The Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC), in collaboration with Marin County Parks and Open Space and other individuals and organizations, is pleased to offer our volunteer docent training for the Duxbury Docent program at Duxbury Reef, Agate Beach County Park. The purpose of the volunteer program is to help educate visitors about the reef's rocky intertidal ecology, California's marine protected areas (MPAs) and stewardship practices to help protect the marine life at Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA).
Our second public training is slated to begin in January 2025 with a 5 part series of training sessions in January and February to prepare docents for educating visitors in time for the spring's low tides.
Training Dates:
Friday, January 24
Saturday, January 25
Sunday, January 26
Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
If bad weather cancels, additional dates:
February 22
February 23
Training Topics include:
Duxbury Reef flora and fauna
Intertidal zonation
Reef ecology and geology
Anthropogenic impacts
Tide pooling etiquette
California Marine Protected Areas and relevant regulations.
MPA Watch community science
Docent skills & program expectations
The training will be instructed by local experts in the field.
Participant Requirements:
Be at least 18 years old.
Commit to at least 6 months of service with two 2-4 hour scheduled shifts per month (low tides in daylight).
Contribute to community science data.
Attend each scheduled training date.
Attend at least one team check-in meeting per year.
Be able to move about comfortably on the slippery and uneven surface of the intertidal area.
Volunteer Resources Provided:
Training manual, Quick ID Chart, Field Guides, Docent uniform items, MPA Brochures, Datasheets, and MPA Watch resources, additional training and enrichment, quarterly program check-in meetings, online shift scheduling calendar.
Data Collection:
Docents are expected to complete a Shift Report and conduct an Marin MPA Watch survey during their shift that provides important information on visitation and activities conducted on the reef that inform management of Duxbury Reef.
Contact EAC if you have any questions.