A true jewel of the California coastline and home to a large Elephant Seal rookery, Año Nuevo State Park offers an uncommon and remarkable wildlife experience. Every winter, over 5,000 Elephant seals, the largest marine mammals to come ashore, find their way to the park to give birth and mate along the shoreline. During this time volunteers trained in the natural and cultural history of the park (docents) lead guided walks through the elephant seal rookery. They enjoy sharing this amazing experience with over 60,000 visitors from all over the world each year. Elephant seals return to the shores of Año Nuevo for molting in the spring and summer months. Docents during this time are stationed at the wildlife overlooks and enjoy meeting visitors as they explore the park. They answer questions about the seals, the history of the area, and the plentiful wildlife found within Año Nuevo. The community docent program was created in 1975 and has been the driving force for elephant seal interpretation ever since.