Docent Training at Kendrick Mansion Held

Kendrick Mansion is getting ready for the summer season. On April 24, from 9 a.m. until noon, Shari Shada, Site Superintendent, held docent training for those who might be interested in guiding tours through the historic house.

Shada said they usually have between five and ten tour guides. “Last year we had ten, and that was the largest number,” Shada said. When asked if she would like to have more volunteers, Shada added,

She talked about who the docents are at the Kendrick Mansion

A docent manual was provided, and Shada had some slides of the important points. She said they want their docents to enjoy giving tours, and for those taking the tours to have a fun and educational experience!

Around ten people took the training, and Shada demonstrated what to focus on with school groups, taking into account the age of the youngsters. One thing that she demonstrated was how technology had advanced since the time the Kendrick’s lived in the Mansion. She said it is good to engage the students by asking questions and letting them answer.

She talked about how to enforce the rules, the no touching, no crossing the ropes or behind the plexiglas or into rooms marked private. No flash photography is allowed.

There is a wealth of knowledge about the mansion that Shada shared with the group, so they can pass it on to the tour groups. The trainees accompanied Shada as the took them through the entire tour, beginning in the library and drawing room, and then moving clockwise throughout the mansion. In this way they can host several groups at once.

She added that they also need volunteers a Fort Phil Kearny, and she hopes to set up some trainings there.

If anyone is interested in becoming a docent, but missed the training, or if they are interest in learning about being a tour guide at Fort Phil Kearny, they can email sharie.shada@wyo.gov or call the museum at 307-674-4589.