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Volunteering
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More than 500 people give 10,000 hours of volunteer time each year to the University of Washington Botanic Gardens. In fact, programs at both locations rely on volunteers for their success. On-the-job training is provided, as well as the benefit of serving the community. The UW Botanic Gardens has volunteer opportunities to suit every level of interest and involvement. Please note the phone number when deciding where you are most interested in volunteering. Your call is welcome! You may also fill out our application (pdf file) and mail it in. Once your application has been processed, you will be contacted by the appropriate volunteer supervisor(s). If you have questions about any position, call the contact person listed. Again, we thank you for your interest in volunteering and we look forward to working with you. Administration Assistant Administration Assistants help with various
office and record keeping related tasks. Organizational
skills and attention to detail are a must. Computer
knowledge is important. Typical duties may include organizing files, creating
reports, entering data, reviewing records, filing,
and compiling information. Scheduling can be weekly and should be at least 2-4
hours per work period, or on an individual basis depending
on the tasks/projects involved. Class Monitor UWBG Public
Education courses are presented year round and include
topics of interest to both horticultural enthusiasts
and professionals. Class Monitors attend
classes as assistants and facilitators to the instructors.
Typical duties of Class Monitors include:
opening up meeting rooms, helping instructors with
room set-ups, handling registration check-ins, assisting
with projectors and lights, closing up the room at
the end of class. Monitors do not pay to attend the
classes they monitor. Scheduling
of assignments is on a per class basis. Union Bay Gardens The Soest Herbaceous Garden , Marilou Goodfellow
Grove, McVay Courtyard, Entry Garden and plant evaluation
plots are all areas of the Union Bay Gardens that require
ongoing maintenance. These areas are highly visible
to the public and require intensive gardening practices.
Plants in these gardens range from species native to
the Pacific Northwest to annuals and herbaceous perennials
from overseas that are being tested here in our region. Volunteers usually work with staff on site and generally
spend 3-4 hours per week working on assignments. There
is a wide range of tasks involved as well as an array
of plant material to maintain. Volunteers should have
some knowledge of gardening duties and be willing to
work in all sorts of weather. Union Bay Gardens Receptionist The Union Bay Gardens receptionist
desk is the hub of activity at UWBG. Volunteers answer
the phone, transfer incoming calls and perform light
clerical duties as needed. No experience is necessary
and training is available on an individual basis as
needed. The position affords a unique overview of the
diverse activities, operations and personnel at UWBG. Herbarium Assistant The Hyde
Herbarium's plant specimen collection is constantly
expanding. Herbarium specimen collections are primarily
comprised of plants from the University of Washington
Botanic Gardens' Washington Park Arboretum and Union Bay Gardens, other horticulturally significant
plants, common weeds and noxious weeds. These plant
specimens are used for plant identification and research. Herbarium
Assistants help process
plant specimens by participating in data entry, filing
plant specimens, updating colleting lists and other
activities that provide hands on experience in the
workings of a herbarium. Duties include: filing
herbarium specimens, using Word and Excel programs
for data entry, working with collecting lists and maps.
This position requires about 8 hours per month. Library Assistant Elisabeth
C. Miller Library serves the faculty, students and
staff of UWBG, professional horticulturists, and
the general gardening public. With 250 subscriptions
to journals and newsletters plus a collection of
12,000 books on horticulture, ecology, taxonomy,
botany, garden design, etc., the Miller Library is
the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest
and answers questions from all over the world. We
are currently open to the public 49 hours a week.
Duties
include the following: book and journal shelving,
processing of new materials, filing, photocopying,
data entry, circulation, sending overdue notices,
helping to answer reference questions, magazine processing,
plant sale calendar maintenance, web-site maintenance,
writing and special projects as needed. Library Volunteers are asked to work a regular schedule
of three to four hours per week including summers and
school breaks. Seasonal internships may also be negotiated. Plant Production Assistant No additional volunteers are needed at this time for this position. Please explore one of our other volunteer opportunities or check back later. The Plant Production program grows and maintains
Collection plants for the UWBG grounds. Activities
in support of this program take place in the container
nursery area located behind the Douglas Research Conservatory.
Some lifting and bending is involved. Knowledge of
plant nomenclature is helpful and prior experience
in nursery work is preferred. Volunteers work independently
once training is completed. Plant Production
Assistant support activities include: seed treatments
and germination, transplanting, labeling of plants,
fertilizing and watering of container plants, sanitizing
containers, mixing soil mediums, and record-keeping. Volunteers will work 3 hours per week with a minimum
two month commitment. Working hours are Monday through
Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Plant Records Aide The
Curation Office at the Washington Park Arboretum
houses a records center for all plants in the Arboretum
collection. This body of information serves as the
primary basis for collection interpretation, management
and planning. Volunteers assist in keeping this vital
information current through field inventory and data
entry. Plant records work offers an opportunity to
become better acquainted with the Arboretum, its
diverse collection and the record system itself.
