Have you ever wondered about those people you see around the Mission with the black hats and various red & black attire?

These are our Mission San Juan Docents. Docents make California history come alive for over 500,000 school children and adults each year. If you love history, have a natural curiosity, enjoy people and like sharing with others, this may be a volunteer position for you!

The Mission San Juan Capistrano Docent Society will conduct fall training classes for new Docents beginning September 18th. Training will be held for four Saturdays: September 18, 25 and October 3 & 10 from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

The Docent Society is comprised of individuals with a strong sense of history, the importance of remembering it, and
the ability to share it with others. Join them!

Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, Executive Director at Mission San Juan Capistrano said: “Docents have the opportunity
to change a student’s perspective from one that thinks history is boring to one that views history as interesting. As I
still remember my 4th grade field trip to this mission, it inspired me to care about history. Unfortunately here at the
Mission, we don’t have enough docents and hope that we can attract more interesting people who want to make a
difference through docent work.”

In order to become one of the Mission San Juan Capistrano Docents, individuals must participate in all four of the
scheduled Saturday training classes, one-on-one training with a Docent mentor, as well as complete observations of
other Docent tours. The entire process can be completed within eight weeks of the first training class.

The Mission San Juan Capistrano Docent Society has been in existence for 28 years and has a membership of more
than 100. The purpose of the society is to educate and inform the visitors about Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Training fees are $25 per person, payable the second training session. The fee covers training materials and the first
year's membership dues. The minimal annual service requirement is 12 tours.

Docents come from many walks of life. Men and Women who want to share their knowledge with others. Docents are asked to conduct monthly tours and attend monthly meetings. As a society, the docents plan visits to surrounding historical sites, participate in fund raising projects and assist with special projects. The reward for helping history come alive for visitors is satisfaction of a job well done. They help perpetuate the story of how Mission San Juan was established, share the story of the Native Americans [the Acjachemen Indians], Spanish padres, and the leatherjackets who came to this site. The thank you letters from the many school children are a fantastic reward. It is their desire, for all who come to Mission San Juan Capistrano to leave with a sense of marvel and awe about this amazing California story.

To apply for this volunteer group, please download application (pdf)


To make a difference, please contact Pat March to request more information about volunteer opportunities:
eMail Volunteer at the Mission
Phone: (949) 234-1322

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