Winter Wildlife Docent program is open for (limited) recruitment!

The Point Reyes National Seashore is recruiting new docents to join the Winter Wildlife Docent Program (WWDP). This is a long-running and well-respected program that many people return to volunteer with year after year. A limited number of new docent spots are available this year due to a 78% return rate from last season's docents. If you are interested, submit your application materials as soon as possible and before the closing date of Friday, September 12, 2025.

How to Apply

Applications are now being accepted. The application period will close on Friday, September 12, 2025. Applicants will be notified if they have been accepted or not by early October. 

Please note that applicants need to submit forms for a complete application:

1) an application form at Volunteer.gov: Volunteer Opportunity Detail  and

2) the Applicant Questionnaire: https://forms.office.com/g/WsuigjRKhU

Overview

The Winter Wildlife Docent promotes awareness and protection of northern elephant seals, gray whales, and other marine life by helping visitors view, understand, and appreciate these species; helps visitors understand the ongoing management and research issues relating to northern elephant seals in Point Reyes National Seashore; and provides general park information and assistance to visitors.

Docents in the program share information with visitors about the amazing lives of elephant seals and whales, as well as information about Point Reyes in general.  We interact with visitors at multiple sites, including Drakes Beach, the Elephant Seal Overlook, the Historic Lifeboat Station and the Lighthouse observation deck.   Read more about the docent program

Training

To provide you with the necessary information and tools, we require new docents to undergo four days of training.  The first two days are for new docents, and the last two are for all docents, new and returning.  Various presenters will share their knowledge about the fabulous creatures that visit or make Point Reyes their home.  Once the season starts, we pair new docents with those who have experience until new docents are comfortable with the materials and interactions with the public. 

The mandatory trainings for the 2025-2026 season are as follows: 

November 15th and 16th, 2025 (for new docents) 

December 6th and 7th. 2025 for all docents.   

January trainings on specific topics will be remote.  (Dates to be determined). 

Commitment

Our Winter Wildlife Docent Program (WWDP) program runs 7 days a week, from December 19, 2025 through April 26, 2026.  During that period, we require docents to put in seven shifts. The shifts generally run from 9:30 to 4:30, though we may decide to have a morning shift that starts a little earlier and an afternoon shift that ends a little later (TBD)


Accommodations

We will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities that would enable them to participate in the program.      

Important things to note

  • Applicants must live within driving distance of Point Reyes National Seashore for at least the majority of the season, if not all of it.

  • Housing is not available at this time.

  • Seven shifts are required over the course of the season

  • Returning docents from the '24-'25 season DO NOT need to submit application materials.

lena zentallVolunteer, Winter Wildlife Docent