As the saying goes, “Once a teacher, always a teacher.”

El Dorado County retired teachers, Kris (a former special education teacher) and Drew (a former history teacher) Van Winkle, have found a rewarding way to continue their love of educating beyond the formal classroom. If you visit the Point Bonita Lighthouse, part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area, on a certain weekend each month, you will be led on an informative tour by docents Kris and Drew. This particular lighthouse – still a functioning one today – was the third to be built on the California coast and the first to have an original Fresnel lens from Paris.

The Van Winkles once lived right under Staten Island’s lighthouse in New York, which sparked their interest in the structures. When they first visited Point Bonita, they thought, “This is cool!” and after voicing their opinions, began docent training. “We find it delightful to share history with the many visitors to the lighthouse,” says Kris. They also thoroughly enjoy talking with the many foreign visitors. “Point Bonita is a great day trip from the Sacramento area,” continues Kris. “We love showing families around this very special place in California’s history.”

For more about Kris & Drew Van Winkle, and other local happenings and information, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style – El Dorado County Foothills edition. Click on the Get Your Copy link on this Web site for some of our newsstand locations; click on the Subscribe link on this Web site to become a regular subscriber, or to order a copy of this issue or one of our back issues, please email  [email protected], or call 916-988-9888.