Gardening Work Group - Henry Vilas Zoo

Gardening Work Group positions are now officially full for the 2025 season!

Still interested? Get connected with our volunteer email list here! Every other week we send out updates with volunteer needs for events and special opportunities that come up throughout the season.

Role Summary

Gardeners take special care of the ornamental, vegetable, and sensory gardens. They enjoy the great outdoors while bringing beauty to grounds. Even more importantly, they support our large browse garden by caring for several edible trees and flowering plants that go to feeding our animals.

This is a wonderful role for those with attention to detail who are looking for something a bit more removed from the direct interaction with guests that comes with other ongoing volunteer roles. Work under the guidance and supervision of our Horticulturalist, and join a small team of volunteers as you dig in the dirt - helping with weeding, mulching, raking and light landscaping.

Responsibilities

Weed plants as assigned by the HVZ Horticulturalist
Lay mulch
Assist in seasonal plantings as needed
Collect browse as needed
Water as needed
Learn to identify over 100 native species of plants and weeds
Lend an artistic eye throughout the season
Maintain calm and optimism through even the driest dry spell

Volunteering For All

Rain Gardeners volunteer outside in mostly open sun (though, shade can present itself in the early mornings when the shadows are longer). The rain garden is located at the end of Arctic Passage next to the seal enclosure and Animal Health Center (AHC). The closest public restroom is in the center of the Zoo at the Glacier Grille. The terrain in the rain garden is very uneven with many dips and muddy spots. It is the quietest spot in the entire zoo - with the occasional exception of seal and crane calls.

*Our horticulturalist is comfortable with intermediate/advanced ASL. This would be an excellent opportunity for those in the DHH community who rely on sign language as a primary form of communication.

**The rain garden requires attention to detail that would work well with someone who enjoys sitting in one place and hyper-fixating on one task at a time. We have many tiny weeds that will only be defeated by tenaciously pulling them up by the roots. Because most of the work will be weeding, this is excellent for someone who thrives on consistency.

Requirements & Skills

Time Commitment

Training

Weather Policy

Henry Vilas Zoo is open regardless of weather. While we remain open, we trust our Gardeners to decide whether or not they would like to volunteer in light precipitation, cold/hot temperatures, etc.

The volunteer is in charge of scheduling a make-up shift in the event they choose to stay home due to weather. In the event of truly inclement weather, we will call volunteers to cancel. In this case, volunteers do not need to make up their cancelled shift.

"What's a gardener's favorite novel? War and Peas!"

Mary Van Susteren, HVZ Gardening Volunteer and forever jokester