Docent-ing at the Louisville Zoo

My trip to the Columbus Zoo is what prompted me to be a Docent.  I'd never heard of the term before.  But, basically, a Docent is a Volunteer Teacher.  My visit to the Columbus Zoo was greatly enhanced by the number of Volunteers on the grounds, showing animals, letting the children touch or pet them, stationed at each exhibit talking to people and conveying information about the animals. To me, this is Docent work. 

Today, with the weather as nice as it was, I went to the Zoo to do just that.  I went to the Docent room, got a large piece of Giraffe Hide with fur, and went up to the Giraffe Exhibit.  While there, for a little over an hour, I talked to 150-200 people, letting them actually feel giraffe fur, and talking to them about giraffes in general.  The people really seemed to enjoy it, and the kids loved touching the 'real' giraffe fur.  The Zoo was packed today, the parking lot was completely full.
But, when I got to the Zoo I was the only Docent signed in, and when I left 2 hours later, I was still the only Docent that had been there.  I was there from Noon til 2:00 pm, prime time.
The Louisville Zoo has close to 200 Docents.  There are schools at the Zoo during the week, Outreach programs, Night Safari's, etc., that Docents must sign up for, and many do.  There are also special program's that come up, Christmas at the Zoo, Halloween, Earth Day, The Dinosaurs are coming this Summer, that Docents have to cover, and they do a good job of that.  But, to me, one of the most important jobs is to be there when the crowds attend, to enhance their visit, and make it enjoyable enough that they'll tell their family and friends about the experience.  I think this is where the Louisville Zoo falls short.
Talking with other Docents, I think Saturday has some regular volunteers.  But, Sunday seems to be forgotten.  I think I might make it a point to try and get over their on as many Sundays as I can.
Giraffe information?  Did you know that the only animal born with horns is a giraffe?  That the giraffe's tongue is about 20 inches long?  Humans have 7 vertebrates in their necks.  How many does a giraffe have?  Well, I'll let you know the answer to that one in the comments.  It'll give you time to think and take a guess.  No fair googling it!