Volunteer
The gardens depend on people like you! More than 500 volunteers give 10,000 hours each year to the University of Washington Botanic Gardens. Learn new skills while you contribute to plant conservation and education. We have opportunities for everyone.
Printer friendly list of volunteer positions as of May 18, 2013 04:44 AM.
Please note the phone number when deciding where you are most interested in volunteering. Your call is welcome!
Administrative Assistant
Help with various office and record keeping related tasks. Organizational skills and attention to detail are a must. Computer knowledge is important. Duties may include organizing files, creating reports, entering data, reviewing records, filing, compiling information, special project, etc.
Weekly commitment, 2-4 hours per day, 1 days per week.
This position is not currently available
Azalea Way Stewards(AWS)
The AWS is a program sponsored by UWBG and the Arboretum Foundation. Help support the upkeep of our educational WPA plant collections displays along historic Azalea Way. Steward may work with horticulture staff or work independently to supervise and lead work parties. AWS benefits include participating in education and outreach, horticulture training, and other fun events scheduled throughout the calendar year.
24 hrs of volunteer work/year required. Scheduled work parties on first Tuesday and fourth Saturday of the month, except Dec-Feb. Also, every Tuesday is "Drop-In" day. There will be other scheduled outreach and training events offered throughout the year. Requires previous horticulture and leadership experience.
Contact: Kyle Henegar, Pacific Connections Gardener, (206) 616-4050, kyleh24@uw.edu; rhondabush@comcast.net
Class Monitor
Public education classes happen year-round and serve both horticultural enthusiasts and professionals. Class monitors assist instructors - and they get to take the course they monitor for free! Typical duties including opening 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. Scheduling is on a per-class basis.
This position is not currently available
Continuing Education General Assistant
UWBG Continuing Education offers programs that serve both public and professional audiences. Volunteers assist staff with a variety of tasks that support the programs. Projects include special projects related to program administration. Strong computer and organizational skills are a plus.
Time commitment varies by project
This position is not currently available
CUH Gardener Assistant
The Union Bay Gardens are highly visible to the public and require intensive gardening practices and ongoing maintenance. Plants in these gardens range from Northwest native species to annuals and herbaceous perennials from overseas that are being tested here. Duties include weeding, mulching, planting and plant removal, grooming of paths, light pruning to maintain plant health, perennial plant care including deadheading and division, watering and fertilizing as well as basic plant labeling and inventory.
Tuesday mornings, 9-noon Minimum commitment of two months, including orientation of the UBG grounds and training in the gardens. You should have some knowledge of gardening duties and be willing to work outdoors in all sorts of weather.
Contact: Annie Bilotta, Gardener II, (206) 897-1642, anniebp@uw.edu
Earth Day Volunteer
Join the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Seattle Parks and Recreation for a fun day of service projects at the Washington Park Arboretum. Meet in the Meadow (5 minute walk south from Graham Visitor Center). Bring: water, lunch, rain gear, long pants, sunscreen, layers of clothing, and boots. Tools, gloves, snacks will be provided. To register call SCA at: 206-324-4649, or visit website: www.thesca.org/seattle Help make this a great Earth Day!
Saturday, April 13, 2013 9am-2pm
Contact: David Zuckerman, WPA Grounds Supervisor, 3-8008, dzman@uw.edu
Events Publicity Assistant
Help us get the word out about the many fun events and classes offered by UW Botanic Gardens. The primary responsibility is to submit event details to media and community web calendars.
Bi-weekly commitment, 2-3 hours per day, 2-3 days per month.
This position is not currently available
Front Desk Volunteer
This person sits at the Front Desk in Merrill Hall or the Graham Visitor Center and greets visitors as well as answering inquiries. Must have good verbal skills and enjoy working with the public in a front desk position. Must be comfortable using internet and printed resources to help answer questions. This volunteer position is a representative of the UW Botanic Gardens.
A volunteer agrees to work a minimum of two 3-hour shifts per month between 9 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. any day of the week. There are no wges or other benefits asociated. Volunteers are respnsible for their own transportation.
Contact: Lauren Fortune, Rental program supervisor, (206) 685-1706, laurenf@uw.edu
Herbarium Assistant
Help process plant specimens by participating in data entry, filing plant specimens, updating collecting lists, and other activities that provide hands-on herbarium experience. Duties include filing herbarium specimens, using Word and Excel programs for data entry, and working with collecting lists and maps.
Contact: Eve Rickenbaker, Herbarium Manager, (206) 685-2589, hydeherb@u.washington.edu
Herbarium Specimen Collector
Get outside and hone your plant ID skills! Use maps and lists to locate and collect specimens in the Arboretum which are eventually deposited in the Hyde Herbarium.
