Volunteer

Let your hands be a force of nature – volunteer.

There is no better time to help our environment than today. Connect people with nature, teach people about nature and help protect nature. Volunteers at The Holden Arboretum are a precious resource that make our program and services possible. Volunteers bring their energy, knowledge and style to Holden and make each guests visit to Holden fresh and unique.

 

Volunteer involvement at Holden assures engagement with the natural world through meaningful and rewarding experiences.

Whether in our gardens, our natural areas, our visitor center or our offices, volunteering at Holden is a way to give back to your community, meet people with similar interests, learn new skills and have fun! Time commitments vary, however, on average, volunteers contribute 4-6 hours per month to Holden.

 

As diverse as nature itself, a variety of opportunities exist to suit your interests, talents and abilities. Specialized training may be offered to prepare you for your volunteer role. In other cases, experience may be necessary.

 

Your interests, skills, abilities and availability guide initial placement.  New volunteers attend an orientation and based on the volunteer opportunity additional training may be required. Volunteers whose duties may involve the care and/or  custody of children and vulnerable populations are required to submit to a background information check with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

Please contact us to set up a meeting to discuss the opportunities that interest you.

 

Robin Ott

Volunteer Coordinator

Phone: 440.602.8003

E-mail: rott@holdenarb.org

 

Check out our upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Check out the latest edition of the Holden Leaf Press, our volunteer newsletter.

Look good while volunteering, order Holden volunteer apparel.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Teach People about Nature…

 

Teach the young and old about the natural world through interactive hands-on programming.

  • Share your knowledge and passion for nature
  • Teach our guests of all ages about the exciting and magical world of plants, trees, and wildlife

Holden Guides are specially trained volunteers who lead educational programs and tours that introduce our visitors to Holden. Guides are interested in learning and are excellent communicators, with a love of natural history and a genuine desire to share that knowledge with our guests. Flexibility is essential in order to adapt to changing subject matter and guests with different backgrounds, interests and learning styles.

 

 

Education

Opportunity

Season

Preparation

Commitment

Description

Highlight Tour Guide

(tram tour)

Spring

Summer

Fall

(May-Oct)
  • VIP Guide training (14-16 hrs)
  • Annual Refresher training (4-6 hrs)

4 hrs every other week

Enhance our guests experience by conducting tours that provide an overview of  Holden

Highlight Tour Guide

(walking tour)

Spring

Summer

Fall

(April-Oct)
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • VIP Guide training  (14 hrs)
  • Annual Refresher training (4-6 hrs)

4 hrs every other week

Enhance our guests experience by conducting tours that provide an overview of  Holden

Holden Butterfly Garden Guide

(walking tour)

Summer
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • Training (3 hrs)

Tuesday

weekends

2-4 hrs every other week

Enhance our guests experience by leading tours of our Butterfly garden

School Guide

Year Round
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • Spring and or Fall School Guide Training (4.5 hrs)
  • Annual Refresher training (4-6 hrs)

2-4 hrs per week

Lead student through one of Holden's forests first-hand and help them discover some of the many components that make up a forest or pond community

Facilitate students’ experience by making careful observations of nature

Nature Play Facilitator Summer
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • Facilitator Training (3 hrs)
2-4 hrs per week Facilitate guests experience by engaging them in nature play

Girl/Boy Scout Guide

Year Round
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • School or VIP Guide Training (4.5-14hrs)
  • Scout Training (2.5 hrs)

2-4 hrs

per week

(late afternoon or weekends)

Connect scouts with nature through programs geared toward allowing the scouts to earn “try-its,” “badges” or a Holden fun patch

Natural Areas Guide

Year Round
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • School or VIP Guide Training (4.5-14hrs)
  • Natural Areas Training (4-8 hrs)
  • Annual Refresher training (4-6 hrs)

4-8 hrs per month

Lead guests on a hike through spectacular natural areas like Stebbins Gulch and Little Mountain

Snowshoe Guide

Winter

(Jan-Feb)
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • School or VIP Guide Training (4.5-14hrs)
  • Snowshoe Training           (2.5 hrs)

2 hrs every other week

Lead guests on a hike using snowshoes to see winter highlights at Holden

Library

Year Round
  • Previous experience helpful
  • On-the-job training

Tuesday – Saturday,

2-4 hrs per week

Assist visitors, cataloging and filing

Garden Partners

Summer

(June-August)
  • Gardening experience helpful; ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • Orientation
  • On-the-job training

Thursday,

2 hrs per week

Partner with challenged volunteers to complete gardening tasks

 

 

Connect People with Nature…

 

Holden sponsors several major special events each year, each requiring volunteer help. These events produce revenue and a growing interest for Holden and depend on the volunteers to ensure their success. Volunteers may also take on leadership roles in planning these events.

