Point Reyes National Seashore Offers Training to Become Tule Elk Docent Volunteers for 2012

Date: May 30, 2012
Contact: Doug Hee, 415-464-5145

Point Reyes National Seashore is offering training to become Tule Elk Docent Volunteers for the summer of 2012. Training is scheduled for June 23 and 24, 2012, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm each day in the Bear Valley area of Point Reyes National Seashore. Individuals 16 years and older are welcome to become Tule Elk Docents. The training is free.

Tule Elk Docents help strengthen the connection with and foster stewardship of Point Reyes National Seashore among park visitors by helping visitors view, understand, and appreciate the elk during the rut, or mating season. Docents educate visitors about the history of tule elk in California and in Point Reyes National Seashore and provide general park information and assistance to visitors.

Benefits to the docents include working in a beautiful park setting; experiencing and learning about Point Reyes National Seashore; receiving training from park managers about the park's tule elk and related resources; and deriving satisfaction in serving and educating a variety of park visitors while helping to protect the park's tule elk.

Essential qualities of Tule Elk Docent Volunteers include: interest and desire to serve others; good oral communication skills; and abilities to interact with a variety of people and to work as part of a team and independently. Docents must also be able to tolerate long periods of standing in changing weather conditions and be able to carry up to 15 pounds of materials a distance of up to 1 mile. Docents commit to volunteering a minimum of 6 weekend/holiday days from July through September.

For more information or to apply online, please visit our Volunteer: Tule Elk Docent page or contact Doug Hee at 415-464-5145 or email.

Point Reyes National Seashore is located one hour north of San Francisco on the Marin coast and encompasses over 71,000 acres, including 32,000 acres of wilderness area. Over 2.5 million people visit the park annually.

Estuaries, windswept beaches, coastal grasslands, salt marshes, and coniferous forests create a haven of 80 miles of unspoiled and undeveloped coastline. Abundant recreational opportunities include 150 miles of hiking trails, backcountry campgrounds, and numerous beaches.

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