days of training on December 6 & 7, 2025.

Benefits to the Volunteer

The Winter Wildlife Docent gains personal enrichment and experience working in a national park setting; training and education about northern elephant seals, gray whales and related park resources; satisfaction of promoting awareness and protection of northern elephant seals and gray whales; and satisfaction and experience in communicating with and helping park visitors while representing the National Park Service.

Minimum Age

Minimum age is 16. Volunteers under 18 years of age must have a signed parental consent form. Please contact us (see below) for more information.

Accommodations

Housing and camping/RV sites are unavailable.

 

Ready to Join the Team?

Apply today to be a Winter Wildlife Docent for the 2025-2026 season!

Start Your Application Here