Volunteer RFO Docent Training Docents are needed at the Robert Ferguson Observatory. Docent volunteers must be friendly, courteous, and possess good communication skills. They must be willing to make a serious time commitment to attend training, and they must volunteer a minimum of four hours each month. Knowledge of astronomy is helpful but not necessary.
Docents do everything at the observatory to keep it operating.
The range of tasks is wide and varied - from operating the telescopes and computers to assisting with parking on public viewing nights. At this time we have special need for volunteers who have expertise in accounting, fund raising, and public relations. Benefits include complimentary passes for public viewing nights, personal observing time, opportunities to participate in RFO research projects, and admission to RFO sponsored classes and events. The major benefit you receive as a docent might well be the personal satisfaction of sharing your interest in, knowledge of, and enthusiasm for astronomy with the general public or simply the thrill of operating a large telescope at a dark site. Volunteers begin their training with a series of classes presented by the State Parks Dept.