Asilomar Tour Docent
Docents are trained volunteers who guide visitors on one of our two regular tours: Asilomar Origins, which is a tour of Asilomar's buildings designed by Julia Morgan for the YWCA beginning in 1913, and the Dune walk.
The content of the Origins tour includes the history of the YWCA, Julia Morgan's biography, and the history of Asilomar itself, which has functioned as a conference grounds for over a century and hosted organizations dedicated to topics and causes including civil rights, social justice, science, art, and design.
The Dunes walk is seasonal (Spring, Summer, Fall) and takes visitors on a 0.75 mile boardwalk trail loop to learn about Asilomar's restored dune habitat, which is the most successful dune restoration project in the U.S. Docents inform visitors on how dunes are formed, the process involved in restoring the dune habitat to it's natural, healthy state, identify wildflowers, and discuss the importance of healthy dunes for climate change resilience.
Docents receive initial and continuing enrichment training to which they add their own unique approach and experiences. If you have a passion for sharing and enjoy speaking to the public, a docent position may be a good fit for you.
Interpretive activities that docents become involved with include:
- Leading tours for conference-goers and park visitors
- Assisting with school field trips
- Building host during Asilomar's annual Women's History Celebration
