JFGM Docent Recruitment
Overview
Docents are highly trained volunteers and are one of the first meaningful interactions that guests may have with the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum. A docent guides guests through the garden and shares information about Japanese culture, garden design principles, and the history of JFGM, among other topics. This docent recruitment is targeted for volunteers interested in providing public tours and docent dialogues. Recruitment for training is at limited capacity and is on a first come, first serve basis.
Being a docent is a long-term, highly rewarding commitment. Prospective docents must be able to dedicate themselves to studying information about the garden, participating in tours, and educating guests who visit JFGM.
One of the main goals of the JFGM Docent Program is to support the JFGM mission of educating, engaging, and inspiring people of diverse backgrounds about Japanese culture and community legacy in multiple ways.
Public tours & Docent Diaglogues
Public tours allow docents to guide guests through areas of the upper or lower garden. Guests pay an entry fee into the garden and are able to attend any of the daily scheduled tours, complimentary with admission.
For docent dialogues, docents are stationed in an area of the garden to speak about a specific subject. These talks are commonly held at the dry stone garden, bonsai garden, or koi pond. Docent dialogues are an excellent opportunity for guest interaction and to highlight an exhibit, artifact, or collection in the garden.
Commitment
Minimum required hours for training and leading tours.
Required Docent Program Training Schedule
TBA Zoom Orientation at 2pm (1 hour virtual)
TBA Shadow Tour at 10am (1 hour in person)
TBA 2 Shadow Tours at 10am & 11am (2 hours in person)
Demo tour to JFGM staff for evaluation (1 hour in person, TBD after training is completed)
Qualifications
• 1 year commitment as an active docent
• Interest in Japanese culture or landscape design principles
• Ability to walk for an hour to lead public tours. A chair is available for docent dialogues.