At SOHO our mission of preservation through education is key to our work and to our stewardship of the Whaley House. Operating the Whaley House has afforded wonderful new opportunities to expand the preservation message to visitors from around the world and to the students of San Diego's schools.
The Youth Docent Program was created when current Executive Director Bruce Coons brought his desire to introduce youth to historic preservation through the history of the Whaley House. This was a personal objective as when he first became interested in San Diego history as a young boy he found that there were few opportunities in the 1960's for children with such interests. He went to historical societies and museums but was told he had to be 18 to be a member or to get involved. Not easily daunted he created his own avenues to pursue (the SDHS eventually created a young persons membership level for him) and he became a preservation advocate through that early love of history.
The goal is to grow preservationists, to show young people why history and historic preservation and a sense of place are so important to their lives and their identity, and to develop a sense of pride-of-ownership in their city.
Junior docents receive training in both content and technique so that they can enhance the museum experience for the visitors. They must be prepared to answer questions from visitors not only about the museum, the Whaley family, but the history of early San Diego in general. They are also required to dress in period-correct clothing as part of our Interpretive Program.
In return, the Youth Program offers a unique and challenging experience, as well as training and volunteer job experience that will serve these young people in their adult careers. Not only do they learn about many facets of the museum, they have an opportunity to meet architectural historians, archeologists, and other history related professionals who are often found at the SOHO offices and in the Whaley House complex. They learn to develop their personal style in presenting tours and present them in a professional and friendly way to visitors from around the world.
Junior docents are trained alongside the adult docents, where they are treated as peers. All docents are held to the same standards and given the same responsibility of providing the visitor with an enjoyable, fun and hopefully educational experience.
Your gift will help us to expand the docent program, to provide the custom made period attire and continual in-depth training.
