Volunteering Spotlight
Summer Camps
If you are interested in a future in the education of children, and to enhance your resume, here is some good news...We now offer internships with our summer kids camps for teenagers. These week-long opportunities allow the volunteer intern to gain valuable insight and hands-on experience in a fun and creative educational environment and actively participate in the implementation and improvement of the programs through research assignments. Training and a week-long commitment required, 16+ years old. Contact Marianne at 801-585-5688 for more information and to sign up.
You can join in the fun without signing on as an intern. Sign up and volunteer and have fun for a whole week or just a few days with the summer camp staff as a regular volunteer. 16+ years old, mature, fun individuals needed.
More Information and to register:
Call (801) 585-5688 or email volunteer@redbutte.utah.edu
Horticulture
Are you anxious to get your hands into warm soil, work with plants, and feel the sun on your face? Join Red Butte Garden Horticulture Volunteers and learn first hand the tricks of the trade and discover a world of plants that flourish in the Intermountain West, while at the same time contributing to the care of beautiful formal gardens.
Opportunities available mornings, evenings, weekdays and weekends. Hands-on training provided, no experience necessary. Volunteers are asked to volunteer on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule for a minimum of 20+ hours per year. 15 years and older.
Formal Garden Volunteers
Are you interested in Gardening?
Gain valuable gardening skills and knowledge as you work alongside Red Butte Garden’s horticulture professionals in the cultivated portion of the Garden. Assist staff by planting, pruning, deadheading, weeding, mulching, and providing other care of the Garden’s valuable plant collection. You will become familiar with basic garden maintenance and plant names as you learn a wealth of gardening insight for use in your own landscape.
Volunteering in the Garden includes physical labor (kneeling, bending, lifting, tool use, etc) and working in a variety of weather conditions. Volunteers must be 15 years or older.
Available: April – October or longer depending on the weather conditions.
Natural Area Volunteers
Do you have an interest in landscape preservation practices and native species?
The Natural Area provides volunteers with an opportunity to learn about the habitat and care of native plants in the foothill’s most pristine region by assisting with restoration projects, trail maintenance, invasive species removal and native seed collection. Other opportunities include planting, pruning and seasonal greenhouse activities. Volunteers must be 15 years or older.
Working in the Natural Area includes physical labor (hiking, kneeling, bending, lifting, tool use, etc) and working in a variety of weather conditions.
Available: April – October or longer depending on the weather.
Greenhouse Volunteers (Currently Filled)
Are you interested in plant propagation?
Volunteers at the greenhouse are the foundation for the Garden’s seasonal displays, beginning with propagation from seed and cutting to transplanting, spacing, thinning, watering and pruning. In addition to growing and caring for young plants, greenhouse volunteers plant and care for a portion of the Garden’s outdoor seasonal displays. Volunteers must be 15 years or older.
Working in the greenhouse includes light lifting, getting a little wet on occasion, working with your hands, small seeds and delicate plants.
Available: Year round with August and December off.
Winter Hardy Horticulture Volunteers
Do you love the winter weather?
For those of you who volunteer during the growing season but consider yourselves hardy winter volunteers, consider working with the Horticulture staff occasionally during the winter months when the sun is out and the weather affords a day or two of outside work. This is an opportunity to work on pruning, trail maintenance and other winter garden care. Expect a weather dependant schedule. Volunteers must be 15 years or older.
Available: Weather dependent throughout the winter.
Plant Curation Volunteers (Currently Filled)
Do you have an interest in Botany?
Plant Curation volunteers assist staff in the vital record keeping and research of plants throughout the Garden. This opportunity allows volunteers to learn botanic names, curation methods, GIS skills, basic photography and data entry. Volunteers must be 15 years or older.
Plant Curation includes standing for short periods, walking the Garden and working in a variety of weather conditions.
Available: Year round.
Conservation
Do you have an interest in Plant Conservation?
Conservation volunteers assist and learn from experienced plant conservationists concerning native, rare and endangered plant species while working to save them in the field throughout the State of Utah. This position includes plant surveying, seed collection, cleaning, sorting and banking, rare plant curation and propagation, greenhouse work and research. Training is provided in the field. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.
Conservation volunteers work throughout the State of Utah which may including camping, hiking and working in remote locations in a variety of weather conditions.
Available: March – November.