  • Enjoy the beautiful surroundings
  • Meet people with similar interests
  • Learn something new

 

Special Events

Opportunity

Time of Year

Preparation

Commitment

Description

Arbor Day Story Hours

(inside)

 March and April, days and times vary

Training (2 hrs)

 

 2 hrs on weekdays Travel to local libraries and read from an assortment of books about Arbor Day and trees

Arbor Day

(outside)

Friday - Sunday,

April 30 - May 2, 2010

Day of Event Orientation 1 weekend shift Assist with set-up/clean-up, facilitate family crafts and activities and tree seedling give-away, assist with parking

Spring Plant Sale

(outside)

Friday – Sunday,

May 14-16, 2010

Day of Event Orientation

1 weekend shift

Assist with set-up/clean-up, plant vendors, parking, plant pick-up and holding area, customer service and raffle ticket sales

David G. Leach Research Station Open House

(Madison, Ohio)

(outside)

Sunday, May 9 and

Saturday and Sunday, May  15 and 16, 2010

Training (2 hrs)

4 hrs per weekend

Lead tours, greet visitors, answer questions, direct guest to tour staging area

direct cars as they enter and leave to appropriate parking spaces.

Bouquets

Wine Tasting

(outside)

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Day of Event Orientation

1 weekend shift

(Saturday)

Assist with set-up/clean-up, decorations, parking, registration and customer service

Woodland 5K Race and Fun Run/Walk

(outside)

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Day of Event Orientation

1 weekend shift

(Sunday)

Assist with set-up/clean-up, registrations, water station and customer service

Woodland Twighlight

Summer Gala

(outside)

Saturday, July 10, 2010 Day of Event Orientation

1 weekend evening

(Saturday)

 Assist with set-up/clean-up, decorations, beverage service, silent auction and live auction

Goblins in the Garden

(outside)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Day of Event Orientation

1 weekend shift

Assist with set-up/clean-up, decorations, assist with wagon rides, crafts, treat or treat trail,  parking, serve refreshments

Gifts From the Heart of Nature

(inside)

November-December

Day of Event Orientation

1 weekend shift

Assist with set-up/clean-up for preview party. Assist vendors in setting up merchandise. Wrap gifts on the weekends.

Pancake Breakfast

(inside)

Friday – Sunday in March

Day of Event Orientation

1 weekend shift

Assist with set-up/clean-up, reservations and breakfast food service

 

Protect Nature…

Stewardship creates a highly rewarding, long-term bond between people, wildlife, wild places and gardens. Help keep our natural areas natural and our gardens beautiful.

  • Do good for yourself and do good for the planet
  • Learn about the  many plants, trees and wildlife at

    Conservation

    Opportunity

    Time of Year

    Preparation

    Commitment

    Description

    Bluebird Project Trail Monitor

    Spring

    Summer
    • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
    • Annual kick-off meeting (4 hrs)
    • On-the-job training

    2 hrs per week for at least 1 season

    (weekdays or weekends)

    Monitor bluebird trail consisting of 12-20 bluebird boxes, accurately record observations, clean nests as necessary

    Bluebird Project Data Entry

    Summer

    Fall

    Winter
    • Computer literacy
    • Annual kick-off meeting (4 hrs)
    • On-the-job training

    2-4 hrs per week for at least 1 season

    (weekdays or weekends)

    Enter trail data accurately into computer/on-line

    Bluebird Project Bander

    Spring

    Summer
    • Experience helpful
    • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
    • Annual kick-off meeting (4 hrs)
    • On-the-job training

    2 hrs per week for at least 1 season

    (weekdays or weekends)

    Band young birds, record and report banding information, responsible for 2-4 trails

    Bluebird Project

    Box Maintenance

    Spring

    Summer
    • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
    • Annual kick-off meeting (4 hrs)
    • On-the-job training

    1 hr per week

    or as needed

    (weekdays or weekends)

    Repair bluebird boxes as necessary
    Holden

 

 

Horticulture

Opportunity

Time of Year

Preparation

Commitment

Description

Display Gardener

Spring Summer
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Tuesday,

9-11am,

2 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Holden Butterfly Gardener

Spring Summer
  • Knowledge of and interest in perennials and annuals
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Tuesday,

9-11am,

2 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Holden Wildflower Gardener

Spring Summer
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Wednesday,

9-11am,

2 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Lantern Court Gardener

Spring Summer
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday,

9:30am-11:30am

or

12:30-3:30pm,

2-3 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Layer Rhododendron Gardener

Spring

Summer
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Tuesday or Thursday,

9am-Noon,

6-12 hrs per month

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Plant Recorder

Spring Summer
  • Background in plant identification helpful
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • On-the-job training

2-4 hrs per week

(Monday-Friday)

Catalog and inventory plant collections

Nursery Assistant

Spring Summer

Fall
  • On-the-job training

Thursday, 9am-11:30am

2.5 hrs per week

Assist in the Nursery,  transplant seedlings, propagate by cuttings, water plants, weed and wash pots

 

 

Police

Opportunity

Time of Year

Preparation

Commitment

Description

Trail Monitor

(outside)

Spring

Summer
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • Training  (4-6hrs)

2-4 hrs every month, weekends

Create a proactive, positive interface with the Holden guest to facilitate good guest relations and guest safety and security, as well as promoting Holden and providing basic nature or garden interpretation

 

 

Research

Opportunity

Time of Year

Preparation

Commitment

Description

Leach Research Station Gardener

(Madison, Ohio)

Spring

Summer

Fall
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Wednesday or Thursday,

2-4 hrs per week

Perform basic gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists at

Leach Station Bird Survey Volunteer

(Madison, Ohio)

Spring

(April-June)
  • Ability to identify birds by sight and song
  • On-the-job training

4-6 hrs per week

(Monday-Friday, twice weekly)

Perform bird counts of species and numbers of birds following standard bird survey guidelines