Konza Prairie Docent Program
The KEEP Docent Program offers specialized training for those interested in becoming ambassadors for Konza Prairie and the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Some examples of docent opportunities include guiding hikes, guiding van tours of the bison enclosure, educational in-service training, workdays on Konza Prairie, and special projects and events.
Docent volunteers are an indispensable part of the Konza Environmental Education Program. Since the inception of the docent program in 1992, trained docents number more than 250, approximately half of whom are active in any given year. Since 2000, docents have staffed an average of 115 public and school events each year, and as a group, log over 1200 hours of volunteer service to KEEP every year.
A docent is a trained volunteer, who is a teacher, and most importantly a KEEP docent is also an interpreter of Konza Prairie research and tallgrass prairie ecology for the general public. A docent educates others about our ecosystem and its management by creating awareness and understanding. Docents come from many different educational backgrounds and walks of life, but all have a common love of the prairie, a willingness to learn, and a readiness to share their passion with others.
Being a docent on Konza Prairie is a life-long experience. New docent training teaches only the basics of what can be learned about the natural history and ecology of the tallgrass prairie. Docents are trained to become generalists with a broad range of knowledge including Konza Prairie research, tallgrass prairie ecology, history of the site, Flint Hills geology, tallgrass prairie flora and fauna, and other natural history. We also encourage our docents to find a niche and become a specialist in some area of interest to them. Our best docents continue to learn and grow.
Trained docents volunteer their time for numerous tasks, but especially to work closely with the public and act as guides for public and school groups on Konza Prairie. We match trained docents to public groups requesting a tour and keep a profile of each docent's preferences, such as when they are available to volunteer, the age or groups they prefer to interact with, and the trails and tours they are comfortable guiding on.
Trained docents remain active through guiding trail hikes, driving tours and science activities, and participating in workdays, in-service training and special projects and events. Experienced docents can also act as mentors to docent trainees. Docents receive in-service training annually on various subjects, including how to help with hands-on science activities for students and information on specific research projects. The docents are represented by a standing committee of their peers which makes recommendations to the Environmental Educator (EE) on programs, concerns and interests of the docents. As part of our Quality Docent Program, all experienced docents are asked to return to Konza Prairie for two in-service training events and two new docent training events as refreshers each year.
New docent recruitment begins early each year with Internet, newspaper, radio and word-of-mouth advertising. Many of our new docents are referred by a friend already in the KEEP Docent Program. Each year the EE trains about 20 new docents in a series of 11 Saturday mornings, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, February through May, and again in September at Konza Prairie. Training includes information on Konza Prairie research, history of the site, site policies, tallgrass prairie ecology, and natural history, as well as first-hand experience on trail hikes, research activities, plant identification and more. Docents are required to attend all training sessions or make-up those they have missed. Throughout their training new docents shadow experienced docents to observe the interpretive and management techniques of various individuals leading group tours, and are paired with a docent mentor through the summer months. Docent Graduation is in September at the Friends of Konza Prairie Annual Meeting.