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
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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 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 volunteer@dhnature.org or call 217-235-4644.
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At-Home Projects
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Picture Frame CreationWe 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 volunteer@dhnature.org or call 217-235-4644.
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"Docent" Opportunities
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Welcome Center HostThis position is for those 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 specific questions. Thus, caretakers will need to attend a three-hour training and a couple of other informative meetings to stay up to date throughout the year. Caretakers must pass a background check and attend training.
Training dates for 2022 are:
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Interpretive GuideThis 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 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 attend training.
Training dates for 2022 are:
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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