Volunteer Opportunities at The Whiteside Garden
Please dress for being outdoors and bring a reusable water bottle if you'd like one. Meet at The Whiteside Garden. Parking is available across from the garden on the west side of the road. Registration required in case programs are changed or cancelled due to inclement weather. Youth under 13 years must be accompanied by an adult. Please scroll down for Docent programs.
Conservation Opportunities
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Adopt-A-Bed ProgramHelp us take care of one of Dr. Whiteside's historic garden beds. Choose your bed from the one's we have available and come around your own schedule to work on it. Bed maintenance may include weeding, mulching, planting, and other miscellaneous projects depending on the bed and the need. To sign up please email volunteer@dhnature.org or call 217-235-4644.
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Daylily CatalogingDaylilies were one of Dr. Whiteside's loves, having seven of his late-blooming daylilies now sold commercially. Help us record all of the different daylilies that are out at The Garden.
Due to the nature of the project, this will probably cover a few years. The window that these daylilies bloom is limited (though Dr. Whiteside's late-blooming daylilies helps extend this window), meaning we would only need you to come out for a few months for a couple of years. If you are interested, please email volunteer@dhnature.org or call 217-235-4644. |
"Docent" Opportunities
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Welcome Center HostThis position is for those who are interested in watching over the Whiteside Welcome Center. Time slots are Friday and Saturday 9-12 or 12-3. Caretakers would open or close the welcome center, answer questions, and assist with caretaking tasks such as light weeding or disinfecting. Caretakers will be trained on how to answer certain questions and thus, caretakers will need to attend a three-hour training as well as a couple of other informative meetings to stay up to date throughout the year. Caretakers must pass a background check, and RSVP for training is required before April 9th. There will be more trainings in the summer if you cannot make one below.
Current training opportunities: Tuesday, April 13th, 1-4 pm Or Saturday, April 17th, 9-12 noon |
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Interpretive GuideThis position is for those who want to give guided tours for The Whiteside Garden. Tours last for about one hour and may include a short welcome and media presentation and a forty-five-minute guided tour of the grounds stopping at certain points based on the season. Interpretive guides would be responsible for being at The Whiteside Garden from 9:30-11:30am for giving tours at 10 am on Saturdays and/or by appointment for specially scheduled tours. Guides will be trained on the history of the garden, a few special interest garden beds, and frequently asked questions. Being so, interpretive guides will need to attend a three-hour training and a couple of other informative meetings to stay up to date throughout the year. Interpretive Guides must pass a background check, and RSVP for training is required before April 9th. There will be more trainings in the summer if you cannot make one below.
Current training opportunities: Tuesday, April 13th, 1-4 pm Or Saturday, April 17th, 9-12 noon |
For both the Welcome Center Caretaker and the Interpretive Guide the following exactions and skills are required to be followed:
- Attend mandatory docent training (available online or in-person)
- Shadow one tour in-person
- Commit to at least one shift a month from April to October (preferred)
- Attend meetings as needed to stay updated on seasonal changes, events, and programs
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Pass a background check
- Abide by the Douglas-Hart Foundation's Volunteer Policies and Procedures Manual
- Be able to work respectfully with a diverse group of people
- Ability to adapt to different situations
- Ability to work independently
- Possess an outgoing personality to lead charismatic tours with humor, storytelling, and personal facilitated experiences
- Ability to walk over rough terrain and stand for long periods of time