Roles

There are several types of volunteers who contribute their services at Angel Island State Park. This page explains the two roles that currently require specialized training:

	Docents (primary role: provide interpretive tours)
	Park Hosts (primary role: provide basic information about Angel Island to visitors)

Docents

are volunteers who 'interpret' (or provide tours on) the historical, cultural, and natural aspects of Angel Island. To qualify, you should be interested in nature and/or history and be able to present information about the Island to groups of people (from a few to as many as 50 in some cases). The ability to speak Chinese, while certainly not required, can be valuable to those who choose to provide Immigration Station tours. Docent training introduces volunteers to all aspects of the Island.

Docents are asked to provide twelve days of service each year to visitors, including ten days on the island. Many docents specialize in a site, but still have the background to provide valuable information to visitors on all aspects of the island.

Docents lead both scheduled weekday school tours and casual (unscheduled) weekend tours of the historic sites for drop-in visitors. Docents also conduct scheduled nature hikes and bike tours.

The Docent uniform is a blue jacket with an "Angel Island Docent" patch. Docents receive free ferry rides to the Island when they are volunteering and may be able to stay overnight at Quarters 10 in association with a day of service.

Training is held annually for six Saturdays in the spring. Schedule details and other information are normally posted between January and May each year.

The Park Host

is a role created in 2002. To qualify, you should be outgoing, service-oriented, and enjoy meeting park visitors from all over the world and all walks of life. Park Hosts greet and help visitors when they first arrive on the island. Types of information Park Hosts provide includes:

	Company picnic locations
	Ferry times
	Directions to Island locations
	Campsite information and directions for registered campers
	How to pay dock fees
	What can be done on the Island in an hour or two
	Bathroom locations

Park Hosts are needed primarily on weekends during the tourist season - April through October - and are expected to be on duty from 9:00am to 4:20pm each day. The Park Host uniform is a blue vest with the sign, "Angel Island Park Host". Park Hosts receive free ferry rides to the Island when they are volunteering.

Park Host training is also recommended for those who wish to volunteer in the following capacities:

	Serving as sales personnel in the Association Gift Shop;
	Assisting with clerical tasks in the state park office.
	Helping with restoration and maintenance of the sites;

Training takes one day and is repeated when there is adequate interest. For more information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at Angel Island State Park, 415-435-3522 or email aivc@parks.ca.gov.