Docent Schedule 

🕰️ August Docents Needed! 🕰️

The West Coast Clock & Watch Museum is looking for volunteers to help staff the museum during our August open hours!

If you have a few hours to spare, we'd love to have you join us as a docent. Whether you're an experienced clock enthusiast or simply enjoy welcoming visitors and sharing the museum with the community, your time makes a difference.

📅 Please sign up for an August docent shift today!

Your support helps us keep the museum open, engage visitors, and preserve the fascinating history of horology for future generations.

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who continue to make the West Coast Clock & Watch Museum a special place. We couldn't do it without you!

To sign up, please add your name to the August docent schedule or contact us if you have any questions.

Your Role as a Docent

As a docent, you are more than a volunteer—you are a storyteller, educator, host, and guardian of history.

Your responsibilities include:

• Welcoming every visitor with enthusiasm and professionalism.

• Creating an engaging and memorable museum experience.

• Protecting the museum's collections and exhibits.

• Sharing accurate historical information.

• Encouraging curiosity and lifelong learning.

• Supporting museum events and educational programs.

• Representing the museum and NAWCC Chapter 180 with pride.

Every interaction you have contributes to the museum's reputation and helps ensure visitors leave inspired to return.

Ask Questions

Rather than giving a lecture, invite visitors into a conversation.

Examples:

• "What caught your eye?"

• "Have you ever owned a mechanical clock?"

• "Did your grandparents have one like this?"

• "Can you guess how this clock is powered?"

• "Would you like to hear my favorite story about this exhibit?"

Questions encourage curiosity and participation.

Encouraging Children

Children are naturally curious.

Help them:

• Count gears

• Find animals hidden on clocks

• Watch pendulums swing

• Listen for chimes

• Observe the watchmaker at work

Praise their observations.

Simple encouragement can inspire a lifelong interest in history and engineering.

Creating Memorable Moments

Visitors often remember experiences more than exhibits.

Small gestures make a big difference:

• Point out something unusual.

• Share your favorite artifact.

• Explain how a clock works.

• Invite questions.

• Recommend another exhibit at AGSEM.

Your enthusiasm is contagious.

Frequently Asked Questions & Docent Resources

One of the most enjoyable parts of being a docent is answering visitors' questions. Every question is an opportunity to educate, inspire curiosity, and create a memorable experience. You are not expected to know everything. Even experienced horologists continue learning throughout their lives. Your role is to provide accurate information, share engaging stories, and know where to find answers when needed.

Remember:  "It's perfectly acceptable to say, 'That's a great question. Let's find out together.'"

"What is horology?"

Horology is the science, history, and art of measuring time. It includes the design, construction, repair, restoration, and study of clocks, watches, and other timekeeping devices.

"How old is the museum?"

The West Coast Clock & Watch Museum began in Bellingham, Washington, before relocating to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista, California, in 2016. Since then, it has continued to grow, culminating in a major expansion completed in 2026.

"Who owns the clocks?"

The collection includes artifacts owned by the museum as well as generous donations from collectors, families, and supporters who wanted to preserve these remarkable timepieces for future generations.

"Do all of the clocks work?"

Many do. Some clocks are operated regularly by trained volunteers, while others remain stationary to protect delicate mechanisms or because they are awaiting conservation or restoration.

"Who winds all these clocks?"

Qualified museum volunteers who have completed clock handling training carefully wind and maintain designated clocks according to museum procedures.

"How often are the clocks wound?"

It depends on the clock. Some require winding every day, while others run for several days or even weeks between windings.

"What is the oldest clock in the museum?"

The answer may change as our collection grows. If you're unsure, check with another docent or museum leadership so you can provide the most accurate information.

"Can visitors touch the clocks?"

To protect these historic artifacts, we ask visitors not to touch the exhibits unless a docent specifically invites them to interact with a designated hands-on display.

"How much is this clock worth?"

The museum generally does not discuss monetary values. We focus on each artifact's historical, educational, and cultural significance.

"Can I donate a clock?"

Absolutely. We welcome inquiries about donations. Museum leadership can explain our collections policy and the donation process.

"Can I volunteer?"

Yes! We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers. Whether someone is interested in greeting visitors, leading tours, restoration, research, or special events, we'd love to talk with them.

"How can I become a member?"

Membership information is available at the front desk or from a docent. Joining helps support the museum's educational mission and preservation efforts.

"Why don't the clocks all show the same time?"

Some clocks are intentionally stopped to preserve their mechanisms, while others are operated for demonstration purposes. Each clock has unique maintenance requirements.

Questions Children Often Ask

"Which clock is your favorite?"

Share your personal favorite and explain why.

"Why do clocks tick?"

Explain that many mechanical clocks use an escapement, which releases energy one small step at a time, creating the familiar "tick-tock" sound.

"How many gears are inside a clock?"

It depends on the clock! Some have only a few gears, while others contain hundreds of carefully crafted parts.

"Did people really use these every day?"

Yes! Before digital clocks and smartphones, these were the primary way people kept track of time.

Helpful Horology Terms

Escapement:   The mechanism that controls the release of energy and keeps the clock running at a steady rate.

Pendulum:  A swinging weight that regulates time in many clocks.

Movement:  The internal mechanism that powers a clock or watch.

Dial:   The face of the clock displaying the time.

Hands:  The pointers indicating the hour, minute, and sometimes seconds.

Mainspring:  A coiled spring that stores energy in many clocks and watches.

Weight-Driven Clock:  A clock powered by descending weights.

Horologist:  A person who studies, repairs, or builds clocks and watches.

If You Don't Know the Answer

Never guess.

Instead, say:

"That's a wonderful question. I'd like to make sure I give you the correct information. Let me check with one of our museum specialists."

Visitors appreciate honesty and accuracy.