Steinbeck House Docent — Volunteer role
About the Role
Steinbeck House docents are hosts, and ambassadors for Steinbeck House. They bring to life John Steinbeck and his wife Elaine's years in Sag Harbor, using the property, the rooms, objects, and stories to help visitors imagine what life was like for the Steinbecks here.
You do not need to be a Steinbeck scholar or a professional performer to be a successful docent. You do need to enjoy people, be willing to learn, and have the ability, or the desire to develop the ability, to tell a good story.
While some background on Steinbeck's earlier life and career provides context, the heart of the tour is the Steinbecks' life in Sag Harbor - their home, their work, their routines, and their connection to the community that shaped their experience here.
What You'll Do
Lead engaging, informative tours of Steinbeck House.
Bring the stories of John and Elaine Steinbeck's time in Sag Harbor to life for visitors.
Help visitors understand the connection between the property, the Steinbecks' lives, and
their work.
Encourage questions and conversation while keeping the tour focused on its established
content.
Create a welcoming and memorable experience for visitors.
Treat the house, furnishings, and objects with care.
Follow basic house procedures and responsibilities associated with your shift.
Communicate promptly about scheduling issues or the need for a substitute.
What Makes a Great Docent?
We are looking for volunteers who:
Enjoy bringing stories to life. You enjoy sharing a story in a way that keeps people interested and helps them connect with the people and places you're describing.
Are engaging, welcoming, and comfortable speaking to groups. You enjoy meeting people, make visitors feel comfortable, and can communicate clearly while connecting naturally with a group.
Are curious and willing to learn. You don't need to be a Steinbeck expert, but you should be genuinely interested in learning about Steinbeck, Elaine, their life in Sag Harbor, and the house.
Are thoughtful and accurate. You understand that visitors rely on you for trustworthy information and that when you're unsure about something, it's better to say so than to speculate.
Are able to walk comfortably throughout the property on uneven, sometimes wet natural terrain, and conduct tours outdoors in a range of weather conditions, including warm, cool, and windy days.
Are dependable. You understand that others are counting on you to be there and prepared when you commit to a shift.
Are available. Tours are offered on Saturdays year round. Open House weekend tours run Saturday, Sunday and Monday. We recognize that everyone's schedule is different and welcome volunteers who can commit to tour days that work for them.
A Volunteer Opportunity
Steinbeck House docents are volunteers who generously give their time to help preserve and share an important part of Sag Harbor's literary history.
This is an opportunity to meet visitors from around the world, connect with people who share an interest in literature and history, and help tell the story of the Steinbecks' life in Sag Harbor.
We ask our docents to be reliable, prepared, welcoming, and committed to providing visitors with an engaging and accurate experience.