School Group Programs

Love to teach? Help us lead historic activities for groups of fourth graders visiting the park during our hands-on field trips.

Monterey State Historic Park leads regular school programs for fourth graders during the school semester and we need your help to lead them! This opportunity encourages volunteers to learn at least one of three pairs of activities to teach to school groups visiting our park:

Leather Branding/Stamping & Rope Making: Depending on the weather, the Leather Working activity will demonstrate the use of a leather brand and lead students through stamping their own artistic designs into leather. Provide the historic context of the importance of leather in Alta California.

In the Rope Making Program, you will briefly describe the historic uses of rope in California and the materials rope was made from. Lead students through the process of making a rope using a hand crank machine. After the rope is made, guide students through playing jump-rope with it.

Historic Games & Map Making: In the Games program, lead students through the steps of making a toy using buttons and string. After, lead students through an assortment of historic games.

In the Map Making program, show students an assortment of historic maps of Alta California and the Americas. Discuss the specific features that maps show. Allow students time to draw their own maps.

Cooking Tortillas/Embroidery: The cooking activity will walk students through several steps of the process of cooking tortillas. From grinding corn to cooking the tortilla over the fire, you will lead students through the steps while providing historic context.

In the Embroidery activity, teach students the art of embroidery by teaching them how to make a simple flower on a burlap cloth. Discuss the reasons why embroidery was important in the 1830s through the interactive learning experience.

Volunteers agree:

• To attend training to acquire a background of MSHP’s natural and cultural history and to educate 4th grade students about the park’s natural and cultural resources using interpretive communication.
• To lead small student groups in hands-on historical activities.
• To perform all duties in a professional manner striving to provide courteous services for all park guests.

They should have:

• A willingness to learn and interpret historical and cultural information for 4th grade students.
• Possess a positive and enthusiastic attitude and good communication skills.
• Comfortable with park visitors of all ages and with working both with Park staff and independently.
• The ability to make a serious commitment to attend training, continuing education workshops and meetings.

Formal training conducted by park staff is required to become a School Program Docent. Continued training will be offered for docent enrichment and as required.

Volunteers will wear a park volunteer vest which will display the State Park volunteer emblem and name tag at all times. Uniform may be substituted by approved period attire.

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You do not need to know these skills prior to volunteering! All skills are taught through training prior to you presenting the program. This opportunity is during the school semester (August-November & February-May) Tuesdays through Thursdays. Shifts are from 9 AM - 12 PM.