Docent & Volunteer Information

 

Volunteering at Placerita Canyon

For information about volunteering at Placerita Canyon Nature Center, call 661-259-7721 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator or send an email to fhoffman@parks.lacounty.gov

The Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates

The Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates (PCNCA) is a 501c3 non-profit volunteer group that assists the County of Los Angeles in the operation and programming of Placerita Canyon Natural Area. The PCNCA administers the Docent Naturalist Program, which requires a 10-week training class. For more information about becoming a Docent, send an email to ron@placerita.org.

 

Docent Enrichment

The PCNCA conducts a monthly in-service training program for docents to improve interpretive skills and to keep informed on current topics related to our mission. Following are links to some of the recent programs.

 

Docent Naturalist Training

Docent Naturalists lead hikes for elementary school groups and conduct other nature center activities. Training for this program is done once a year in January through March. Following are links to the resources and materials used in our 2026 Docent Training Program.

 

Training Manual:

“Windows Into the Wild”

 

Orientation:

Ecology 1:

County Volunteer Orientation:

Placerita Canyon History

Arthropods:

Herpetology

Birds 

Mammals

Native Plants:

Indigenous People

Geology

Ethnobotany

Interpretive Techniques & Shared Values

Animal Interpretation

Special Programs Training — Walker Cabin & Family

Special Programs Training — Docent Service Opportunities

School Tour Experience 

Ecology II

Walker Ranch History Hike

Docent Service Opportunities

Ecology II

Course Review & Final Exam Preparation

Final Exam