Volunteers Needed to Lead Children's Walks

Registrations are being accepted NOW
(Training Begins September 23, 2008)

Help city kids experience nature - right in the heart of San Francisco! September is back-to-school time and at SF Botanical Garden it’s also back-to-nature time.  Over 5,500 San Francisco school children will visit the Botanical Garden this year and volunteers are needed to help. No previous horticultural experience is required, just a willingness to learn some basic botany and an eagerness to share information with budding young minds. If you enjoy working with children and have a love of the outdoors, participating in the docent-training program at San Francisco Botanical Garden is a terrific opportunity for you to get involved in your community and have some fun too!

This three-month program trains volunteers to lead three themed walks for school children, kindergarten through grade 5. Participants will learn basic ecology and botany along with techniques for engaging children outdoors through an exciting mix of hands-on classroom time, walk observation, and practice.

Why would anyone want to lead children's walks at SFBG?

As we waited this morning for a group of students from Cesar Chavez Elementary School to arrive, I asked four docents this question. Diane Balter, a docent since 2004, described the walks as "a break from modern life" both for her and for the children. Instead of having to sit still indoors all day, they all get to be outside, using their whole bodies to discover and learn. "I've heard a lot of kids say that they usually hate field trips, but that this one was great!"

"I like seeing when something clicks and suddenly the kids get excited" said Jolie Lonner Egert, who started guiding walks this spring. "A lot of the problems in our world happen because we've lost our connection with nature. It's incredible to see when kids suddenly connect the plants they see with the food they eat." Jolie became a docent to explore a new career path working with children, and so far it looks like she's on the right track!

Elizabeth Murray first came to teacher training programs here at the garden in 1966 and brought her elementary students to the garden during her entire 30-plus year teaching career. "On my walks I find that 9 out of 10 kids love it, and one is afraid. They don't have much experience with the natural world, and they really need it." Elizabeth became a docent in 2003, soon after retiring from classroom teaching.


Ernie Ng, a ten year veteran, nodded sagely and agreed with his colleagues. He's worked with over 1500 children in his time here and he's still coming back for more…you can tell he's having a good time!

Many more opportunities are available. Call (415) 661-1316 ext. 412, or email: volunteer@sfbotanicalgarden.org