At informal learning settings, like zoos and museums the docent corps is often the primary source fo

Derived from the Latin word docēns , which means to teach or lecture, norwegian sun cruise review cozumel a docent at a natural history museum, zoo or aquarium is more than just a well-recognized uniformed volunteer answering questions for visitors.
At the non-profit cultural attractions they serve, docents are integral players in natural history norwegian sun cruise review cozumel education and a primary conduit for teaching norwegian sun cruise review cozumel the populous about biodiversity and significant threats to the natural world and natural processes.
At informal learning settings, like zoos and museums the docent corps is often the primary source for disseminating and interpreting information to the public about the living or non-living animal collections in zoos and museums and the ecosystems norwegian sun cruise review cozumel their wild conspecifics service.
In the United States alone, the 223 zoos and aquariums that are currently accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums reach nearly 180 million visitors a year, 50 million of which are children.
norwegian sun cruise review cozumel University of Washington's associate professor of learning sciences Philip Bell, co-chair of a National Academies science education committee said in reference to 2009 report on informal learning that "learning is broader than schooling, and informal norwegian sun cruise review cozumel science environments and experiences play a crucial role.
The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, founded in 1963, has funded plant and animal exhibits, species conservation, capital projects, and education and community outreach programs at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens for more than five decades.  GLAZA also builds and invests endowment funds and operates six essential departments on behalf of the L.A. Zoo: development, marketing, publications, membership, norwegian sun cruise review cozumel volunteers, and oversight of the food and retail concessions.  There are 65,000 member households in GLAZA representing more than 240,000 adults and children, the largest membership norwegian sun cruise review cozumel base of a cultural organization in Los Angeles.  With GLAZA s volunteer corps comprised of more than 800 individuals, its educational mission is a top priority.
KIRIN DAUGHARTY (MANAGER OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION): GLAZA offers a range of volunteer opportunities to meet the needs of those seeking a meaningful (and fun!) volunteer experience and the needs of the Zoo.
The docent program was born along-side GLAZA in 1963, and in 1975 the training for the program  became a UCLA accredited extension course and remains so to this day.  The 23-week class provides a solid foundation in plant and animal taxonomy as well as teaching future docents how to inform and educate the public about conservation.  Once docents graduate from the class, they are prepared to lead school and member tours, participate in our many education programs such as Animals You, Special Needs Outreach, Speakers Bureau, Classroom Safari, and as ambassadors on- and off-grounds.
norwegian sun cruise review cozumel Our student volunteer program is available to those in the tenth grade.  Similar to the docent training, student volunteers learn about abbreviated taxonomy as well as conservation, biomes, and plant/animal adaptations.  Once the students graduate from their 13-week training, they are prepared to lead conversations with the public at education stations such as our "Trunks as Tools" at our award-winning Elephants of Asia exhibit and our "Enviroscape" in front of Sea Life Cliffs.
We also offer a general volunteer program that fills many other areas on grounds norwegian sun cruise review cozumel and behind the scenes.  General volunteers assist at Muriel's Ranch (the Zoo's contact yard), playing liaison between the animals and the guests. norwegian sun cruise review cozumel  They assist as ambassadors on grounds to help visitors find their way, and behind the scenes for animal care with food prep and enrichment.
And finally, we have research volunteers, who are required to take the UCLA Extension course "Observing Animals: Behavioral Studies in Zoos" offered each fall by the Zoo's Director of Research, Dr. Cathleen Cox.  This 11-week class prepares norwegian sun cruise review cozumel students in non-intrusive observational techniques norwegian sun cruise review cozumel and practices.  Research volunteers may be called in to observe an individual or group of animals that have been recently introduced to each other, monitor for breeding behavior, or serve in part of larger studies organized by multiple organizations.
Many zoos enrichment is provided by animal care staff but the L.A. Zoo has a department dedicated solely towards the enrichment needs of the Zoo.  GLAZA has one of the largest Enrichment volunteer programs, with two staff members and over 30 dedicated volunteers.  Some volunteers meet each weekend to create enrichment devices, work on exhibit adaptations, and help in our edible garden, while others help with a group of exhibits or "strings" each week creating norwegian sun cruise review cozumel enrichment devices for specific animals.
KIRIN DAUGHARTY: Docents play the valuable role of being both the face and voice of the Zoo to our guests.  They represent and help communicate norwegian sun cruise review cozumel the Zoo's mission of "nurturing wildlife and enriching the human experience," and they do it in fun ways.  Most people who visit a zoo are seeking a place of recreation norwegian sun cruise review cozumel or entertainment, rarely an educational experience, but the docents have a gift of educating norwegian sun cruise review cozumel and entertaining with their enthusiasm for the field.
