Elephant Seal Docent Program
Volunteer with California State Parks!
Elephant Seal Docents are State Park volunteer interpreters who serve the public at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in Hearst San Simeon State Park.
Volunteering as an Elephant Seal Docent is one of the Central Coast’s best opportunities for outdoor public service. Docents are crucial to enhancing the visitor’s experience at one of the most highly visited sites in Hearst San Simeon State Park. The best reward is the opportunity to meet curious visitors from around the world, provide meaningful and memorable interpretation, and help people gain an appreciation of this unique species and its critical ocean habitat.
Docents share elephant seals and other wildlife with visitors, inspire environmental stewardship, and have the opportunity to lead school field trips and deliver group presentations.
Professional-quality training, reference materials, and mentoring are provided, allowing docents to get started with confidence. The training program includes independent study assignments and virtual & in-person sessions.
Docents must be able to volunteer three or four, 3-hour shifts a month, either in the morning or afternoon. Docents are asked to commit to at least one year of service.
Join our amazing team of State Park volunteers and make a difference in the lives of visitors, elephant seals, and all others that call Hearst San Simeon State Park home. If you would like to welcome visitors to their state parks and unlock the wonders of the amazing wildlife and habitat along the Central California Coast, apply to become a docent today!
Recruitment
Our spring recruitment period has closed, but we are always accepting applications for future recruitment. Interested individuals can submit an online application, available at https://bttr.im/mfapo. Applicants will be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator when recruitment occurs again.
If accepted, individuals will need to complete registration paperwork, a Live Scan, and training.
Training occurs over the course of several weeks and is provided by California State Park staff with guest presentations from several partner organizations. Regular attendance is a requirement, and your participation is important to the success of the training. All absences, except those of an emergency nature, must be approved in advance by the Volunteer Coordinator.
Volunteer Coordinator
For any questions, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator & State Park Interpreter Monica Rutherford at monica.rutherford@parks.ca.gov or (805) 460-8762.
