Depending on the program, Volunteers may set up props and live animals, greet school groups, participate in an educational puppet show or slide presentation, lead students through hands-on learning experiences and return props and animals after program is completed. Docents bring puppets alive to splash off this popular introduction to the world of water. Then, it's around the Aquarium exhibits to visit sea stars, sharks and octopuses that are just a few of the cast of real aquatic characters. Marine mammals' physical requirements are much like ours, yet they inhabit the marine world. Docents lead this program which has an environmental focus and explores how we can help protect aquatic ecosystems on which marine mammals depend.
Docents lead students in discussions of the food chain and ecological issues.
Arctic Adventures explores the plants, animals and people that inhabit the Arctic and looks at what it takes to stay alive in a cold, white, icy world. The program teaches the cultural, economic, and biological history of these fish. In this award-winning program, docents lead students on an exploration of the Graham Amazon Gallery, with attention to the importance of rainforests and their inhabitants at both the local and global levels. Docents set up props, introduce the program with a slide presentation, guide students through stations, facilitate discussion, put away props, evaluate performance and program regularly, attend continuing education sessions and field trips. Docents encourage students to critically examine the daily barrage of scientific information in both school and daily life.