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Help Others Discover Good Design at Manitoga
Each year, the Daily Tour at Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center gives thousands of visitors a first-hand opportunity to experience Russel Wright's creativity and his passion for living in harmony with nature. Since Manitoga began offering daily tours in 2003, the number of annual visitors has grown steadily. Between April and October, 2006, more than 2000 people from 27 states and 12 countries took the Daily Tour, including many professional groups.
Because of docents who generously volunteer their time each season, Manitoga is able to interpret Russel Wright's vision as well as preserve his legacy. Docents offer visitors a comprehensive and intriguing overview of Wright's career as a prolific industrial designer and his conception and development of Manitoga as a place to explore the intertwining of nature and design.
The Manitoga Daily Tour, a guided walk of the trail leading from the Manitoga Guide House up around the Quarry Pond to Russel Wright's Home and Studio, is approximately 90 minutes long.
Manitoga opens for the season on Saturday, April 14. Training begins this month, with a special orientation for returning and new docents on Saturday, March 24 at 10am. Trainees receive study materials about Russel Wright and Manitoga and have the chance to observe tours by trained docents before leading tours of their own. Once training is complete, commitment to lead tours is flexible, depending on the volunteer's schedule and availability.
With spring just around the corner, volunteers are also needed to assist the landscape staff with trail clearing and maintenance and related tasks. Landscape Volunteer Day will be held on Saturday, May 19, under the direction of Landscape Curator Ruth Parnall.
Volunteers at Manitoga enjoy a variety of benefits, including the opportunity to meet interesting visitors from all walks of life, invitations to special trips and lectures, and discounts for the Manitoga shop and programs.
Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center, now a National Historic Landmark, is located on Route 9D in Garrison, between Route 403 and the Bear Mountain Bridge.
For more information on exciting volunteer opportunities at Manitoga, please contact Manitoga Education Consultant Nicole Paoli-Ramos at tours@russelwrightcenter.org or 718-938-2386, or call the Manitoga office at 424-3812.
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