Volunteer Opportunities

    Updated:  March 17, 2010

We are always seeking qualified individuals for many of the opportunities listed below to meet ongoing needs. Please click on a link in your area of interest for current opportunities:

EDUCATION

• Teach children outdoors, September through May, at the Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri. Shaw Nature Reserve school programs offer students the opportunity to experience and investigate the natural world under the guidance of skilled staff and volunteer Teacher Naturalists. Programs are designed to encourage inquiry, exploration and problem solving. Teacher Naturalists lead hands-on investigations that enable students to discover, gather information, ask questions, and begin to formulate their own answers. These remarkable volunteers have a wide variety of backgrounds and skills, but each has a strong commitment to sharing their knowledge and love of nature with children. Classes are hands-on with a focus on sensory awareness and ecological concepts. Other duties may include assisting with adult and family classes and special events.
• Minimum one day per week during the school year and a monthly enrichment session.
• Volunteers in this position must enjoy working with children and possess a keen interest in learning more about natural history. Some knowledge of ecology and natural history is helpful but not necessary. Training programs for new Teacher Naturalists begin regularly. Observation of classes before beginning training is recommended.

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HORTICULTURE

• Work with Garden staff receptionists to provide visitor services including: giving directions, assistance with Extension bulletins, Center fact sheets, computer applications and library resources; complete sales of fact sheets, videos and soil tests; and assist with answering gardening questions as experience and background allow. The successful volunteer enjoys working with the public and is receptive to doing a wide variety of tasks ranging from stuffing envelopes to using Center resources to answer visitors' questions. Must be willing to deal with small amount of money and be self-motivated to learn about the Center's many and diverse resources. Thorough background and experience in gardening is highly desirable. The ability to work with the public and computers is essential.
• 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.
• Formal training will focus on becoming familiar and adept at using the various resources in the Center. Methods of training will consist of group sessions as well as several self-directed learning activities designed to familiarize you with resources. You will be eligible, but not required, to attend special plant material, gardening and diagnostic classes arranged for Plant Doctor and Horticulture Answer Service volunteers.

• Share your expertise in plant, insect, disease and/or weed identification with Garden visitors. Opportunities also exist for experts who would be willing to help write, edit, and/or proof technical garden and pest management information used at the Kemper Center or on the “Gardening Help” website.
• Flexible hours (Saturdays available)
• We’re looking for current or retired professionals in horticulture, entomology, or plant pathology or experienced amateur. Special plant material, gardening and diagnostic classes are offered to Plant Doctors on a regular basis.

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SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION

• Assist in the development of a digital library with information about the plant family Passifloraceae by capturing information from: 1) the literature about types, specimens, synonymy, geographical distribution, etc.; and, 2) the herbarium specimens on locality and other label information.
• 4 to 8 hours per week
• Training is provided; however, a general knowledge of computers and Windows with a willingness to learn TROPICOS, the Garden's database system, is preferred. Building a knowledge base in the family Passifloraceae will make the Garden much more competitive in attracting grant money. It will also further the Garden's mission in gathering of botanical information and making this information available to the community.

• If you have computer skills, we can use your help! You will help enter data into the Garden's TROPICOS database and also help geo-reference collections. TROPICOS, the world's largest database of plant information, contains fully web-searchable records for over 900,000 plant names and nearly 2 million specimens.
• 4 hours, one day a week preferred
• You will receive training to help you succeed in this position. Your assistance will make TROPICOS an even stronger and better database.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Tag! You're It!

• More than 14,000 herb plants need to be tagged for the upcoming Herb Sale. Plants arrive April 27, 28 and 29 and your help is needed to accomplish this huge task.
• 4 hour shifts on each day; shifts begin at 10 a.m.
• This is ideal for groups; we can accommodate up to ten people per shift.

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RETAIL

• The Garden Gate Shop stocks the finest home furnishings, plants, books, and garden accessories. You may not know the Gate Shop stocks some delicious food items, too! If you enjoy being in a retail environment interacting with customers with the added bonus of sharing food with them we can use your help to prepare food to sample (dips, jellies, etc.) and engage customers about the product.
• every other Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Basic cooking experience and knowledge of food sanitation is helpful. You will receive instructions on how to prepare the food samples which are relatively easy to prepare.

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VISITOR SERVICES

• The Garden is stunning no matter the season, but May through September is the peak period that visitors flock to the Garden. This is when we need your help! First impressions count so our intent is to greet our visitors before they even enter the Garden with a warm welcome so that they feel "at home". You'll answer questions about the Garden and the day's activities. During the days of heavy attendance, you'll help manage and direct the crowds and check tickets for validity.
• Four hours, one morning a week; Thursday evening and weekend hours are available.
• A general knowledge of the Garden is preferred, and you will be provided with an overview of Garden events; the admission policy; ticket and wristband identifcation process; and a list of frequently asked questions from visitors. You will be generally stationed indoors (upper level of Ridgway Visitor Center or the Climatron), but there will be times your help will be needed outdoors, too. This position requires standing for the most part (some accommodation is possible).

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