RSSCowiche Canyon Conservancy seeks docent volunteers
Yakima Herald-Republic
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- For Jim Fitch, being a docent with the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy is as much about enjoying reactions as it is imparting insights.
"Leading groups of high school kids around Snow Mountain Ranch is just a lot of fun," says Fitch, a retired agricultural economist from Yakima who has long loved the ecological diversity and trail-side views available at the conservancy's newest property addition.
"They just see things and are all 'oh wow, look at this.' I was with a group that spotted three owls in a poplar tree that I hadn't seen. I'd heard there were owls out there but hadn't seen them, and these kids spotted them and just went haywire."
Fitch loved the experience, and it's one the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy hopes to make available to more prospective volunteer docents.
In hopes of expanding its docent numbers, the conservancy has scheduled an orientation for individuals interested in joining or simply learning more about the docent program. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima.
Fitch became one of the first volunteers for the conservancy's docent program after the nonprofit purchased Snow Mountain Ranch several years ago. He was friends with many members of the Gilbert family that had long owned the property.
"When the conservancy acquired Snow Mountain Ranch, I just became interested in helping them convert it to a more natural setting," says Fitch. "I like the variety of what it has to offer, and it's an amazing hiking opportunity real close to town."
As a docent, Fitch has enjoyed helping visitors "kind of discover it," he says.
Docents lead hikes of Cowiche Canyon and Snow Mountain Ranch at some special events, like the annual Earth Day hikes in the canyon and the annual Fall Colors event at the ranch. (The latter for this year is scheduled for Oct. 22.) Groups can also call the conservancy office at 509-248-5065 to have a docent speak to or guide their group at one of the locations, or to speak at meetings.
Call for docents
* What: Informational meeting for prospective docents
* When: Sept. 21
* Where: Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima
* Time: 7 p.m.
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