DOCENT TRAINING

DOCENT TRAINING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AGAIN IN FEBRUARY, 2009. PROPOSED AGENDA IS POSTED BELOW.

This is a terrific opportunity to be able to give historical guided one-hour tours of El Pueblo de Los Angeles. Docent training lasts for only eight weeks and you will learn about the historical roots of our great city and how it has developed from before the first Spanish expeditions to the present time. Volunteer docents will learn from interesting lectures, powerpoint slides, knowledgable guest speakers and training handouts, not only on our history and culture, but also on how to give a great tour.

The BENEFITS OF BECOMING A VOLUNTEER DOCENT are many:

• Learning about Los Angeles history
  
• Being a part of important community involvement
  
• Making new friends with similar interests
  
• Hearing and meeting guest lecturers and authors during the year
  
• Going on unique tours as a group to interesting places in Los Angeles
  
• Enjoying time in the most historic place in Los Angeles

The new docent training class will begin on February 12, 2008 and will last for eight consecutive Tuesdays. The actual dates will be announced as we get closer. The classes are held in the office of Las Angelitas del Pueblo, located right next to the historic Firehouse on La Plaza of El Pueblo de Los Angeles in downtown Los Angeles. The classes begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. The agenda for the class is posted below. In addition to the weekly training for eight weeks, there are meetings which are held throughout the year designed to assist the trainees in becoming proficient and confident in their docenting skills.

REQUIREMENTS OF A DOCENT: In order to take the docent training classes, you must make a commitment to Las Angelitas del Pueblo to give tours two (2) weekday mornings a month OR one (1) Saturday morning per month. There are three (3) morning tours, lasting about 50 minutes and are given Tuesday-Saturday at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Upon successful completion of the docent training classes, you will graduate to provisional status for a six (6) month period. During this provisonal period, you will be expected to give the tours as outlined above. Upon successful completion of these requirements during the provisional period, you will then graduate as a permanent docent. There is a non-refundable Registration Fee of $25 which is payable on the first day of docent training class.

TRAINING CLASS: 8 weeks, all are Tuesdays, beginning February 12, 2008.

TIME: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

LOCATION: El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, downtown Los Angeles, immediately across the street from Union Station. Classes meet in the office of Las Angelitas del Pueblo, right next to the historic Firehouse, but may change to another location on the Plaza due to the class itinerary on a particular day of training.

TO SIGN UP: Call Jeanne Conklin at (310) 398-0269 or email at info@lasangelitas.org

Come and join a great group of wonderful people and history buffs and learn about the history of Los Angeles. The training is fun (lectures which include eye-popping and jaw-dropping Powerpoint slides, interesting readings, dynamic guest speakers and tours around El Pueblo de Los Angeles) and the rewards are numerous as you learn about the beginnings of our great city and how to share this interesting information with others. You will receive a class training schedule in addition to many other materials to assist in your training.

In addition to giving tours, Las Angelitas del Pueblo has many social events and meetings with various guest speakers, including authors, throughout the year, topped off with a festive holiday party in December at one of Olvera Streets' great restaurants. Becoming a member of Las Angelitas del Pueblo is not only a great opportunity to learn about Los Angeles, and to give tours, but also to make new lifelong friends with people throughout the Southland with common interests.

DOCENT TRAINING AGENDA (FEBRUARY 12, 2008-APRIL 1, 2008)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2008

Getting to know you and us, history of Las Angelitas del Pueblo, showing two 40th Anniversary videos; tour of El Pueblo (time permitting).

Handouts:

•  Commitment to Las Angelitas del Pueblo

•  Docent Requirements and Standards

•  Brief History of Las Angelitas

•  Mission Statement

•  El Pueblo Walking Tour Itinerary and Notes

•  Tour of El Pueblo de Los Angeles (Old Spanish trail Assn.)

•  Newsletters

•  Personal Biography (for handing in)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Orientation, Introductions

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p. m. The Early Days (Lecture and Powerpoint)

•  New World Exploration (1400s-1600s)

•  Missions and Presidios (1700s)

•  Native Americans

Handouts:

•  Los Pobladores and their route

12:00 p. m. – 12:30 p.m. Tour of El Pueblo

ASSIGNMENT: 2 minute talk on one of the Pobladores for next week

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2008

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. How to Conduct a Tour

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Los Pobladores tours

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Founding of El Pueblo (Lecture and Powerpoint)

•  Los Angeles River

•  Zanja Madre

•  Spanish Control (1781-1821)

•  Early Pueblo Days

•  Mexican control (1821-1847)

•  California as a Takeover Target

Handouts:

•  Los Angeles from the Days of the Pueblo by WW Robinson

•  History of the buildings in El Pueblo

•  Spanish Pronunciation Guide

•  El Pueblo Legend (Map of El Pueblo)

READING ASSIGNMENT: Timeline-History of El Pueblo (pps. 1-29, 30-54 if time; two weeks to finish)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2008

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 Class Discussion

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Los Angeles (1840s-1880s) (Lecture and Powerpoint)

•  American conquest and the Gold Rush (1840s)

•  The Wild West (1850s-1870s)

•  Chinese Massacre, Pico House, Railroads, Ramona, Land Boom and Growth and beginning of Boosters (1870s-1880s)

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Walking Tour Itinerary/How to Conduct a Tour

Handouts:

•  How to Give a Tour

•  General Walking Tour Procedures

•  Timeline 1492-1800

•  History of El Pueblo de Los Angeles by Frank Damon

READING ASSIGNMENT: Finish Robinson book
ASSIGNMENT: 3 minute tour of one of the Historic Buildings in El Pueblo itinerary

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2008

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Tour of Historic Buildings

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. The City Expands (Lecture and Powerpoint)

ASSIGNMENT: 5 minute tour of a place on Walking tour itinerary

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Walking Tour Itinerary tours

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Development of Los Angeles (Lecture and Powerpoint)

•  New Industries (and "promotions")(1890s-1930s)

•  Water and Power

•  Chinatown

•  Christine Sterling, "Mexican Marketplace," Olvera Street

ASSIGNMENT: 7 minute tour of a place on Walking Tour itinerary

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2008

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Walking Tour Itinerary tours

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Las Angelitas History

•  DVD showing of Las Angelitas' 40th Anniversary

11:30 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tour of Avila Adobe and Water Exhibit

ASSIGNMENT: 10 minute tour of a place on Walking Tour itinerary

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Tour of Chinese American Museum

10:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Walking Tours Itinerary tours

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2008

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Class Discussion

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Final Thoughts (Lecture and Powerpoint)

• "Save Our History" Preservation Award
• Buildings
• Statues
• Fiestas
• Olvera Street
• "Los Angeles: Images and Impressions" video

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tour Day Procedures, Tour of Education Center

Handouts:

•  Tour Day Procedures

•  Incident Statements

12:30 p.m. Class photo next to Los Pobladores Plaque

POST DOCENT TRAINING CLASSES

•  Script writing for tours and practice tours

•  “Shadow” tours and give first official complete tour, shadowed by a member

•  Class meeting at El Pueblo - date TBD

•  Graduation (June luncheon in Avila Adobe, date TBD)

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