Pease Park Conservancy
Docent Program
Docents are a special group of volunteers that help Pease Park Conservancy achieve its mission in the park. Docents provide conservation-related learning experiences for park visitors of all ages, serve as representatives of Pease Park Conservancy, and assist the Conservancy’s conservation team with land management initiatives.
Environmental learning docent
This volunteer leadership role is ideal for people who are passionate about the environment, learning more about our ecosystem, and sharing that passion with others.
A docent candidate might be someone who has devoted their life to environmental sciences and studies and wishes to share that knowledge with the public. Candidates can also be people with varying degrees of experience, an interest in leading volunteer groups, learning about conservation, building community, and so forth.
Ultimately, previous experience in the environmental field is not required. Pease Park and the outdoors are meant to be enjoyed and cared for by all, so we invite folks of all backgrounds and abilities to become a docents.
Opportunity
The Pease Park Conservancy docent program is an opportunity for individuals to:
share their knowledge and passion with Austinites of all kinds of environmental backgrounds
enhance leadership and communication skills
learn more about the work of Pease Park Conservancy, our partner organizations, greenspaces, environmental studies & sciences, land management practices, and more
become involved in the community and meet like-minded people with similar interests
make a difference in people’s lives by sharing the wonders of the natural world with the public
Responsibilities
Assist with conservation learning programming for groups including:
Peasecology School Field Trips
PPC volunteer groups
Attendees at PPC large scale events, including Squirrel Fest, Pride Picnic, Southern Lights
Assist with conservation learning programming activities including:
Peasecology School Activity Kits
National Geographic Bioblitz throughout Pease Park pavilions (Kingsbury Commons, Live Oak Meadow, Gaston Green, Lamar Terrace)
Families in Nature Ecologist School Pease Park Edition pocket guide lessons
Project Wild Coursework and activities
Help lead volunteer work in the park
Table in Pease Park to share information about upcoming events and encourage folks to complete PPC survey(s)
Requirements
A monthly commitment of up to 4 hours in Pease Park
Individuals must agree to and pass a background check as required by the City of Austin and Pease Park Conservancy
Ideal candidates are
18+ years of age
enthusiastic, patient, and friendly demeanor
passionate about the environment
Trainings
Environmental Learning Docents will undergo training with Pease Park Conservancy staff before leading volunteer groups or programming events
Benefits
Two free tickets to Luminarium - Pease Park Conservancy’s annual fundraiser that takes place in the fall, complete with food, entertainment, and more! (1 Ticket for a docent and 1 ticket for their plus one)
Invitation to volunteer appreciation events
Free Pease Park Conservancy Swag
MEET OUR CURRENT DOCENTS
Kaitlyn Cobb
Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Kaitlyn called the Sierra Nevada mountains home, where she developed a deep appreciation for nature and a sense of adventure. Early in her career, she embarked on an adventurous journey across continents to expand her horizons and teach in various corners of the world, including Seoul, South Korea, Brussels, Belgium, and Austin, Texas. This international experience provided Kaitlyn with invaluable insights into diverse educational systems, teaching methodologies, and cross-cultural communication. Driven by her love for education and a desire to make a broader impact, Kaitlyn transitioned into the field of instructional design. She now develops innovative and engaging instructional materials, leveraging technology to create meaningful learning experiences for adult learners.
Kaitlyn brings a commitment to student-centered learning, cultural sensitivity, and a deep-rooted love for learning. Her goal as a Docent at Pease Park is to instill a love for learning, a sense of curiosity, and responsibility for the park's preservation.
Alejandro Hernandez
Alejandro "Alex" Hernandez (he/him) was born and raised in Mexico City. In 2021 he moved to Austin to study his Master of Global Policy Studies at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin and loved exploring the city. He has worked in consulting and local government with the goal of increasing youth involvement in policies and promoting climate actions in non-profits and government. He is part of the St. Gallen Symposium 100 Leaders of Tomorrow (in Switzerland) collaborating with a global youth network to bridge the generatiqson gap on climate issues. Alex was a researcher of the Global Disinformation Lab at UT, and he currently works at Austin Water as a Content Strategist. He is a docent at Pease Park Conservancy to learn new things and share his experience about climate communications.
