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Unpaid Youth and Family Education Internship Olbrich Botanical Gardens provides a unique opportunity to learn about the amazing world of plants. Acres of outdoor gardens filled with flowers offer a living laboratory for budding botanists and future gardeners. The soaring glass dome of the Bolz Tropical Conservatory is home to a lush jungle filled with exotic and endangered rainforest plants, along with free flying birds and colorful fish. Year-round activities include self-guided visits, special events, and youth classes. Olbrich offers valuable experience for those interested in environmental education, recreation management, ecology, or horticulture. Interns must be motivated and capable of working independently. Interest in children's education is necessary. Goal of the Position: Raise awareness and appreciation for the world of plants with children (K through 5th grade) through both gardening and ecology-related activities. Duties: Explorer Program - Interns will lead Explorer Program sessions for elementary school kids. The fall Explorer Program is oriented K through fifth grade students, promoting an understanding and appreciation of plants found in Wisconsin. Interns will be expected to attend training and volunteer for a minimum of 4-6 Explorer Program sessions. The Explorer Program will be offered October 22nd through November 13th, six times a week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 am or 12:30pm and typically run 2.5 hours (including set-up and clean-up). Learn more about Olbrich's Explorer Program. Youth Classes - Interns will teach or assist with courses oriented to local youth accompanied by an adult. Times and topics of scheduled classes vary. This may involve assisting with lesson planning, acting as lead teacher, or acting as assistant to the lead teacher. Children’s Garden - Interns will teach or assist with the fall programming in the Children's Vegetable Garden, which engages youth in maintaining and harvesting the garden. Children's Garden session are offered Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 2:30-4:30pm (including set up and clean up) from October 15th through December 10th. Qualifications:
Orientation/Training: Explorer Training will be provided on October 14, 10 - 11:30 am. Time commitment: Between 25 and 100 hours, negotiable; Explorer Program shifts must be included Schedule: Hours are flexible, depending on classes assigned. Volunteers should plan to arrive at the gardens about an hour before class starts to assist with set-up and stay to help with clean-up. Staff Supervisor: Mary Niec, Interim Youth Program Coordinator educationcoordinator@cityofmadison.com, 608/245-5791 Volunteer Appreciation at Olbrich Botanical Gardens We value the time you give to support Olbrich Botanical Gardens. All of the time you have contributed to the Gardens over the year is totaled once, at the end of the calendar year. If you have contributed 25 hours or more of volunteer time during the year, you will receive an invitation to the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held annually on Valentine’s Day. In addition, if you have contributed a total of 25 hours or more of volunteer time during the year, you will be sent a Volunteer Appreciation Card. This card will be sent to you in January for your enjoyment during the coming year. The Volunteer Appreciation Card entitles you to the following:
All volunteers are mentioned by name in the annual winter issue of the Olbrich Botanical Society Newsletter. If you are not a member of the Botanical Society, a complimentary copy of this winter issue will be sent to you. We encourage you to consider joining the Olbrich Botanical Society. If you are volunteering for the Gardens as part of a group, for example, with your service club, church group, retirement organization or the like, the hours you contribute in that endeavor will accrue to the group and not to each individual member of the group. If you have questions about your volunteer benefits or hours, please contact: Marty Petillo, Volunteer Services Manager 608-246-5807
Download Application Form Send application form to: Olbrich Botanical Gardens
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Olbrich Botanical Gardens is owned and operated by the City of Madison Parks Division in partnership with the non-profit Olbrich Botanical Society. |