Ortiz Mountains Educational Preserve Docent Training

“Are we there yet?” (Photo: Diana Dallas)

The Ortiz Mountains Educational Preserve (OMEP) is fully staffed by trained volunteer docents. Docents are adults of all ages, walks of life and educational backgrounds.  The Preserve is accessible only via high-clearance four wheel drive vehicles.  People who like to be outdoors are encouraged to join us.

Each year, we offer a Docent Training Program to prepare volunteers to lead nature walks and hikes at OMEP. The docents’ responsibility is to greet visitors in the OMEP parking area and accompany and guide them up the road and into the Preserve.

Trainees this year will be trained to work at Cerrillos State Park and/or OMEP.

Our Docent Training Program is a free one-day event with both classroom and on-site presentations. Training includes classes, nature walks and digital presentations all taught by our Teaching Team made up of SFBG senior docents, educators and resource professionals and covers topics including plant life, geology, history, mining and more.

Trainees are required to spend time at OMEP observing activities and interpretive presentations. In order to achieve full docent status, trainees are expected to attend the full day training.  Upon successful completion of the training, trainees can begin volunteering as a docent. The trainings changes from year to year and we encourage experienced docents to attend annually.

If you are interested, please contact Fran Cole, Outreach Director, for more information. Docent training is also available at the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve >>

In the meantime, if you would like to pursue other volunteer opportunities at SFBG, begin by either completing the volunteer application online or by printing and sending a Volunteer Application form to the office.