Become a Guide at Morris Arboretum and Share Your Love for Nature |
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February 25, 2014, Volume 60, No. 24 |
Guides have played an active role at the Morris Arboretum for nearly 40 years. In fact, one guide has been involved with the program for 36 years. Much has changed at the Arboretum during the last four decades in both the landscape and its interpretation. The first guided tours were general walks that highlighted interesting plants and features, like the Weeping Beech and the Log Cabin. Novice guides became familiar with the grounds by taking tours led by experienced guides and Paul Meyer, the Curator of the Living Collections at the time. Later, the new guides honed their skills on fieldtrips to other cultural institutions and gardens.
A large part of the current Guide’s responsibilities is leading tours, which are free with admission for both scheduled visitors and drop-ins. These Education Volunteers also welcome visitors and help plan their visits, present guests with topics of interest within the garden and take visitors back in time on costumed tours of the Victorian garden.
Guide instruction has changed quite a bit, too. After being accepted into the program, trainees take a 27 hour course during 11 days in March. The guides-in-training go on tours led by current guides every day and practice leading the curriculum tours, as they also learn. At the end of the course, trainees are paired with a mentor and apprentice with current guides until they are comfortable leading tours on their own. The course also includes a reference notebook filled with useful facts and interesting lore.
Guides give their time and energy to the Arboretum for many reasons: to learn exciting new things, to be restored by Morris Arboretum’s beauty and also to meet staff and other volunteers who believe trees are vitally important in everyone’s life. Bolstered by their knowledge, guides promote the Arboretum’s mission to their neighbors and friends, encouraging them to visit, volunteer and join, but more importantly, inspiring environmental stewardship in neighborhoods near and far.
Active Education Volunteers are rewarded with friendship, learning opportunities such as field trips, lectures and classes, and exciting awards for giving their time to Morris Arboretum.
Guide Training for the 2014 season will begin on March 4. If you would like to be a part of this engaging group, please contact Liza Hawley, visitor education coordinator, at efhawley@upenn.edu or (215) 247-5777 x128 or visit Morris Arboretum at www.morrisarboretum.org |