Pioneers lead the way. They forge ahead, establish, prepare, initiate. They break new ground. Because of the very nature of the public education program at the MEMBG, our docents share common qualities with all pioneers. As they lead tours and help coordinate the program, they exhibit enthusiasm, flexibility, patience, determination, and loyalty. And although, on a day-to-day basis, docents live and work in the here and now, they also envision what can be.
Compared with other established botanical garden programs, the MEMBG docent program is relatively new. It operates with a part-time coordinator-me--and essentially no budget, and reinvents itself as it goes along. This situation can be viewed as either extremely frustrating and discouraging or as a challenging opportunity. Most of the time, the docents and supporting staff see it as an opportunity. And on the occasion when the challenge seems a bit too big, each person is there for the others, to offer words of encouragement that translate into actions.
As with any pioneering effort, the program sets its policies and develops its practices as the program grows, at the same time evaluating their effectiveness. Whatever works is continued or expanded upon; what doesn't work is discarded. And new approaches are considered.
For any new docent program, and certainly that of the MEMBG, areas of challenge include recruiting, interviewing, and training new docents. Docents must learn some botany, the history of the garden, and the "art of docenting." They help publicize the availability of tours and schedule tours, and they work to find docents to lead those tours. They undergo continuing botanical and interpretive training, and they communicate regularly with staff. And even with the best intentions, the inevitable conflicts arise when two or more people work together.
Some docents are more comfortable leading tours for adults, others for children. Some prefer a standardized schedule where they know that every Tuesday at 10 a.m. they will lead a tour. Others find it easy to adapt to leading tours whenever they are requested. A few docents like to give an overall tour of the garden, whereas others tend to specialize in garden sections or particular plant families. While some prefer speaking to a small group, others are better with large numbers of people. Some docents like formal direction, and others are more process oriented.
In spirit and in deed, pioneers journey past differences and challenges towards a common goal, whether on paths that are easily tread or on roads-less-traveled*. The MEMBG docent journey is a combination of selfless service and the fulfillment that comes from being a volunteer, the joy of immersion in the garden, the satisfaction of helping a new program to grow, and the thrill of sharing the wonders of nature with others. And, as with most worthwhile endeavors, it's a long and winding road.*
CAROL FELIXSON, MEMBG Docent and Coordinator
* With all due respect to M. Scott Peck and the Beatles.