Washington Youth Garden - Educators and Demo Garden Volunteers

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Interested in volunteering with the Washington Youth Garden crew? Want to dig in the dirt or help teach youth about garden topics? Here is your chance. If interested, we will get in touch about the onboarding process.

Required Skills & Interests

• Able to meet the responsibilities and time commitment for the opportunity of interest
• Help make the 1 acre youth garden a prime place for youth to learn about garden topics
• Interest in the environment and enthusiasm about the importance of plants
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds; fluency in English
• Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather
• Dependability and punctuality
• Interest in learning more about the history and plants of the Arboretum

Benefits

• Invitation to the annual Volunteer Appreciation Event after 16 hours of service?
• Periodic free "refresher" classes, lectures, tours, and field trips on timely and interesting topics.
• Occasional bounty from the garden

OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES at the WASHINGTON YOUTH GARDEN

Regular Saturday Activities and Family Garden Days

Every Saturday, volunteers are needed to help engage drop-in visitors at the Youth Garden, by leading fun and engaging nature-based activities for kids. Ongoing April - October. A more formal family program, with a specific theme, takes place as the regular Saturday activity on the second Saturday of the month, March-October.

Saturday Schedule:

9 AM - Set up

10 AM - Nature craft

11 AM - Garden work

12 PM - Book Reading

1 PM - Clean up

• Commitment - Choose 3 Saturdays during the season (April - October). Be energetic and interested in hosting and teaching kids, and able to stay from 9am to noon
• Duties - Set up and clean up; handle sign-in for families; lead activity stations

• Current need - at least one per Saturday (2 for Family Garden Day)
• Training -

• Onboarding paperwork to complete - Online Info form with emergency contact info, media release, and liability waiver

SPROUT Field Trip Program

Volunteers are needed to help facilitate 90 minute field trips at the Youth Garden for kids coming from DC area schools. Volunteers may help with set up and clean up, assist with activities, or even lead a small group when ready. Ongoing April - October.

Tuesday - Friday Schedule:

9 AM - 12 PM - Morning field trip session

1 PM - 3 PM - Afternoon field trip session

• Commitment - Sign up for 1 session or day per week during the season (April- October)
• Duties - Set up and clean up; collect permission slips; take photos; and lead activity stations

• Current need - at least one or two per session
• Training - Must attend a training in April, June, or September

• Onboarding paperwork to complete - Online Info form with emergency contact info, media release, and liability waiver

Garden Science Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to help our School Garden program that builds school gardens, promotes healthy eating, and encourages use of garden as a teaching tool.

Schedule:

• Commitment - Sign up for 1 session or day per week during the season (April- October)
• Duties - Maintain school gardens; support educators in facilitating lessons; support community outreach events

• Current need - at least one or two per school (five schools)
• Training - Must attend a training in April, June, or September
• Onboarding paperwork to complete - Online Info form with emergency contact info, media release, and liability waiver

DEMO GARDEN MAINTENANCE at the WASHINGTON YOUTH GARDEN

Volunteers are needed to weed, mulch, plant, and keep the Youth Garden safe, beautiful and productive. Novice to experienced gardeners are welcome.

Tuesday & Saturday Schedule:

9 AM - Noon

*except for holiday weekends

Commitment - Sign up for at least 1 Tuesday or Saturday per month (April- October)

• Duties - plant, weed, mulch, and harvest

• Current need - Many and groups* are welcome, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Training - Must attend a training on the first Tuesday or Saturday of the month April, May, June, July, August, or September

• Onboarding paperwork to complete - Online Info form with emergency contact info, media release, and liability waiver

*Groups- Coordinate with garden crew

Other single time volunteer opportunities with the Washington Youth Garden

Strolling Supper - Annual fundraiser dinner at Demo Garden

• Duties and Commitment - Prepare a tasting or help serve; set up; clean up on the day of the event

• Current need - 10-15 volunteers

• Onboarding paperwork to complete - Online Info form with emergency contact info, media release, and liability waiver

Garlic Planting Party - End of season celebration at Demo Garden

• Duties and Commitment - help with set up and clean up on the day of the event; host one of the stations; make food

• Current need - 10-15 volunteers

• Onboarding paperwork to complete - Online Info form with emergency contact info, media release, and liability waiver