Docent_responsibilities Flashcards
Q: Summarize a docent’s job in one word.
Education.
Q: Summarize a docent’s job in one sentence.
Enhancing SF Zoo visitors’ understanding and appreciation of animals and nature.
Q: What are the responsibilities/goals of a docent? (not talking about scheduling/logistics here)
-Advance the SF Zoo’s mission: connecting people with wildlife, inspiring caring for nature, and advancing conservation action
-Provide accurate information about SF Zoo animals, exhibits, and conservation issues.
-Explain the various roles of the SF Zoo in a positive manner and encourage public support
-Convey a positive image of the SF Zoo to the public
Q: Once a docent passes their final exam, what, if any, further steps are involved?
-Docents are provisional for the first year- until the anniversary of the first date of their docent training class.
-Provisional docents must fulfill all scheduled assignments during the provisional period to be considered for Active Docent status.
Q: Describe the docent uniform and associated rules.
-‘Docent Uniform’ must be worn when participating in educational and interpretive activities.
-Docent Zoo Vest worn on the outside of all clothing.
-See-through ponchos are available in lounge.
-Shirt: non-patterned; white, black, zoo green, or shades of brown.
-Pants: plain; pants, skirts, or knee-length walking shorts; black, tan, or shades of brown.
-No blue jeans or sweatpants.
-Hats: plain or have the current Zoo logo
-Uniform flair: nothing but nametag, “ask me” button, docent council approved pins, one animal button.
-NO logos from other institutions!!
-You may borrow a vest if you forget yours.
Q: Docent minimum time requirements.
-10 total hours per month
-6 interpretive
-Must use biofacts at least once per month.
-4 benefit
-4 Continuing Education (CE) Units per year
-Attend one of the two general meetings each year, spring or fall. (Counts as one CE credit)
Q: Docent scheduling logistics?
-Typically pick one day of the week that you prefer to work on and give your preferences for that day during the month.
-Once a month you will be asked for your conflicts or the preferred days for the following month.
-Docents responsible for recording hours worked, looking at schedule, and keeping commitments.
-Record hours in binder in docent lounge.
-Important to sign/out. (Zoo staff use this info in emergencies.)
Q: What counts as ‘interpretive’ hours?
-Touring, bone carts, exhibit assignments, and roaming.
-Interpretive hours are the first priority.
Q: What counts as ‘benefit’ hours?
-Anything that benefits the Docent Council or the Zoo in general.
-Tour preparation & paper work.
-Special projects done at home.
-General Meetings.
-Zoo classes or lectures.
-Volunteering at events.
-Helping with mailings.
-DEC service.
Q: What are the continuing education requirements?
-Active touring docents are required to accumulate 4 CE units yearly.
-General meetings in spring or fall count as 1 unit.
-Brown Bags.
-Zoo lectures or keeper talks.
-New docent class training.
-Special zoo/docent trainings.
-Presenting a Brown Bag talk.
-Writing a Docentinel article from a trip or a class.
Q: What is the Docentinel?
The docent’s bimonthly newsletter.
Q: What should a scheduled volunteer do in the case of (potential) inclement weather?
-Call the Education Department for Zoo closure or tour cancellations
-Unless the group cancels, we give tours rain or shine; if you are scheduled you must complete the tour.
Q: Gorilla World docent protocols?
-Remove vest and keep it out of sight while in exhibit.
-Give talk to group before you go to exhibit. Don’t spen significant time at the exhibit.
-Leave Gorilla World if silverback seems agitated.
-Avoid low window station on far end of exhibit.
-Do not engage with gorillas.
-Goal: Silverback to be indifferent or oblivious to your presence. Not to like or acknowledge you.
-Do not bring rowdy tour groups to GW.
-Do not stand in front of him; view him at a distance. (If he is at the first viewing station on the east or west side of GW when you arrive, do not stop; walk past him and view him from the other side of the grotto.)
Q: Found child without parent procedure?
-Call education dept, communicate situation, name of child, description of child, name of adult.
-Wait for instructions from security to move from location.
-Do not hand over child to another guest. Wait for security or zoo employee.
Q: Found parent without child procedure?
-Call security.
-Give location, last place and time child was seen, description of the child (name, age, gender, physical description).
-Await instructions from security before changing locations and stay with the parent/guardian.
