• Are you inspired by the beauty of Edgewood?
• Are you curious about the plants, animals, soils, and climate that make Edgewood uniquely diverse?
• Would you like to help others to better understand, respect, and support not only Edgewood but our entire natural world?
If your answers are “yes!” we welcome your interest in becoming an Edgewood Wildflower Docent.
What we do: Wildflower Docents lead 3-hour interpretive nature walks throughout the year, but especially during the spring wildflower season. Experienced docents are asked to lead at least 3 hikes each year. No previous training is required to become a docent. We’ll help you gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead walks and interpret the preserve’s natural resources.
Training schedule: Docent training is offered each year from January through early May. After an introductory hike, eight online classes are held on alternate Wednesday evenings, each followed by a Saturday morning hike in the preserve. Our instructors have expertise in their fields, and all share a great love of Edgewood. Our goal is to have you prepared and confident to lead hikes that same spring! You’ll find the 2025 training schedule here.
What’s covered: You’ll learn about Edgewood’s geology, plants, and wildlife, along with its history, preservation, and on-going restoration. Along the way, you’ll develop the interpretive strategies and skills that make for a great hike experience. The program’s design will provide you with a rich context for understanding and communicating the special nature of Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve.
Cost: A $60 fee is charged for materials. Fee waivers are available upon request.
Age requirement: All Friends of Edgewood volunteers must be at least 18 years old, unless, whenever they volunteer, they are accompanied by an adult parent or guardian. We encourage teen and parent/guardian docent partnerships!
Right for you? If you delight in the natural wonders of Edgewood; if you’d like to enrich your own life and the lives of others with a closer connection to the natural world; if you are excited by the opportunities for challenge, adventure, and community that an Edgewood docent enjoys, please consider joining us! We strongly encourage members of BIPOC communities or other groups underrepresented in the environmental field to join the docent class and help inspire our next generation of environmental stewards.
Contact: For more information or to be placed on the contact list for the class of 2025, write the Docent Training Coordinator, Sandy Bernhard, at [email protected].