Volunteer Opportunities at The Whiteside Garden
Please dress for being outdoors and bring a reusable water bottle. Parking is available across from the garden on the west side of the road. Registration is required in case programs are changed or canceled due to inclement weather. Youth under 13 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Gardening Volunteer: Opportunities
Whiteside Wednesdays
Every Wednesday, Year-Round
Join us every Wednesday from 9-11 am or 1-3 pm and help with a variety of garden tasks and projects. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to learn about interesting horticultural plants at the same time!
Join us every Wednesday from 9-11 am or 1-3 pm and help with a variety of garden tasks and projects. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to learn about interesting horticultural plants at the same time!
Adopt-A-Bed Program
Help us take care of one of Dr. Whiteside's historic garden beds. Choose your bed from the ones 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 [email protected] or call 217-235-4644.
At-Home Projects
Picture Frame Creation
We are looking for someone who can create a picture frame around one of the paintings we have from Dr. Whiteside. This painting was created by one of Dr. Whiteside's family members, and we'd love to display it in the library. If you are interested, please email [email protected] or call 217-235-4644.
"Docent" Opportunities
Welcome Center Weekend Host
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This position is for those interested in watching over the Whiteside Welcome Center. Time slots are on Saturdays, either 9am-12pm or 12-3pm. Weekend Hosts would open or close the welcome center, answer questions, and assist with caretaking tasks such as light weeding, cleaning or disinfecting. Weekend Hosts will be trained on how to answer specific questions or address different situations. Thus, caretakers will need to attend an hour training and they must pass a background check.
Training dates for 2023 are:
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Interpretive Guide
This position is for those who want to give guided tours of 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 9:30-11:30 am 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. Therefore, interpretive guides will need to attend a 2 hour. Interpretive Guides must pass a background check and attend training.
Training dates for 2023 are:
Training dates for 2023 are:
- Saturday, Feb 25, 10am-12pm
- Wednesday, May 10, 5-7pm
- Thursday, Aug 9, 10am-12pm
For both the Weekend Host 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