California State Parks

Docents are highly trained volunteers who interpret the cultural, natural and recreational features of state parks for visitors. 

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:

• Museum Tours and Tours of the Historic Adamson House  
• Educational Programs for School Groups and International Visitors
• Group tours, Garden Tours, and Holiday Tours

The Mounted Assistance Unit performs volunteer patrol duties at the Auburn State Recreation Area, augmenting official regular patrols by Park Rangers.

Auburn SRA volunteers assist park staff by protecting the natural and cultural resources of the park, performing needed trails and facilities maintenance, promoting safe and responsible recreation practices to park visitors, providing public education and interpretation to inspire stewardship.

Members provide information and assistance to park visitors concerning trail conditions, directions, park use fees, and park rules and regulations.

MAU participates in trail improvement and maintenance projects, and in education and interpretation that complements MAU’s mission in the park (i.e., trail etiquette or member recruitment).

The Auburn State Recreation Area Canyon Keepers is a volunteer group that promotes healthy recreation by providing assistance and information for visitors to the state park. They organize hikes, conduct trail maintenance, provide guided history walks, maintain a native garden, remove litter, perform roving trail education, and assist the professional ranger staff through volunteer work.

Train crew operate the excursion trains. Positions include Conductor, Engineer, Fireman, Brakeman and Fire patrol.

The interpretive team engages with the public to tell the Railtown story.  Positions include Greeter, Tour Guide, Roundhouse Host, Car Host, Narrator, Station Agent, Ticket Agent, and more.

The Living History program at Railtown participates in special events such as History Train and Tales of the Roundhouse. Volunteers also demonstrate important skills such as blacksmithing.

The Depot Dogs team sells food and drinks.

The Polar Express is a seasonal event at Railtown. A wide variety of volunteer positions are available to support this fundraising event.

Railtown photo club take photographs and video of activities throughout the park for use in volunteer recognition, social media marketing, etc.

Wilder Ranch has a history going back thousands of years including the indigenous Uypi people, the Santa Cruz Mission Period, the Mexican-owned Rancho Refugio, Moses Meder's dairy ranch, the Wilder-Baldwin owned (and later Wilder alone) operation, and finally to it's designation as a state park. If you're interested in local Santa Cruz history, this may be the volunteer job for you! Opportunities include:

Leading tours of the historic dairy ranch

Living history events

Operating and educating visitors about the Blacksmith Shop (certification needed) 

Operating and educating visitors about the water powered machine shop and Pelton wheel

Helping with school field trips and teaching small groups of children about the ranch's history

and more! For questions or more information, contact wilderranch@ports.ca-us

Wilder Ranch has opportunities both coast-side and mountain-side of Highway 1, which divides the park. Lead tours with ocean views on the Old Cove Landing trail! There are birds, harbor seals, whales, plants and more that park visitors are just waiting for you to tell them about. Lead monthly backcountry hikes to show intermediate hikers some of our most popular trails, and help them connect with the history and nature of Wilder Ranch

Opportunities include:

Leading birding walks along the Old Cove Landing trail to help visitors spot and identify local birds

Leading coastal walks to show park guests the trail and inform them about the local flora and fauna

Roving at the Wilder Beach Overlook to answer visitor's questions

Leading or co-leading backcountry hikes. These hikes are around 5 hours, 8 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. 

and more! For questions or more information, contact wilderranch@ports.ca-us