Tahoe Environmental Research Center

Annual Summer Sessions at Tahoe

Become a Lake Tahoe expert during the UC Davis Summer Sessions at Tahoe, from June 24 – 30 and learn all about Lake Tahoe and the latest research from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

This summer session is designed to provide everyone with an opportunity to become a Tahoe expert and learn about all the latest research from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. This 3- or 4-day summer session includes engaging discussions with local experts including:

Cultural and environmental history of Lake Tahoe
Geology of the Sierra Nevada and the formation of Lake Tahoe
History of lake research with famous limnologist Dr. Charles Goldman
The latest research happening at Lake Tahoe
And enjoy a trip out on the lake aboard the UC Davis research vessel

These sessions provide comprehensive environmental education for anyone wanting to learn more. This workshop also serves as training for the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center volunteer docent program. An additional docent-specific session is a refresher for current docents and provides new docents with all the instruction they will need.

This summer session is $250 for all participants seeking to become a Tahoe Expert. If you are planning to volunteer as a TERC docent, the entire charge will be refunded upon completion of 30 volunteer hours.

For more information about the summer session, please contact Education Program Associate Maggie Anderson (mjand@ucdavis.edu) or Education and Outreach Director Heather Segale (hmsegale@ucdavis.edu).

Register here

2025 Docent Training Agenda
- Session 1 (June 24, 2025): Welcome and Introductions, Lake Tahoe 101, Lake Tahoe Topics and Research Projects, Lab tours, and Hype of Being North America's Oldest Lake.
- Session 2 (June 26, 2025): Lake Ecology, Geology of the Lake Tahoe Basin (Expanded), Everything Else You Wanted to Know About Lake Tahoe, and The History of Research at Lake Tahoe and Stories of Limnology with Dr. Charles Goldman
- Session 3 (June 27, 2025), optional: Docent Program Overview, Tahoe Science Center Exhibits Overview, and Exhibits Rotations
- Session 4 (June 30, 2025): Research Vessel Excursions and presentation by UC Davis TERC Boat Captain
Docent Shadowing Check-list

Docent Program

Do you love Lake Tahoe? Join a group of individuals who are helping to provide the best in science education and foster stewardship throughout the Tahoe Basin. The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center coordinates a volunteer docent program to connect the talents of community volunteers to the needs and interests of visitors and students.

After completing your docent training program, you will be able to select subject areas and responsibilities. The range of activities available to docents is varied. Examples of opportunities include:

Assist visitors with hands-on science activities
Be available to explain the science center exhibits to visitors
Provide tours of the Tahoe Science Center, Incline Village
Provide tours of the Eriksson Education Center, Tahoe City
Provide green building tours of the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, Incline Village
Assist in outreach programs for schools and community events
Work in the Docent Office i.e. filing, typing, mailings, phone and e-mail correspondence

We currently attract thousands of visitors, locals, and tourists to the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center every year. Our volunteer docents help visitors have an entertaining, educational experience through which they will learn about Lake Tahoe and environmental problems affecting it. Our program offers docents unlimited opportunities for enrichment, public outreach, and personal satisfaction.

2019 Docent Roster