This is an exceptional opportunity to ‘dig deeper'
and become more familiar with the largest woody plant
collection in the region. Duties
include: inventory of specified collection areas or taxonomic
groups, verification of field status against record data,
plant label placement, updating computer records and
maps. Activities
are ongoing through the year. This position requires
about 8 hours per month. Regular meetings are held
on Thursday and Friday from 12 – 5 p.m. and
scheduling in flexible within these times. Important
skills are an attention to detail and a desire to learn.
Knowledge of horticultural plant materials is highly
desirable but is not required. This position requires about 8 or more hours per month. Rare
Plant Care & Conservation Washington
Rare Plant Care & Conservation (Rare
Care) is dedicated to conserving Washington 's native
rare plants through methods including ex situ (off
site) conservation, rare plant monitoring, reintroduction,
and education. Rare Care offers volunteers a range
of opportunities to become involved in protecting Washington
's native rare plants, from monitoring known rare plant
populations (the "first line of defense" in
protecting Washington 's rare plants) to collecting
and processing seed for storage in our Miller Seed
Vault, one of the largest non-governmental secure seed
vaults in the United States . Research Project Assistant The Union
Bay Natural Area (UBNA) is a former landfill located
south and west of the Center for Urban Horticulture.
It is now the site of continuing restoration and an
important urban greenspace that offers habitat to a
diversity of plants and animals. Volunteers help with
restoration and research projects. Duties
include: transplanting, weeding and watering in the
nursery, removing weedy plants in the UBNA, preparing
research plots and performing research and monitoring
tasks. Volunteer hours are arranged with the supervisor. Seed Exchange Assistant Index
Seminum is an international seed exchange program between
botanical gardens. Many Arboretum plants have been
grown from seed received through exchange with nearly
500 reciprocating institutions throughout the world.
The exchange operates on an annual cycle, beginning
with seed collection in summer and fall and ending
with the shipment of seed during the following spring.
Volunteers are encouraged to participate in all aspects
of the seed exchange, including seed collection and
processing, management of the seed bank, catalog preparation
and mailing and order processing. All distributed seed
is collected in the wild, from species native to the
Pacific Northwest . Seed Exchange Assistants also
have an opportunity to become better acquainted with
the native flora of the Northwest. Seed Exchange Assistant duties
include: seed collection, processing and packaging,
production and mailing of the seed catalog, management
of the seed bank inventory & exchange database
and preparation of shipments. Special Events/Outreach Assistant Periodically the UW Botanic Gardens sponsors events
that attract many visitors to UBG and the Arboretum.
These occasional Special Events, organized
around educational themes, rely on volunteers to plan,
publicize, set-up, and carry out the activities. Special
talents can often be used in creative ways here; otherwise,
a general willingness to help out suffices. No special
training or experience is required. Washington
Park Arboretum WPA Arborist Assistant volunteers will work
with the staff arborist on pruning or removal projects.
Climbing arborists should provide their own equipment.
If necessary, the Arboretum will supply the use of
its chipper. Washington Park
Arboretum Community
Service Volunteers are community
groups that work under the direct supervision of our
horticulture staff in a single work-party event. They
are a vital source of support in caring for the plant
collections, particularly in our efforts to regulate
invasive plants, such as ivy and blackberry. Assigned
staff lead the group projects on-site, usually at a
ratio of one staff person to 10-20 volunteers, depending
on project complexity. Washington Park Arboretum Volunteers
work with horticulture staff on a variety of plant
care and grounds maintenance activities. Volunteering
offers an opportunity to learn about the WPA plant
collections and how they are maintained and developed.
Volunteers of any skill level are welcome. Volunteers
work year round, rain or shine. WPA Gardener Volunteer duties
include: weeding, mulching, planting, and other horticulture
activities. Hand-tools and work gloves provided.
Work boots, rain-gear and long pants recommended.
Use of power equipment and utility vehicles is prohibited. Volunteers
work as a group each Tuesday at 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
(3 hours). A minimum of 4 Tuesdays (12 hr total)
on a scheduled basis is preferred. Alternate days
of volunteering may be arranged within staff work
schedule (M-F, 7:00am-3:30pm). Washington Park Arboretum Guide Arboretum
Guides introduce
the general public to the Arboretum and its collections
through scheduled 60-90 minute tours. Tour themes
include seasonal interest, history and ecology of
Foster Island , native plants and ethnobotany. A
background in botany, ecology or horticulture is
helpful. Teaching experience is a plus! Please contact
WPA Education Coordinator for details. Duties include:
leading groups through the Arboretum on guided tours
either during the week or on weekends, willingness
to work in varied weather conditions and attending
appropriate training/enrichment programs. Washington Park Arboretum Saplings
Guides lead
90-minute, topic-focused programs with hands-on activities
for school groups in grades K-12. Program topics
include Discover Plants, Life Cycle of Plants, Wetland
Ecology Walks and Native Plants and People. Guide
training is offered prior to each Saplings season
in the fall and spring. Duties include: leading or
assisting with Saplings programs, attending appropriate
training sessions, willingness to work outside in varied
weather conditions and a desire to work with children. For opportunities volunteering for the Arboretum Foundation, the support organization for the Washington Park Arboretum, including helping in the gift shop and selling plants visit http://www.arboretumfoundation.org/volunteer/volunteer.cfm
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