Contact: Eve Rickenbaker, Herbarium Manager, (206) 685-2589, hydeherb@u.washington.edu
Library Assistant
Help maintain this vital public resource! The Elisabeth C. Miller Library is the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest and answers questions from all over the world. Library assistants perform a variety of tasks, from shelving books and journals, to helping answer reference questions, data entry and special projects as needed.
Visit the Miller Library website to learn more.
Volunteers work a regular schedule of 3-4 hours weekly. Seasonal internships may also be negotiated.
Contact: Martha Ferguson, Library Specialist, (206) 543-0415, mferg@uw.edu
Pacific Connections Gardens Stewards(PCGS)
The PCGS is a pilot program sponsored by UWBG and the Arboretum Foundation. Help support the upkeep of our new and exciting educational WPA plant collections displays known as Pacific Connections Gardens. Steward may work with horticulture staff or work independently to supervise and lead work parties. PCGS benefits include participating in education and outreach, horticulture training, and other fun events scheduled throughout the calendar year.
24 hrs of volunteer work/year required. Scheduled work parties on first Thursday and second Saturday of the month, except Dec-Feb. Also, every Tuesday is "Drop-In" day. There will be other scheduled outreach and training events offered throughout the year. Requires previous horticulture and leadership experience.
Contact: Kyle Henegar, Pacific Connections Gardener, (206) 616-4050, kyleh24@uw.edu; rhondabush@comcast.net
Plant Records Assistant
The Plant Records Office houses a records center for all plants in the Arboretum which serves as the primary basis for collection interpretation, management and planning. Assist with keeping this vital information current through field inventory and data entry. Become better acquainted with the Arboretum, its diverse collection and the record system. 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 year-round. Commitment of 8 hours per month. Office sessions are held on Monday and Tuesday from 12–5 p.m. and field sessions are held on Wednesday and Thursday from 12–5 p.m. and scheduling is flexible within these times. You should be attentive to detail and eager to learn. Knowledge of horticultural plant materials is highly desirable but not required.
Contact: Keith Ferguson, Registrar, (206) 616-4162, fergus42@uw.edu
Rare Care General Assistant
Interested in contributingto rare plant conservation by assisting Rare Care with office projects? Volunteers assist Rare Care staff with a variety of tasks that support the rare plant monitoring and seed collecting programs. Projects may include rare plant literature research, mailings or digital image labeling and filing. Strong computer and organizational skills are a plus.
This position is not currently available
Rare Care Rare Plant Monitor
Volunteer rare plant monitors visit populations of rare native plants throughout Washington State. Volunteers need some botanical training, good observation skills, a sense of adventure, their own transportation, and a few days to spare during the field season (Mar-Oct). For more information, including a volunteer position description and dates for trainings and application deadlines, visit the Rare Care website.NOTE: Only one more training planned for 2013, in Walla Walla, WA.
Minimum commitment includes attendance at an all-day training session and Completion of at least two monitoring assignments over two years. Each assignment may require two site visits.
This position is not currently available
Rare Care Seed Vault Assistant
Help Rare Care preserve seeds of rare plants for perpetuity. Seed vault assistants help with cleaning, counting and packaging seeds of rare native plants for long-term storage in the Miller Seed Vault. Volunteers work in the Miller Seed Vault processing room, a climate-controlled environment with an ambient temperature of 57 degrees F and a relative humidity of 22%. Working with seeds requires a strong attention to detail. You'll handle very small seeds with hand tools. For more information about the seed vault, vist the Miller Seed Vault webpage.
This position is not currently available
Special Events/Outreach Assistant
The UW Botanic Gardens sponsors events that attract many visitors, and these rely on volunteers to plan, publicize, set-up, and carry out the activities. Utilize your special talents, or just have a strong desire to help make special events a success.
This position is not currently available
UBNA Restoration volunteer
Assist with ecological restoration of Union Bay Natural area. Activities include manual control of invasives, installation of native plants, mulching, live staking and gathering of native plant materials for propagation.
Any time commitment acceptable. Drop-in hours available. See calendar.
Contact: Rosemary Baker, UBNA RA, , bakerr2@uw.edu
UWBG Arborist Assistant
Volunteers will assist UWBG arborist with aerial pruning, tree removals, and tree health improvement projects. Duties may include dragging and stacking brush, weeding and mulching existing tree rings and creating new tree rings. Aerial tree work and use of power equipment is permitted only if the individual is a licensed, bonded, and insured ISA certified arborist in good standing.
WEEKDAYS ONLY!
