What is a docent?

A docent is a museum teacher or guide.  The word docent comes from the Latin word docere meaning 'to teach.' Docents introduce the museum's history and art collections to thousands of visitors each year.

What does a Haggin Museum docent do?

Haggin Museum docents, men and women of all ages, lead tours for a wide variety of groups – schools, community organizations, adult day care, residential care facilities, and tour companies.  Docents also travel to schools and adult sites to give slide-illustrated presentations on the museum. 

What are the requirements for being a docent?

• Enjoy working with children and adults
• Enjoy learning about the museum's local history and art collection

No special academic background is required.  If you are concerned because you have not been in school for some years, please do not let this discourage you.  The museum staff and Docent Council members are always willing and eager to help new trainees. 

All museum volunteers are asked to become museum members. For more information, visit our Membership section.

What is involved in docent training?

Docent classes are held on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon from September 15, 2005 through early May 2006 with a break for the Thanksgiving through New Year’s period.  Trainees are required to attend all classes; however, you may make up a maximum of five classes you miss by viewing a video of the class.

What commitment does a docent make?

Following training, each docent agrees to serve as a docent for a minimum of three years.  Each year, a docent is asked to present at least 12 tours.  Docents are free to select which tours they wish to lead.  This gives them the flexibility to schedule their museum hours around other work and family obligations.  Docents also provide Saturday and Sunday afternoon tours once a year.

Docents attend regular monthly meetings on the fourth Wednesday morning of the month (9:30-11:30 am).  These meetings feature special programs relating to the museum and its collections.  Twice a year the Docent Council arranges for an optional trip to another area museum or location of special interest to docents.

Why become a docent?

Docenting is both rewarding and fun.  You will enjoy spending time with your fellow docents, women and men from a variety of backgrounds, who share a common commitment to the museum and to Stockton and San Joaquin County.  You will have an opportunity to introduce adults and children to a community resource many of them know little about.  Students will often send a thank you to docents with comments like:  "Thank you for the wonderful tour, it was very grand.  But all this wouldn't be so great if our docent hadn't been you!"  Or, "I like The Haggin Museum.  It's the best museum in the U.S.A.  You are nice."  When you receive these letters, you know you have made a difference!