Become a Volunteer at the Gardens

volunteer trip volunteer trip
Flower Show

 

Over 100 members strong, our volunteer workforces are noteworthy members of our staff team.  We work together to provide the best possible experience for our many visitors through out the year.  We want your involvement to be both positive and rewarding while helping to further the Gardens' mission to educate both students and the general public alike.

May 2013 calendar- see our Volunteer opportunities for this month

 

Sign up to volunteer at the 2013 Spring Flower Fair

 

Becoming a Volunteer-

2013 Volunteer Orientation Meeting Dates at the Holly House in the Gardens at 6pm-

March 19

April 23 (Mandatory for all Spring Flower Fair Volunteers)

May 15

June 19

July 17

August 21

September 24

October 22

November 13

Each prospective volunteer must complete the following:

  • Submit a Volunteer Application. Please e mail the Volunteer Coordinator MaryAnne McMillan to request the application.
  • Attend a general orientation meeting which shall include a summary of the Rutgers Gardens and it's history, a review of policies and procedures, a discussion of volunteer positions and opportunities. Dates to be announced.
  • Receive additional job training relative to those specific assigned volunteer jobs.

For more information on our volunteer program please contact the Volunteer Coordinator MaryAnne McMillan.

Volunteer End of the Season Survey - please help us to improve our Volunteer program by filling out this survey.

Time Sheet- To be eligible to receive our volunteer benefits please make sure to submit your volunteer time sheet every month. You can e mail it directly to MaryAnne McMillan.

Volunteer Opportunities

flower show volunteer work day

 

Children’s Programs
Volunteers will help the Rutgers Gardens Children’s program coordinator with the after school programs that visit the gardens and with the Community Youth Garden (a vegetable garden for Children). Interest in children and sharing learning opportunities with them is important.  Volunteers also needed to assist with the maintenance of the Community Youth Garden.

Event Committees
Volunteers are needed for the many Special Events that are held at the gardens. Volunteers, both novice and serious gardeners, are needed to help plan both our fundraising and educational events. Events help fund our educational mission while raising public awareness of the programs and activities of the Gardens. Events include participation in Rutgers Day, our Spring Plant Sale,  Open House and Wine Tasting Festival, the Garden Gala, Fall Festival and HollyDays.

Farm Market                                                                                                    
Volunteers will support the Rutgers Gardens through plant sales at the Farm Market every Friday from 12:00 pm-5 pm in May through October. Volunteers will inform the farm market visitors about activities and events scheduled at Rutgers Gardens and help with the general set-up needs of the event.

Garden Stewards - see a list of gardens and tasks                                                                                                     
Seasoned volunteers will mentor newer volunteers as they oversee and tend specific gardens throughout the Gardens. Depending upon the garden, the volunteer’s tasks may include helping with the garden design, planting, maintenance and putting the garden to bed in the fall. Volunteers are needed to help our staff/interns maintain our 60+ cultivated acre property.  Seasonally, there is a need for help with transplanting flowers and shrubs, pruning of trees and bushes, spreading wood chips and the removal of brush and invasive plants.

Gift Shop  
Volunteers are needed to staff the garden’s gift shop on weekends from April through October. The Gift shop will also be open during special events.  Tasks will include greeting and interacting with our many visitors, assisting with stocking, and the set-up of shop displays. Customer service skills are helpful. Volunteers in the Gift shop will also hand out information about the gardens and the various educational events held here.

Greenhouse volunteers
On Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10am -12 noon, volunteers can come and learn in the greenhouse by helping complete the week’s to do list. Learn how to properly water, propagate, prune, divide and pot up plants in the greenhouses. Volunteers will be trained in these tasks by Rutgers Gardens staff and seasoned interns.  They will learn the accepted Greenhouse procedures and will gain knowledge about the plants found in the greenhouse.

Office Assistance  
Volunteers will perform administrative duties including mailings (stuffing, labeling, sorting etc.), data entry, filing and the delivery of promotional literature/garden newspapers to various locales in the community.

Tour Docent
Volunteers will lead a 90-minute tour one Saturday a month at 2 p.m., rain or shine, as well as group tours by request during weekdays. Tours will include school groups, adult visitors, and garden clubs.  Docents will be given training and a garden tour script.

 

Volunteer Benefits

Aside from the obvious benefits of helping the community and the Gardens, active volunteers who work a minimum of 30 hours per year, will learn new skills, make new friends and receive the following benefits:

  • Discounts on our classes and plant sales
  • Rutgers Gardens t-shirt at cost
  • Specialized training, including many hands-on programs
  • Volunteer appreciation dinners
  • Recognition for volunteer hours
  • Special off-site trips to neighboring gardens, wholesale and retail nurseries