Contact: Christopher Watson, Lead Gardener / Arborist, (206) 616-4050, cmwatson@uw.edu
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Recruitment
- Devise and implement volunteer recruitment strategies
- Develop and maintain relationships with other volunteer organizations within the area
- Develop, promote and maintain a wide range of volunteer opportunities with the UWBG
Volunteer Training/Evaluation and Staffing
- Coordinate and facilitate orientation training
- Maintain volunteer policies, procedures and standards of volunteer service
Volunteer Retention
- Assist the Volunteer Committee in organizing the annual volunteer appreciation event
- Motivate, support, monitor and accredit volunteers for the works they have accomplished
- Collaborate with Unit Supervisors to identify volunteer need and volunteer job descriptions
Volunteer Management, Tracking and Reporting
- Provide timely statistical and activity reports on volunteer participation
- Maintain Volunteer Job Descriptions
- Attend Volunteer Committee Meetings
4-6 hours per week, Monday through Friday and occasional weekends.
Contact: Carrie Cone, Manager of Administrative Services, (206) 685-2579, cmcone@uw.edu
WPA Adult Garden Guide
Introduce the public to the Arboretum and its collections through 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!
Volunteers lead guided tours during the week or on weekends. You should be willing to work in inclement weather and have time to attend training and enrichment programs. Commitment of two tours per month on a seasonal or year-round basis.
Contact: Lisa Sanphillippo, WPA Education Program, (206) 616-3381, lsanphil@u.washington.edu
WPA Garden Steward
The Garden Stewards are experienced, long-term volunteers who work semi-independently in a focused area of the arboretum. Stewards choose their own worksite, work with a staff horticulturist to plan and prioritize the needs of the garden and are able to accomplish the work on their own. Tools and materials are provided. An AA degree in horticulture or related field, or work equivalent is required. Garden Stewards must have knowledge of soils, pruning and plant identification.
WEEKDAYS ONLY! Although flexible, Garden Stewards are expected to be able to commit a minimum of 3 hours per week for at least 1 years’ time.
Contact: Roy Farrow, Gardener II, (206) 616-4050, farrow@uw.edu
WPA Gardener Assistant
Work on a variety of plant care and grounds maintenance activities. Learn about the maintenance and development of plant collections. 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 unless the volunteer is licensed and bonded under ISA certified specs.
WEEKDAYS ONLY! Work takes place rain or shine. Volunteers work as a group Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Minimum commitment of four Tuesdays preferred. Alternate days may be arranged within staff work hours (M-F, 7a.m.-3:30 p.m.).
Contact: Roy Farrow, Gardener II, (206) 616-4050, farrow@uw.edu
WPA GIS Mapping Assistant
This position is for volunteers helping with the WPA GIS Mapping Project. It includes surveyors, map digitizers, and others who are volunteering on the project and otherwise not employed by UW on the project.
Contact: Tracy Mehlin, Information Technology Librarian, (206) 616-9481, tmehlin@uw.edu
WPA Junior Summer Camp Guide
Camp Overview: Our day-camp curricula are designed in support of our mission: to
promote environmental conservation through education and recreation. To achieve this we focus
on hands-on exploration, play and the concept of “learning by doing”. Depending on the weekly
theme, campers may become ethnobotanists, urban farmers or field biologists all while learning
about the importance of teamwork and sustainability.
General Duties: This position is ideal for high school students interested in working with
children outside in nature. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm for kids, playing outside
and gaining leadership skills. Junior Summer Camp Guides will assist Summer Garden Guides
to plan and provide an exceptional day camp experience. Each Summer Garden Guide will be
paired with a Junior Summer Camp Guide and together they will be responsible for a group of up
to 12 campers. Junior summer camp guides will collaborate with their Summer Garden Guide to
determine their role and responsibilities within the group.
Junior Summer Camp Guides will have the opportunity to lead games and activities with the
guidance of their Summer Garden Guide. This position is designed to provide experience and
skills in teaching and working with children, expand environmental knowledge and guide teens
in developing leadership skills.
Job Duration: 5 weeks of camp and 2 days camp training.
Dates and Times: July 5 & 6 (training), July 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, 30-Aug 3; Aug 6-10 8:30am-3:30pm each day.
Contact: Sarah Heller, Community Programs Coordinator , 206-2216427, sshort@uw.edu
WPA Saplings School Program Guide
Lead 90-minute, hands-on programs 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. You should enjoy working with children, be willing to work in inclement weather, and have time to attend training and enrichment programs. Commitment of one program per week during the three-month fall and spring seasons. Background check ($10 cost) is needed if the volunteer completes the guide training.
Contact: Lisa Sanphillippo, WPA Education Program, (206) 616-3381, lsanphil@u.washington.edu
Last modified:
April 17 2012 10:35:12