VOLUNTEER DOCENT TRAINING
Haggin Museum Docents make connections with visitors, students, art & history, the community, and more! Join our community of docents—today!
Haggin Museum docents provide a valuable service on behalf of the museum by leading tours, guiding visitors on the weekends, leading programs in school classrooms, helping with special events, and much more.
Participation in the Docent Program at the Haggin provides opportunities for continuing education and personal growth through field trips, training, tours, guest lectures, and a variety of social events. As a part of the team at a world-class museum, docents build a supportive community of colleagues and friends as they give back to the community through education.
The Haggin Museum Education Department is proud to serve our community with trained volunteer docents who provide free museum tours and school site programs. On occasion, we welcome high school and college volunteers to help with family programs and workshops.
Participants must become museum members and pay a materials fee for each training course. Docent Training, art and history combined, is approximately 20 weeks. The weekly classes meet on Tuesdays at the Haggin Museum. Please contact the Education Department at (209) 940-6315 or education@hagginmuseum.org for more information.
Docent Training begins summer 2025.
Interested in becoming a docent? Apply online by clicking the button below
TOURS AND PROGRAMS AT THE HAGGIN MUSEUM
Theme Tours
Docent-led tours feature themes that have been developed in conjunction with grade-appropriate curriculum content. They unite exhibits in both the art and history galleries under big ideas while accommodating student interests.
Tours with other themes may be requested when booking your tour. Just ask the Education Assistant when you call to make arrangements.
- Immigrants from Around the World Built Our Community
- Let’s Play
- People Make the Difference in Our Community
- Our Valley – A Land of Plenty
LITTLE ONES ART TOUR
This interactive tour for children from preschool to 1st grade introduces little ones to the museum and uses a variety of activities to engage young viewers. It is suitable for one class of 20—30 children at a time. The one-hour tour includes:
- Introduction to the museum
- A conversation about art elements
- Guided look at paintings in the Haggin Collection
- Storytelling
- Hands-on art project
HOW TO BOOK A TOUR OR PROGRAM
If you are interested in booking a tour or program, please fill out the Request Form in its entirety and e-mail it to education@hagginmuseum.org at least three weeks in advance of your desired date. During certain times of the year, tours are in high demand and availability may be limited. Request forms will be processed in the order they are received, and it make take up to 2 business weeks for your request to receive a response. If you have any questions, please contact the Education Department at (209) 940-6332.
We can accommodate up to 60 children per one-hour tour at the museum. If your group is larger than that, we will make arrangements for additional tours. Plan to bring at least one adult per 10 children for your tour. The tour group may only be in the building during the hour booked for the tour. We do not have room to accommodate waiting groups inside the museum.
DOCENTS COME TO YOUR SCHOOL
Bring the museum into your classroom with a presentation specially designed by the Haggin Education Department and Docents. Choose from either a Slide Show presentation or a Museum2Schools program listed below.
Slide Show
Museum Docents come to your classroom and present an engaging digital slide show. Choose between three programs: California Indians, a General Introduction to the Museum, or All Star Artists at the Haggin Museum. Suitable for any age, these presentations can be made to any size group.
Museum2Schools Programs
ACORN MAKING • 3RD GRADE
This hands-on program shares the importance of the acorn to Native People with pictures, acorn pounding, a sequencing activity, and a game of chance.
LOOKING AT HORSES IN ART • 3 – 4TH GRADE
Docents introduce the theme of horses in art using images from the Haggin Collection and other museums. Then they lead an interactive discussion making connections between time periods and cultures and the students’ own experiences. The program concludes with a drawing lesson.
LOOKING AT YOUNG PEOPLE IN ART • 5 – 8TH GRADE
Docents present a digital slide show and conduct an interactive discussion about the depiction of young people, their families, friends, and feelings in art. Additionally, the class creates an expressive self-portrait.
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES • 3 – 5TH GRADE
History’s Mysteries is presented by Docents in your classroom or after-school program. Students learn about California history using objects circa 1900 and relating them to items used today. The program was used direct observation, a game and activity.
MAKING SPACE • 3 – 7TH GRADE NEW!!
Making Space explores how artists create the illusion of space in art with a digital slide show and conversation. Students learn how technique contributes to the meaning of the art and use their understanding of pictorial space to create landscape drawings of their own.
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO LEARN
Are you a teacher or parent looking for a fun and educational activity for your kids? Haggin Museum has made one of our popular Museums2Schools programs available for educators to utilize in the classroom or at home. Making Space: How Artists Create the Illusion of Place is a 30-minute to one-hour virtual workshop where students become familiar with landscape painting through exposure to art from the Haggin Museum’s core collection. The course also explores the concept of pictorial space and the techniques artists use to create the illusion of space.
Enter your name and email in the form below to access the virtual workshop.
CLASSES
On the second Saturday of each month, we hold a hands-on event for families with children ages 5-12. Activities include art projects, interactive programs and Museum-wide events. Reservations are not required, but seating is available on a first come, first served basis. The Museum supplies all materials and activities are included with regular Museum admission.
Contact the education department (209) 940-6332 or education@hagginmuseum.org for more information.
UPCOMING CLASSES FOR FAMILIES & CHILDREN
ENJOY THE HAGGIN AT HOME
Are you looking for something fun to do with your family? Visit our Resources page for educational activities the whole family can enjoy at home! There you’ll find coloring pages featuring paintings from the Haggin collection and video instructions for fun and easy projects to do at home.
