Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
ph (805) 965-0093
fax (805) 568-1999
PO Box 388,
Santa Barbara,
CA 93102

If you care about history and value Santa Barbara's unique heritage, there is a place for you at the Trust. As a non-profit organization, the Trust relies upon the help of enthusiastic individuals who are interested in lending a hand in preserving our city's history. The Trust is rooted in volunteerism, dating back to its founding in 1963 by a voluntary group of concerned community leaders who sought to restore and rebuild portions of Santa Barbara's Presidio. Over the years Trust volunteers have played an enormous role in the archaeology, research, reconstruction and interpretation of El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and Casa de la Guerra.

Docents

How to Volunteer DOCENTS: For more information on becoming a volunteer docent, contact the Trust's Education Department at (805) 962-9504 OR email karen@sbthp.org To complete a volunteer application (pdf), CLICK HERE.Applications accepted year-round. JUNIOR DOCENTS: For more information on becoming a Junior Docent, contact the Trust's education department at (805) 962-9504 OR email karen@sbthp.org SPECIAL EVENT VOLUNTEER: For more information on becoming an event volunteer contact the Trust's Education Department at (805) 962-9504 OR email karen@sbthp.org To complete a volunteer application (pdf), CLICK HERE. Applications accepted year-round. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view our volunteer application.

Trust docents, or "volunteer educators," present interpretive programs for students, the local community, and visitors from around the world. These programs introduce audiences to early California history using Trust sites. Special emphasis is placed on docent led guided tours of El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and the Casa de la Guerra Historic House Museum, which are offered year-round. Docents also have to the opportunity to:

• Help demonstrate early California life and activities at community events
  
  
• Present slide shows and traveling learning trunks at local schools
  
  
• Research interesting topics dealing with Santa Barbara’s diverse cultural past

Completion of docent training is required to become an active Trust docent. Docent training is offered each fall and includes training seminars, field trips, regular docent meetings, and special lectures or workshops that serve to enhance docent knowledge. Continued docent education opportunities include ongoing lectures, field trips and other lifelong learning opportunities.

Junior Docents

Trust Junior Docents participate in a living history day at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park

Trust Junior Docents participate in a living history day at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park

Junior docents are students aged 8 years to 16 years who are interested in early California history and want to share their knowledge with others. Junior docent candidates are required to attend special training sessions in which they learn about what life was like at the Santa Barbara Presidio in the late eighteenth century. After their training is completed, junior docents dress in period costumes, demonstrate skills that were important for the first colonists, and answer visitor's questions at various living history days. Junior docents are also invited to:

• Help at special education events such as Early California Days, Presidio Pastimes and Las Posadas
  
  
• Lead activities at family craft days such as Dia de los Muertos

Special Event Volunteers

Volunteers help make adobe bricks for the reconstruction of El Presidio de Santa Barbara at the United Way's 2006 Day of Caring

Volunteers help make adobe bricks for the reconstruction of El Presidio de Santa Barbara at the United Way's 2006 Day of Caring

Trust event volunteers have the opportunity to help at a variety of entertaining events throughout the year. Event volunteers can start at any time. Schedules are flexible, time and training commitment are minimal. Event volunteer opportunities include:

• Adobe Brick Making - Help make adobe bricks for the reconstruction of El Presidio de Santa Barbara on select days
  
  
• Dia de los Muertos Craft Workshop - Free annual family craft day
  
  
• Una Noche de Las Posadas - Free holiday event commemorating one of Santa Barbara's earliest Christmas celebrations
  
  
• Early California Days - Select third grade classes are invited to the Presidio to participate in a hands-on living history days in April
  
  
• Presidio Pastimes - Free community living history days offered throughout the summer
  
  
• Casa Cantina - Annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta fundraiser at the Casa de la Guerra
  
  
• Trust's Annual Fundraiser - Various benefit events throughout the year

For more information on becoming a volunteer for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation please contact the Trust's Education Department at (805) 962-9504 or email karen@sbthp.org