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Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer involvement is central to the success of all the programs and services offered at Olbrich. Volunteer responsibilities and commitments differ with each activity. In general, volunteer opportunities fall into one of three categories: Year-round Volunteer Opportunities Seasonal Volunteer
Opportunities
Friendly, energetic volunteers welcome visitors to Olbrich. These ambassadors answer questions about what's happening at Olbrich, accept money for Conservatory admissions and other sales, and explain Olbrich's history, mission, and membership details. Smiles, communication skills, dependability, and a desire to heighten our visitors' experiences are the only requirements. Volunteer greeter shifts are available daily from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m. Greeters work two or more shifts monthly.
The Schumacher Library is an outstanding horticultural library specializing in resources appropriate for our region. Volunteers work with our Horticulture Librarian to help visitors find resources. Training is provided; library skills are not required. Library volunteers share a love of books and a curiosity about plants. Shifts are available daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m.
Everyone who comes to Olbrich Botanical Gardens passes through the Growing Gifts Shop as they enter and exit. It's a very busy place that is full of must-have merchandise. Part-time staff members work with the help of volunteers to assist customers in the gift shop, operate the cash register, and help with restocking, unpacking, and marking new items. Beware: volunteers are some of the shop's best customers! The Growing Gifts Shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Have you ever wondered how the staff manages to get the Conservatory ready for visitors by 10 a.m. each morning? It couldn't be done without the help of volunteers who assist the staff from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. by picking up leaf litter, feeding animals, sweeping, and generally helping to clean the Conservatory. Volunteers work one to two shifts each month.
Conservatory Docents Conservatory docents are volunteers who are trained to welcome visitors, show them plants in bloom, and make their visit more meaningful. These volunteers come to Olbrich with an interest in tropical plants, a desire to interact with visitors of all ages, and a love for warm, humid climates. Introductory training is provided in October; ongoing in-service training is provided monthly. Volunteer shifts are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. on weekends. Adult & Youth Classes Throughout the year Olbrich sponsors dozens of lectures, workshops, walks in the Gardens, and children's classes. Volunteers serve as program hosts and assist with set-up, registration, and logistics. Some volunteers also teach youth classes, while others assist the teachers in other ways. Leadership Volunteers Olbrich Botanical Gardens depends on the talents of many community members who commit to helping the gardens through fundraising, Olbrich Botanical Society Board participation, outreach to the community, and management of entire segments of events or activities. Office Help Volunteers with clerical skills help staff as needed in our offices. Volunteers help fold, stuff, and label mailings, answer phones, and help with other important tasks that are required to keep our operations, events, and gardens running smoothly.
Special Event Volunteer Opportunities Explorer Program School children come to learn from Olbrich as a living plant museum. Volunteers partner with staff to provide a high-quality learning experience. Volunteers are trained in January and September, and work from a developed curriculum. The Explorer program is offered to school groups in April, May, October, and November.
Youth from area schools and community centers come to Olbrich Botanical Gardens to learn how to grow vegetable gardens. Volunteers partner with the education staff to bring this valuable program to our community's young people. Volunteers are needed for morning or afternoon shifts during the week from June through August.
Do you have an interest in sharing your love of gardens with others? Garden docents provide a pleasurable and enjoyable educational experience for visitors in Olbrich's Thai Garden, Rose Garden, and Herb Garden. Docents share the history of Olbrich Botanical Gardens, information about the design of the gardens, and basic plant information. In the Thai Garden, docents also share information about the Thai sala and cultural interpretations of the garden elements. An intensive docent training is provided in spring. Volunteers host visitors in the garden Thursday through Sunday, from June through October. Shifts are two to three hours.
Join the horticulture staff on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays for a weekly shift to pull weeds, mulch, prune, plant, deadhead…all the fun things that keeps the gardens growing and beautiful. Volunteers must be able to handle light physical activity, including bending, lifting, kneeling, and tolerate some weather fluctuations. Volunteers must commit to a weekly crew from 8 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. from April through October. A "spring only" crew that works from April through June is scheduled on Wednesday mornings.
Tour Guides Volunteer tour guides welcome groups and lead them on guided tours of the outdoor gardens. Tours are usually one hour long and are usually scheduled on weekdays. Tour guides are first trained as garden docents, then get special tour guide training. They are expected to sign up for two to four tours each month from May through September.
Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities Leaf Mulch Sale Olbrich needs 60 to 70 volunteers to help with our annual Leaf Mulch Sale in mid-April. Volunteers direct traffic, take mulch orders, load mulch bags into vehicles, and process payments. This is a great volunteer opportunity for people who want to spend some time outdoors while helping with a very important, and fun, Olbrich special event.
Many hands make light work. About 200 Olbrich volunteers help make Olbrich's Plant Sale with the Pros in early May a success. Volunteers help with greenhouse work, pot plants, set-up and take-down the sale area, check-in fellow volunteers, greet shoppers, assist shoppers with plant selection, work in the plant holding area, confirm prices and cashier, and load cars and direct traffic. Shifts vary - there's a job for everyone!
Olbrich Home Garden Tour Volunteer greeters and garden guides welcome visitors at selected local gardens. The Olbrich Home Garden Tour in mid-July is popular with visitors because volunteers make it easy to learn about the creative ways homeowners have used plants to landscape their gardens.
During this special event, visitors experience the wonder of strolling through a tropical forest on a search for free-flying butterflies. Live butterflies emerge from chrysalises daily in the Bolz Conservatory. It is a great adventure for all ages. Volunteers are needed seven days a week for three-hour shifts as:
Olbrich's Holiday Express Each December, Olbrich hosts about 25,000 visitors during Olbrich's Holiday Express - Flower and Model Train Show. Volunteers welcome visitors to this display of miniature trains chugging among beautiful flowers and holiday trees, and help provide light refreshments for visitors.
Throughout the year Olbrich hosts other events that usually only require five to ten volunteers. These volunteers set up and assist at member preview parties, decorate for events, and provide advance help with Rhapsody in Bloom. On-call special event volunteer positions are perfect for those who need flexibility and don't mind behind-the-scenes work.
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Greeter
Library
Growing Gifts Shop
Conservatory Early Birds
Children's Vegetable Garden 
Outdoor Gardening
Olbrich's Plant Sale with the Pros
Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies
On-call Special Event VolunteersOlbrich Botanical Gardens is owned and operated by the City of Madison Parks Division in partnership with the non-profit Olbrich Botanical Society. |