For Judy Pepiot and other members of the Simi Valley Historical Society, even small accomplishments are cause for celebration.

As an example, she said, the recent addition of Friday tours of Strathearn Historical Park and Museum is considered a big deal.

"Little things are important to us. To have that consistency of adding Friday to our tours was cause for opening champagne," said Pepiot, vice president of the society and longtime volunteer at the park.

Beginning March 6, docent-led tours will be available Wednesday through Sundays at the park, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley. They will be offered at 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Pepiot said the historical society is always looking for volunteers to staff the visitor's center, keep up the historical buildings and help in other ways around the park.

"We're looking for young seniors and recent retirees," she said, adding "There are many opportunities for people interested in local history."

Seniors aren't the only helpers the society has their sights on.

"We love to see young people who care about their roots volunteer," Pepiot said.

Docent training consists of four evening sessions, each about 1½ hours.

"We just completed the largest volunteer training class that we've had in the past 10 years," said Karla Hubbell, docent coordinator. "The classes start with Chumash history and go through the time frame of the Strathearn family."

The next training class is in March.

At the meetings, the docents learn about the historic buildings at the park. Structures include the Strathearn House, built in 1892, and El Rancho Simi, an adobe dating from 1810 and designated a state historical landmark.

The docents don't have to memorize the tour because a booklet provides basic information, Hubbell said. She encourages prospective docents to read "Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time," a book published by the historical society and written by city historian Patricia Havens. The book is available for purchase at the visitor's center.

More recently, Havens has put together "Simi Valley, Strathearn Letters, Windows on the Past," which will be available from the society in early spring.

The book is a collection of 360 letters written by Robert Strathearn and his family from 1894 to 1920.

"Mr. Strathearn wrote home while he was on cattle-buying trips. His children, when they were grown, wrote home also," Havens said. "The letters give us insight of ranch life and what Simi Valley was like then."

Another accomplishment at the park is the renovation of the Currier pitting shed, which was relocated to the park a few years ago. In the 1920s, when apricot orchards covered much of Simi Valley, the Currier family owned an apricot ranch on Royal Avenue.

"We're going to add a display of what it would look like on any given day when the farmers were actually processing the apricots," Hubbell said.

In addition, the restoration of a 100-year-old building formerly on Los Angeles Avenue will begin this year. The tiny building served as the Simi Valley Barbershop for more than 50 years.

"The park is beautiful place and doesn't cost any money to visit," Hubbell said. "It's a lovely way to spend an afternoon."

For information on visiting or volunteering, call (805) 526-6453 or go to www.simihistory.com.