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# Conservancy seeks volunteers
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/conservancy-seeks-volunteers/
- Published: 2006-11-23T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T23:09:33.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Health, Downtown, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

The Santa Monica Conservancy seeks volunteers who are interested in local architecture and history, and enjoy sharing their knowledge with others, to become docents for new downtown Santa Monica walking tours.

Docent guides will conduct groups through more than one hundred years of Santa Monica history, revealed on a six-block walk. The tour begins at the 1875 Rapp Saloon, a historic landmark, and ends at the renowned office building of the Natural Resources Defense Council, opened as a model of sustainable design and construction in 2003\. The tours will be offered on Saturday mornings, beginning in March 2007\. Docents will be expected to lead approximately six 90-minute tours a year.

Volunteer guides will receive a comprehensive tour manual and will attend a series of training classes. No prior tour experience is necessary, but volunteers must be willing to attend two-hour training classes on six consecutive Saturday mornings, January 6 - February 10\. Sessions will be videotaped in case it is necessary to miss one. Taught by leaders knowledgeable about local history, historic buildings and tour presentation, the classes will cover the early history and development of Santa Monica; architectural styles and historic buildings downtown; historic preservation in Santa Monica and the landmarking process; downtown commercial development and revitalization; the history of the Promenade, and tips on becoming an effective tour guide.

“Becoming a docent is a great opportunity to meet new people and learn more about our community,” stated Carol Lemlein, chair of the downtown walking tour program. Marcello Vavala, Santa Monica Conservancy board member and long-time docent for El Pueblo in Los Angeles, agrees: “It’s a great feeling to share your love of your community and to bring alive the history and architecture of these places.”

Information about the Santa Monica Conservancy may be found on their Web site, www.smconservancy.org. For more information on the docent program, call (310) 496-3146\. Shopping for some support

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 23, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112306.pdf?ref=smdp.com)