CAF - Volunteers

All docent trainees (Thursday and Saturday classes) will learn the Historic Skyscrapers and Modern Skyscrapers walking tours. These are two-hour tours offered almost every day of the year. Classes are held in the Elizabeth Morse Learning Studio at CAF, 224 South Michigan Avenue. Each class begins promptly at 9am and ends at 4:30pm. No class may be missed. The Thursday class will be repeated on Saturday.

The classes consist of lectures, small-group exercises, and practice tours. Lectures are given by local scholars, historians, practicing architects, city planners, and construction professionals. Each week of class includes reading assignments and written homework due at the beginning of the next class. The course also includes mid-term and final exams. The course also includes writing essays and completing a final project.

The total Docent Education Program is a seven-month commitment. Trainees are required to attend all the classes during training. Certification for the Historic Skyscrapers tour takes place after completing the first semester of classes. Certification for the Modern Skyscrapers tour takes place after the completion of the second semester. Dates for the 2009 training will be announced in the summer of 2008.

Graduation from the Docent Education Program will take place at the end of the year when all first-year requirements have been fulfilled.

The Docent Education Program is comparable to a graduate-level introduction to the history of Chicago architecture. The homework assignments are geared towards each trainee developing his or her own tours. Homework outside of class consists of reading books and articles, observing buildings and writing descriptions, and writing essays on specific topics.

The estimated time spent outside class on homework, reading and on-street practice is about 25 hours per week.

Each homework assignment will be read and commented on by a reader who is a current CAF docent. There is a final tour observation requirement outside of regular touring that must be completed by the end of the first year as a docent.

Trainees are responsible for purchasing their own books (approximate cost: $150). There is a one-time materials fee for photocopying ($60). Docent trainees are required to sign a contract agreeing to pay a $350 fee should they voluntarily leave the program before the first year of tours is completed.

Click here for updated reading list.

There is no charge for the training. There is, however, a $15 application fee and an additional $60 materials fee paid upon acceptance into the program.

Extra time will be needed outside of the classroom for walking the route and practicing the tours. Each candidate will be assigned a sponsor from the start of the program. Sponsors are current docents who have volunteered to help mentor a trainee and help guide him or her through the learning process. When the sponsor feels that the trainees are ready, a certifier will test the final tour presentation.

Each docent trainee will be required to give 39 tour hours (the equivalent of 13 public tours) in the first year. These 13 tours will be divided evenly among the tours learned during the first year. The 13 tours must be completed by December 31, 2009. Tours are scheduled based upon trainee availability as indicated on a preference sheet filled out each month.

After the first year, all docents are required to give 30 tour hours per year (the equivalent of 10 public tours). Trainees interested in becoming certified to do other tours offered by CAF (River Cruise, Highlights by Bus, etc.) must initially complete the first-year requirements of training.

Active docents receive many nice perks with the job, including free CAF membership and a monthly newsletter and website which keep docents informed about city and architecture-related happenings. Docents are a self-governing body and members are elected to the Docent Council. They may join numerous committees involving tour development, quality and recognition, and docent education. Many docents take advantage of our active continuing-education program including classes, lectures, and out-of-town trips.