Volunteer!
The Organization
Coyote Point Museum, located in San Mateo, is recognized as one of the country's foremost environmental educational institutions. The Museum includes a dramatic Environmental Hall which takes visitors on an imaginary walk from the Bay to the Ocean, and outdoor Wildlife Habitats home to over 50 live animals native to California in naturalistic settings including a walk through aviary.
Volunteer Training
Learn about our animals and ecology, interpretation techniques, and how to inspire visitors to care for the environment. Volunteers who attend this training will be able to serve as Wildlife Habitats Docents, Instructional Assistants for our environmental education classes, and/or roving weekend guides (TWIG’s). The Education Department will be offering a Volunteer Training Series on September 6 and 20, 9am-1pm, and October 4, 9am-12pm. The $40 cost includes all 3 sessions plus all materials. To register, please complete a Volunteer Application Form and Training Registration Form. For additional information, please contact Volunteer Manager Lee Cauble at 650-340-7580 or lcauble@coyoteptmuseum.org.
- Wildlife Habitats Docents
- Age: 18+. Training provided.
- Commitment: Must be available two weekdays per month. Volunteer shifts are approx. three hours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
- Description: Volunteer Docents conduct live animal presentations and lead environmental education tours for K-6 classes through the Wildlife Habitats.
- The Weekend Interpretive Guides (TWIG's)
- Age: 18+, or 13-17 when partnered with a parent. New TWIG's attend training sessions and shadow current volunteers.
- Commitment: Must be available for a 4-hour shift on at least one weekend day per month.
- Description: TWIG's provide interpretive presentations as well as roving visitor services at the Museum.
- Instructional Assistants
- Age: 18+. Training provided.
- Commitment: Must be available for 3-4 classes per month. Classes are offered Monday-Friday, primarily during morning hours.
- Description: Instructional Assistants help professional instructors from the Museum teach environmental education courses to school groups on and off site. Can involve animal handling.
- Wildlife Aides
- Age: 18+. On the job training provided.
- Commitment: One day per week, 4-6 hours, starting early morning, for at least 6 months.
- Description: Wildlife Aides work side by side with our professional animal keepers and assist in the day to day cleaning of the animal facilities as well as preparing diets for the animals. Must be physically able to clean and very dependable. Volunteers continuing for several months will have the opportunity to learn bird handling and serve as wildlife interpreters.
- Aviary Aides
- Age: 18+. On the job training provided.
- Commitment: Must be available one day per week for a 4-hour shift for at least 3 months.
- Description: Aviary Aides hose off Aviary walkways before the Museum opens, and then spend 3 hours helping visitors by interpreting the wildlife and monitoring the area.
- Toddler Tuesday Assistants
- Age: 18+, or 13-17 under adult supervision. Short training program provided.
- Commitment: Must be available on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 9:30am-12:15pm for at least 6 months.
- Description: Toddler Tuesday Assistants help our educators provide specially designed activities and crafts for toddlers and their caregivers.
- Foothill Docents, San Mateo County Parks
- Age: 18+. Training with current docents provided.
- Commitment: : Volunteers must be available two weekdays per month during the spring. Volunteer shifts are three hours in the morning.
- Description: Volunteer Docents lead environmental education hikes and interpret the local flora and fauna at Huddart, San Bruno Mountain, and Junipero Serra parks.
