If you're an outdoor enthusiast and would like to be more involved in your community, consider becoming a volunteer docent at one of the East Bay Regional Park District's interpretive centers.

For over 35 years, East Bay residents have contributed to and made a difference in their local regional parks as docents and volunteers, helping naturalists teach about the valuable natural and cultural resources preserved by the parks.

Beginning this winter, six Regional Parks visitor centers will offer docent opportunities for people to get involved.

• Ardenwood Historic Farm

  Since Ardenwood opened in Fremont in 1985, docents have been essential in bringing the late-1800s era farm to life. Dressed in period clothing, they can be found throughout the farmyard on most Fridays and weekends, engaging visitors in hands-on demonstrations of typical farm chores, including hay bale hoisting, corn shelling and grinding, and wool spinning.

  Ardenwood docents help the staff achieve its goal of offering valuable experiences and individual attention to every visitor, and are especially appreciated at the farm's many special events, where they cook on a wood stove, make ice cream and apple cider, lead craft activities such as corn husk or clothespin doll-making, and assist with farming activities like walnut and corn harvesting. See page 4 and 5 for typical docent-led activities, including tours of the Victorian Patterson House.

• Sunol Regional Wilderness

  Sunol Regional Wilderness near Sunol has been offering volunteer opportunities for three decades. Docents are an important and integral part of Sunol's interpretive programs, helping teach visiting schoolchildren about California Indians, pioneering and natural history. In addition, Sunol's many special events provide volunteers with additional opportunities to share their expertise with visitors at the park.

• Coyote Hills Regional Park

  Located in Fremont near the shores of San Francisco Bay, Coyote Hills was once home to the Tuibun Ohlone. Docents are needed to assist naturalists in the presentation of interpretive programs, leading hands-on activities designed to help students learn about the culture of these native people. Activities may include making string, dolls and beads, and playing typical California Indian games. After naturalist-led hikes in the park's freshwater marshes and grassland-covered hills docents will lead nature games and assist with metamorphosis tours through the park's gorgeous Butterfly Garden.

• Crab Cove Visitor Center

  Crab Cove, located adjacent to Crown Memorial State Beach along the east bay shoreline in Alameda, is looking for docents to assist naturalists with school programs for children, including nature games, microscope activities, crafts, book reading and storytelling, nature observations, and pond studies. Perfect for anyone with an interest in marine ecology and enjoys working with students of all ages.

• Tilden Nature Area

  Located in the Berkeley Hills, Tilden Regional Park is on of the oldest crown jewels of the Regional Parks system. Docents will assist in presenting educational programs for visiting school groups, focusing on the natural history of beautiful Wildcat Creek Watershed. Additionally, docents will assist the public in learning about the Native Plant Butterfly Garden and Little Farm in the Nature Area.

• Black Diamond Mines

  Docents will have an exciting opportunity to delight visitors with the unique blend of cultural and natural history at Black Diamond Mines. Help is needed to expand Black Diamond's school programs featuring the history of the coal mining town site of Somersville, and the Rose Hill Cemetery. Docents will also assist at the underground Greathouse Visitor Center.

• Botanic Garden

  The Regional Parks Botanic Garden, located in Tilden Regional Park in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills, is always looking for volunteers. For more information about the Botanic Garden docent program or volunteering visit www.nativeplants.org or call 510-841-8732.

Who To Call To Volunteer

• Ardenwood: Christina Garcia, (510) 796-0199, CGarcia@ebparks.org.
• Sunol: Katie Colbert, (925) 862-2604, Kcolbert@ebparks.org.
• Coyote Hills: Kristina Parkinson, (510) 795-9385, KParkinson@ebparks.org.
• Crab Cove: Gail Broesder, (510) 521-6887, Gbroesder@ebparks.org.
• Tilden: Linda Yemoto, (510) 525-2233, Lyemoto@ebparks.org.
• Black Diamond: Mike Moran, (925) 757-2620, MMoran@ebparks.org.

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