Page 23 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2018

Where Do We Go from Here?
Photo by Christine Fontaine
Renew Yourself - Volunteer for the Laguna
By Christine Fontaine, Director of Education Programs
Laguna de Santa Rosa Docent, Guide and Greeter Training has it all:
opportunities to spend time in nature, contribute to the community, take positive action, grow, learn about our home environment, make new friends, and renew yourself in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Now is the time to sign-up to become a Laguna education team volunteer! Choose the volunteer
Photo by Gary Morgret
job that suits you best: Docent – teach 2nd – 4th grade children in the Learning Laguna school program both in the classroom
and on eld trips; Guide – teach
about the Laguna during public education programs and trail walks; Greeter – support the smooth running of Heron Hall and provide outreach at community events.
During the training course beginning on March 27, all volunteers will be together for Tuesday evening classes to learn about wetlands, ecology, plants, birds and other animals of the Laguna de Santa Rosa. Then, trainees are divided into tracks to learn and practice the speci cs of each volunteer job. Docent training classes are on Mondays and their total training time is approximately 46 hours, including observation time spent in elementary classrooms and on school eld trips. Guides train on Saturdays and spend about 32 total hours in training. Greeters train in 8 hours on one Tuesday and one Saturday. Everyone has the option to attend additional educational outings to Laguna locations not usually open to the public. As a culminating activity and to cement the learning, the Docents & Guides come together for one last class and “team challenge” on May 12.
It takes a lot of volunteer hearts and hands to teach more than 1400 school children and thousands of community members about their home environment each year! The Laguna Foundation invites you to join education team and the long tradition of volunteers teaching about the Laguna. Being helpful makes us happier! So, plan to do something fun and rewarding in 2018 to renew yourself: Become a Laguna education team volunteer!
Sign-up to attend an orientation on either Monday, February 26 from 6:00- 8:00 or on Monday, March 12 from 10:00-Noon. Orientation will include an overview of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the work of the Laguna Foundation, an introduction to the training course and each of the volunteer jobs, plus snacks, activities, and an opportunity to meet members of the Laguna Education Team.
Laguna Environmental Center: 900 Sanford Rd, Santa Rosa.
To nd out more, visit LagunaFoundation.org.
The orientation and training classes take place at the
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