Docent Academy Starts Feb 5
Hearthstone Historic House Museum could not function without the dedication of our great docents and greeters. Everyone at the museum deeply appreciates them sharing your time and talents and being a part of our tour team.
Joining the Tour Team is easy By attending Docent Academy - 2026
This year we will exclusively cover the regular daytime tour offered at Hearthstone throughout the year. The session will feature one our experienced docents who will share their marvelous expertise. Our goal is to get every one comfortable with the materials.
Part 1: Weekly sessions
Each session starting at 6:30 pm will highlight a room or two with one of our experienced docents giving their version of the room(s) to the rest to the group. Each session will include plenty of time for questions and answers, tips from other docents, and practice by new docents.
New “Inventions” Tour - Feb 3, 6:30 pm
Library - Feb 10, 6:30 pm
Parlor - Feb 17, 6:30 pm
Dining Room and Kitchen - Fed 24, 6:30 pm
Servants’ Hall and Mary’s Bedroom - Mar 3, 6:30 pm
Second Floor - March 10, 6:30 pm
Part 2: Mentorship
New docents will be paired with experience docents who will serve as mentors and offer feedback, answer follow-up questions, and generally assist in any way they can. They are truly the nicest people in the world and will be glad to help in any way they can.
Part 3: Shadowing and Co-Docenting
Once new docents feel comfortable with the materials, they will be ready to become certified to give tours by:
Shadowing an experienced docent for at least one shift (feel free to shadow additional shifts if you would like).
Joining their mentor or another experienced docent on a tour and giving one or two of the rooms to guests.
Whenever they feel ready, have staff member or experienced docent shadow them on a tour that they give.
Part 4: Badger Presentation
When they feel ready to start giving tours, new docents will be presented with their name badge by their mentor. They can then start scheduling themselves to give tours.