Article

by Hilltromper staff

Dec. 6, 2014
Hilltromper: What do you do at Wilder Ranch?
Barbara Cooksey:I have many duties as a California State Park Guide I, which include giving tours at the ranch. A lot of my work includes planning and managing Special Public Events like the annual Heritage Harvest Festival, Holidays on the Ranch, Old Fashioned Independence Day, Garden Planting & Wool Day. Some of my other duties include coordinating volunteer docents, organizing public and school group tours and special days like Ranch Kids Days. Docent training, potluck meetings, enrichment field trips and scheduling guest speakers are some of my favorite duties at the park.

How did you get involved with being a docent?
I started as a volunteer docent in 1993, when I was meeting a requirement for an Internship at San Jose State University Environmental Studies/Outdoor Education BA Degree. I enjoyed it so much that I continued as a docent after my internship had ended.

What did you want to be when you were little? Looking back, do you think that informed your present path?
I have always loved horses and animals. I can remember drawing pictures of horses as a small child and rode them as often as I could. I don’t think I really knew exactly what I wanted “to be” back then, as far as a career, but as far back as I can remember I have always been interested in preserving nature, and our cultural history has always fascinated me. Being outdoors and in the wilderness has always given me a sense of renewal, and I have enjoyed hiking and camping.

I remember my first trip up to Yosemite was an exciting, life-changing experience for me. I joined the Sierra Club at an early age and liked reading their magazines about what was going on in the environment. I became interested in Interpretation on my way to becoming a teacher and using themes became part of my teaching methods. I enjoyed working at many of the state parks in the Santa Cruz District: Seacliff, New Brighton, Nisene Marks, Sunset, Manresa, Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz Mission and of course Wilder Ranch. Looking back over the past 21 years at the parks, I do think that the journey that has led me to Wilder Ranch has been an enjoyable, memorable ride!

Do you wear period dress? If so, who makes the costumes?
Sometimes I wear period clothing, but most of the time I wear a state park uniform. I have sewn some of my own skirts and bought my shoes, hats and blouses from vintage clothing stores. There is also a costume room at the ranch that is managed by a docent organized costume committee, who add and replace period clothing items periodically. The staff, docents and volunteers are able to borrow period clothing from this costume bank.

What are the names of the cats at Wilder? Do you have a favorite?
It is funny that you asked this…one of our cats named Blossom has been missing for a few weeks now. The one cat that we have at Wilder is named Buttercup. I guess she is my favorite and only one at Wilder Ranch now.

Best part of your job? Worst part?
The best part of my job is being able to work in such a great state park and sharing information about the history with the public and school groups along with such great, dedicated docents and volunteers.
My favorite school program is called Ranch Kids Day, and provides 3rd grade classes an opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, while learning about the way people lived in the past.
I really enjoy planning, organizing and participating in all of the special public events as well.

I don’t know if there is a bad part of the job. For some it might be the extra house cleaning and laundry associated with the events and special days…but fortunately I don’t mind doing it!

Tell us one of your favorite stories about working at the park.
I remember the first time that I met Janet Wilder-McCommon. It was quite a few years ago when she happened to stop by the park store to pick up some stocking stuffers and gifts for her family members. At that time I was surprised to learn that her family had always referred to what we call today “the Meder House” as “the Cook House.” She explained why it was called that, and it was because that was where her entire family would gather to eat on special occasions such as Thanksgiving, and she could remember the times that they would cook their turkey in the large wood-burning stove in the kitchen. This was also where the cook slept, in the room next to the kitchen. She talked about her grandmother, Lettie, who lived in the Victorian home next door, and her childhood memories and all of the after-school piano lessons that she had received from her dear grandmother.

About 1½ years ago Sandra came back with her husband and daughter-in-law and grandchildren, and I was delighted to give them all a tour! I was thrilled to meet Sandra’s older sister, Janet Wilder-Lockwood, when she came as chaperon for her grandson’s 3rd grade Ranch Kids Day environmental studies program a few years ago. She also attended the October 2014 Heritage Harvest Day/40th Anniversary Special Event with her whole family.

Name something most people don’t realize about Wilder Ranch.
Wilder Ranch was the site of many “firsts” in Santa Cruz County, not only being the first dairy farm in the area, but the first rural household with electricity. With the purchase of the 1903 Knox, the Wilder family became the proud owners of the first gas-powered automobile in Santa Cruz, and during World War II, Ethel Wilder delivered milk and became known as the first official woman truck driver in the county.

If there was one thing you could tell people about the state parks, what would it be?
Did you know that California State Parks is celebrating their 150th Anniversary this year and that the first California State Park was Yosemite?

Please take advantage of all of the opportunities that exist in the parks. They are there for you to enjoy and learn about our rich and diverse natural and cultural resources and you can benefit by visiting our parks. Don’t forget that there are many ways that you can help by volunteering your time, donating funds, and by spreading the word about the many opportunities and recreational activities that exist in our parks. Your support is always needed and is for a very good cause. Our state parks are a great benefit for everyone to enjoy! Please help us preserve and take care of them.

Want to get involved as a docent at your favorite state park? Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks supports volunteer docent programs throughout the county. Learn more about how you can give back at the FoSCSP Volunteer Page.