When Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy opens the gates for its sixth
season April 1, the park’s ride operators, concession stand vendors
and gift shop clerks will be ready. But there is another group
of
”
employees
”
who will also be standing by: docents.
By Julie Engelhardt, Special to South Valley Newspapers
When Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy opens the gates for its sixth season April 1, the park’s ride operators, concession stand vendors and gift shop clerks will be ready. But there is another group of “employees” who will also be standing by: docents.
Docents are volunteers who put in hundreds of hours at the park, and they do much more than direct guests to the nearest water fountain or restroom. They are educators, trained to deepen the public’s understanding of the park’s different gardens and educational exhibits through giving tours.
The park has 80 docents who vary widely in age and background. They are required to work eight hours per month with a one-year commitment at sign up, but some love it so much that they do it more.
Two docent-led tours are held each day during the park’s regular season. Because the tours are so popular, guests are encouraged to sign up when they first arrive at the park for the day, said Richard Soria, Bonfante’s docent coordinator. The volunteers, easily recognizable by their green-vest uniforms, are an integral part of the park, Soria said.
“People like talking with them because they can find out more about the park and the displays,” he explained.
Marie Ziegel is one docent who doesn’t mind putting in her fair share of hours. Ziegel, who is retired, joined the docent program when the park first opened in 2001, and she said she volunteers 30 to 40 hours per week.
“I like working in Monarch Gardens and Claudia’s Garden,” Ziegel said. “I also like giving tours and working with the Boy and Girl Scout troops when they do their overnight camps.”
This year, docents will have the opportunity to participate in new educational programs, including a bee exhibit and an expanded butterfly display that includes a daily release. The bee exhibit was the idea of one of the park’s docents, Wayne Pitts, a part-time beekeeper in Gilroy.
Volunteers aren’t required to have previous horticultural experience; just the desire to work outside and share their love of the outdoors.
“We cater to what the docents like to do,” Soria said. “Some people do want to learn more about the bees or the butterflies, then there are others who just want to be greeters at the front of the park.”
One event that docents are especially involved in is Junior Horticulture Day, which will take place May 23. More than 1,100 fourth-grade students from area schools convene at Bonfante to learn more about trees, plants and gardens.
Though docents are not paid, they do receive some advantages, such as unlimited admission to the park as well as discounts at park shops and restaurants.
Interested?
If you would like to be a docent at Bonfante Gardens, e-mail your complete name and mailing address to ri***********@*************ns.com or call (408) 840-7210 to request an application. Docents must be 18 or older.
Docent orientation sessions will take place from 9:30-11:30am March 22 and 25 at Bonfante Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway in Gilroy. Docents will learn about the history of the park, the different trees and plants, and details related to being a docent.
