Overview
This position will open for new volunteers in 2023! In the meantime, you can fill out a Volunteer Interest Form here. We’ll get you on our email list so you’ll be the first to know when the role becomes available for the season.
Gardening volunteers at Henry Vilas Zoo help develop and maintain the 28 acres of green space that give our animals and humans a functional and beautiful home. Unlike everyday gardening, zoological horticulture is in a category all its own. We choose plant collections to help enhance animal enclosures – highlighting plant species guests may see in any one animal’s environment. We also maintain a large browse collection – plants that can be continuously harvested to feed to our grazing animals in addition to their regular diets.
As a gardening volunteer at HVZ, you’ll be working alongside our horticulturalist on a variety of projects. Some of these are routine weeding and mulching. Others projects may include planting and transplanting. Some might be truly awe-inspiring (Our 2022 gardening crew brought our long lost rain garden back to life! Even uncovered a mural in the process!).
Gardening at HVZ is a real commitment. You’ll be required to complete a general orientation along with an initial onsite training in the spring. Throughout the summer you’ll also need to attend at least two of four special workshop offerings focusing on zoological horticulture and zoos in general. The season will end in September with a final browse/vegetable harvesting day full of goodies you’ll be helping feed out to our animals.
Do you enjoy gardening, but aren’t ready to commit yourself to a schedule just yet? Check out our Group Gardening page!
Shift Times
Time Commitment
Age Requirement
Responsibilities
- Large-scale weeding & mulching
- Plant identification
- Transplanting plants
- Pruning
- Planting
- Marking trees & bushes used in the browse program
Skills
This role is designed to fit any level of gardening experience; however, volunteers should be able to demonstrate the following skills:
- Commitment & dependability
- Ability to work outside in all manner of weather conditions (we will cancel in the event of truly inclement weather)
- Ability to bend, lift, and walk on uneven surfaces.
- Ability to follow directions and work safely with garden tools.
- Comfort with working alone or in a small group on a set project
- Excellent communication
Qualifications
- Must be 16+yrs old; parent/guardian permission required for those under 18
- Must be able to attend the onsite training on Thursday, April 27th, 8:30-10AM.
- Must be able to commit to at least 16 of 20 work days for the season
Training
Online trainings: HVZ general orientation, Introduction to Invasive/Toxic Plants, Introduction to Zoo Botany