Education
Red Butte Garden provides the community with an outstanding resource for environmental education through lectures, classes, workshops, school field trips, kids classes, camps, festivals, tours, and outreach events. If you like people, enjoy plants and nature, and can communicate well, you may enjoy being an education volunteer. All education volunteer positions require training.
School Programs
Do you enjoy teaching and inspiring youth?
School Program Volunteers explore Red Butte Garden’s 100 acre outdoor classroom while sharing their knowledge of plants and animals with children. Volunteers lead weekly two-hour field classes through the Garden for a unique and exciting learning experience that highlights topics found in the science core curriculum of their grade level. Volunteers must be 20 years or older.
School Program volunteers need to be able to comfortably walk/hike the Garden and work in a variety of weather conditions.
Available: March to June and August to October, Monday – Thursday mornings and early afternoons. Commitment of two shifts per week is preferred, with one being acceptable.
Training: Training is required and provided each March and August.
Education Training
Sometime the week of Aug 30th.
Youth & Family Programs
Are you interested in playing with kids in an educational environment?
Volunteers teach children ranging in ages from 4–12 in Em’s Sprout House during all four seasons about the wonderful world of plants and animals. Programs include Garden Adventure Classes, Summer Camps, Birthday Parties and celebrations such as Arbor Day and Winter Solstice. Volunteers must be 15 years or older.
Youth & Family volunteers need to be comfortable working with children in an exciting environment.
Available: Year round. Week long commitment available for summer camps.
Training: Hands on training.
Summer Camp Internships for Teens
If you are interested in a future in the education of children, and to beef up your resume, here is some good news...We now offer internships with our summer kids camps for teenagers. These week-long opportunities allow the volunteer intern to gain valuable insight and hands-on experience in a fun and creative educational environment and actively participate in the implementation and improvement of the programs through research assignments. Training and a week-long commitment required. Contact Marianne at 801-585-5688 for more information and to sign up.
Garden Guides (Currently Filled)
Do you enjoy the outdoors and meeting new people?
Volunteers share their love and knowledge of plants and Red Butte Garden with others by leading private and public tours, answering visitor questions, hosting programs and acting as an ambassador for the Garden throughout the community. Private, public, walking and tram tours included. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.
Garden Guides must be able to comfortably walk/hike the Garden and work in a variety of weather conditions.
Available: Year round.
Training: Training required and provided each April.
Special Events
(Currently Filled)
Do you enjoy working with the public?
Volunteers are vital in helping with large special events including Arbor Day, Plant Sales, Garden Gala, Outdoor Concert Series, Garden After Dark, Monday Family Nights, Special Exhibits and more. Opportunities include customer service, hosting crafts and activities, running information booths, taking tickets, selling items, greeting guests and other assignments. Excellent customer service is required and an ability to work in a fast pace atmosphere with a smile. Age requirement dependant on event.
Special Event volunteers must be willing to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
Available: Year round. Must commit to a variety of events.
Training: Training is required for some events.
Group Volunteering
Are you looking for an opportunity for office, church, scout, school and other organized service groups to volunteer on a one time basis? Red Butte Garden provides opportunities to work in the Garden helping with garden plantings, mulching, weeding, and other projects that could take weeks to accomplish without large volunteer groups.
Working in the Garden includes physical labor (hiking, kneeling, bending, lifting etc) and working in a variety of weather conditions.
Available: March – November depending on the weather. Please call 2 weeks in advance of your preferred service date.
Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 801-585-5688 for more information about group volunteering.
Eagle Scout Projects
Eagle Scouts have provided Red Butte Garden with dozens of valuable projects over the years and we are truly grateful for their good turn. Scouts interested in doing their Eagle project at Red Butte Garden need to contact the Volunteer Coordinator who will provide the Eagle Scout Policy, a list of possible projects and the Eagle Scout Application for the scout to complete. The leadership component of the Eagle Scout Program is important to us and we look forward to working directly with dedicated and enthusiastic Scouts.
Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 801-585-5688 for more information about group volunteering.
Community Service
Those looking to perform community service whether it is a school requirement, court ordered, or other required service will follow the same procedures for applying for volunteer service. Dependent on the type of required service, there may be limits placed on where, when, and if you can perform your service at Red Butte Garden. A minimum of 20 hours is required of all volunteers. Volunteer benefits do not apply to community service volunteers.
Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 801-585-5688 for more information.
