Volunteer
Volunteer Involvement Opportunities
For those of you who are interested in becoming a volunteer at Eaton Canyon, there are many opportunities available. To find out more about these and other positions call (626) 398-5420, or e-mail us at ecncag@gmail.com.
Docent Naturalists
We are always looking for docents to lead groups on tours of the Canyon. No experience or science background whatsoever is required, as there is a comprehensive training course which must be completed in order to qualify. The course covers botany, zoology, geology, meteorology, history, and more, but the subjects are presented in an easy-to-understand format by experts in their fields.
Garden Volunteers
Several people are needed to do light weeding, gentle pruning, and trimming of paths approximately one morning per week to maintain native plants in the Nature Center landscape.
Gift Shop & Information Counter Volunteer
Help is needed to cover shifts on both weekdays and weekends. A volunteer is stationed at the Information Counter to help with phones and public inquiries, and to stock and sell items from the Gift Shop.
Park Conservation Group
The Conservation Group provides monthly and by-appointment opportunities to community members wishing to volunteer with the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. These opportunities will specifically entail conservation efforts within the park such as weed removal, tree planting, and maintenance of native plants. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/eatoncanyonconservation.
Annual Docent-Naturalist Training Class
Our docent-naturalists lead both school children and adults on hikes throughout our park. This class covers an overview of natural world topics: Ecological Concepts, Geology, Botany, Invertebrates, Amphibians and Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, Canyon History, and training on how to be a docent-naturalist.
If you love the Eaton Canyon Natural Area & Nature Center, if you want to learn a lot more about our natural world, and you would like to share your love of nature with children and adults, either as a docent or volunteer, this is your class.
For more information, contact ecanyontraining@gmail.com.
Tuition includes a one year Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates membership and docent manual. Enrollment forms available at the Gift Shop in the Nature Center.
The 2024 Docent-Naturalist Training Class has ended. It ran from Feb. 20 thru April 11. A Coffee Intro. was held on February 13 – 10am at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Classes were held on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9am-12noon at the Nature Center.
More information to follow for the 2025 class. Sign-ups and more information is available by emailing: ecanyontraining@gmail.com.