As one of two staff members guiding over 800 volunteers, our role is to recruit, staff, manage, and recognize norwegian sun cruise review cozumel the volunteers' involvement in our institution.  To best lead this valuable norwegian sun cruise review cozumel group of people, norwegian sun cruise review cozumel it is important to understand why each volunteer choses to give their time to the L.A. Zoo.  Therefore, much of our time as administrators of volunteers is spent getting to know the people in our programs and what motivated them to join our ranks.  I find my former GLAZA docent experiences invaluable resources to remind me of the volunteer perspective, for example, what brought me to the Zoo, what kept me here, what tools were available to help me help the institution?
Because volunteering is usually a social experience, much of our communications are casual conversations.  This is the best way to understand their motivations so we can best meet their needs and recognize the volunteers' contributions.
As the Manager of Volunteer Programs, I consider myself one of the lucky ones.  How many professionals assist a group of people who consider it their privilege norwegian sun cruise review cozumel to help out and who start their day excited and with positive attitudes?  Many touring day afternoons are spent listening to docent tales of their morning tours and the great kids they lead around the Zoo.  Occasionally there are stories of patrons acting out and not being respectful of each other or the animals, which docents are trained to handle.  But fortunately the good heavily outweighs those challenges and that's what brings everyone back.
JORDAN SCHAUL: I commend zoo docents because the body of knowledge they often acquire regarding natural history of wildlife. It sometimes even compares to or exceeds that of some animal care professionals. I know that while I was focused on exotic animal husbandry issues at work while concurrently pursuing graduate study in specific areas of zoology and veterinary science, I had little time to catch up on some of the natural history topics even topics of relevance to the animals I cared for. In the meantime, my docent colleagues, many of them retired, norwegian sun cruise review cozumel were building quite a background in natural history science for a great diversity of taxa and exploring topics of interest to the general public.  They also receive quite rigorous training before they can even graduate to the coveted volunteer norwegian sun cruise review cozumel role.  Can you talk about GLAZA's docent training program?
KIRIN DAUGHARTY: The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association docent receives extensive training before they can wear the GLAZA Docent uniform norwegian sun cruise review cozumel and badge.  The 23-week norwegian sun cruise review cozumel UCLA accredited extension course is equivalent to a 100 level biology course covering plant and animal taxonomy, biomes, and international conservation issues.  I believe this is the only zoo-docent program in the U.S. that requires a college level course.  Some may say this isexcessive given our average tour group is elementary school level.  But the training norwegian sun cruise review cozumel encompasses more than just content, and application as well.  They learn interpretive methods as well as addressing the current science norwegian sun cruise review cozumel standards for Life Sciences norwegian sun cruise review cozumel for California public schools K-12.  And often docents can sign up to lead college tours, so an in-depth understanding of the flora and fauna at the L.A. Zoo is essential.
JORDAN norwegian sun cruise review cozumel SCHAUL: I learned that as many as 10 other PhD-holding candidates preceded me in the 2013 interview process including two others with degrees in the life sciences.  Can you talk about the composition of the volunteers norwegian sun cruise review cozumel in your docent program?  You have some talented and highly qualified norwegian sun cruise review cozumel people in positions that enable them to really impact the learning experience for your visitors.
KIRIN DAUGHARTY: GLAZA docents norwegian sun cruise review cozumel are a varied group of individuals with a broad range of backgrounds and talents.  There are former corporate presidents, VP's, CFO's, CEO's; many educators from K-college; those in the sciences, arts, medical, political fields such as former mayors, judges norwegian sun cruise review cozumel and lawyers, as well as police force and fire departments. norwegian sun cruise review cozumel  With the entertainment industry so close by, we have set builders, prop makers, writers, producers, artists and actors; …the list seems endless with almost as many backgrounds as docents.  Each brings with them their own perspective that provides an added depth to both the program and touring experiences.
JORDAN SCHAUL: Zoo animal keepers are also quite knowledgeable, but they have a different focus. The docents often complement these animal husbandry professionals in their work. I find that they can learn a great deal from each other. Can you discuss how they interface in effort to make the Zoo an informal learning venue on host of topics relevant to the natural world?
KIRIN DAUGHARTY: Docents occupy a unique position of communicating the important role of animal caras well as the mis