The Rancho Camulos Docent Council is starting 2009 with a full month of activities while the museum is closed to the public. On Saturday, January 10th, they will spend the day pruning over 250 roses in the gardens with lunch provided. Everyone interested in working for the day is invited to bring their clippers and gloves.
A field trip to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society and Placerita Canyon Natural Area will be held on Sunday January 11th. This day will increase the docents' knowledge of local history in that section of the original San Francisco land grant.
A new docent training class will begin on Saturday, January 17th and run for three Saturdays. Mike Harutunian, teacher at College of the Canyons, will present the history of the Families of Camulos. Docent Gordon Uppman will present the background on Helen Hunt Jackson and her book, Ramona, with emphasis on the Californio period at Camulos. The last meeting will cover the adobe architecture with slides by Judy Triem, a well known historian in the Santa Clara River Valley. Anyone interested in joining the Docent Council is urged to call the museum office to register for training. 521-1501.
Docents are asked to work two days a month, dress in costume for special occasions and pay dues of $10 a year. Everyone is welcome to join the Council.
Museum docents do public tours and assist with school field trips starting again in February. They also work in the office and gardens and keep the museum gift shop open so many hands are welcomed. This National Historical Site is one of the few in California that shows Early California History on a working ranch.