Docent and Assistant: What Time Should I Arrive at the Tent?

The times listed in the schedule are the times class begins and ends.

Docents should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to class.

I like to arrive 45 minutes early. You’ll find there’s always plenty to do. The actual prep time depends on the complexity of the project, the state of the supplies (how they were put away), and the number and experience of the assistants.  

Although I almost always show up early, more often than not, when the kids arrive at the tent, I’m wishing I had a few more minutes to prepare.

As docent, it’s your responsibility to be ready when the kids show up. We only have an hour and fifteen minutes to teach the project. Time is our most precious resource. DO NOT WASTE IT.

Assistants should also try to arrive at least 30 minutes before class. But I understand that we all have lives and many people can only be on campus for a limited amount of time. No problem. Help as much as you can. But if you sign up to assist and know you can’t arrive 30 minutes prior to class, let the docent (or me) know. We’ll still be glad to have you there. But we need to plan accordingly.

Break down: After the kids have left, it takes between 10 and 30 minutes to gather and sort supplies, police the tent, and repack the cart.