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Mission:To provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation
Activities: Resource conservation, education and interpretation, Living History activities on first Saturdays of every month, tours for fourth graders and others. This park is part of a nationally recognized historic landmark and can be found adjacent to the extant portion of one of California’s 21 Spanish era mission church sites. Visitors can gain an appreciation of California peoples, from Native Americans, through the Spanish and Mexican cultural influences, right up to the American period in the late 19th century.
Needs/Projects this semesters: Note that some work must take place at the park, as manuscripts and artifacts belonging to the state of California cannot be removed.Hours: flexible, Tuesday-Friday, a few Saturdays possible.
--Students can research courtship, wedding, marriage, and wedding dress history based on a wedding dress circa 1868 belonging to Isabella Breen, last survivor of the Donner Party. Extra research on her life, and interpretation of the significance of the dress and her live to park visitors, also possible. Students will use reseach in directing or creating exhibition-quality materials for park use.
--Students can research items in a women’s costume bank with many periods, including reproduction clothes that women would have worn from the 1840s to the 1890s. Research to aid interpretation and exhibition suggestions would aid park.
--Outgoing students may wish to specialize in interpreting the exhibits to park visitors, first researching and then sharing information.
--Patient Spanish speakers: help translate into English some incredibly valuable and important primary source documents from Mission era, certified copies, in cursive. Volume of letters 1797-1840 from Mission fathers will be an important addition to California history for scholars and researchers.
--Other students can research a variety of wagons and stagecoaches owned by the park, and the ways in which they were used and necessary to California's development, to bring to life the societies that relied on them.
--Interested students can also choose a local family and do library and other research to fill out park resources.
--Students who like kids can help with docent activities T, W, Th, and Fridays 10-1.
Who should apply: Outgoing people who would enjoy hands-on work or speaking to groups or visitiors; people who would enjoy historical research or reenactments. Spanish helpful; French, German, and Japanese speakers also needed. Special skills practiced historically, such as sewing, carpentry, or sign-making, welcomed. ANYONE interested in work at this agency must attend an orientation with the park;s Service Learning supervisor the address below.
Don’t apply if: you need lots of supervision. Students under age 18 will need parental permission.
Special Notes: See website http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=563. Some weekend work is available, especially through Living History days. Employees at this non-profit are very busy providing valuable services. Please respect their time by making appointments, coming on time, keeping your business brief, and calling ahead if you have an emergency that prevents you from coming on time.
Address: 2nd and Mariposa St.
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045
Contact information: Marcos Vizcaino Senior Park Aide (Acting Interpreter I)
San Juan Bautista State Historic Park
(831) 623-2753
Marcos.vizcaino@parks.ca.gov
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