Volunteer Training

Training to become an Arboretum volunteer consists of a seven-week core training course covering Central Valley gardening, Mediterranean climates, California natural history, and the Arboretum All-Stars plants. Classes are supplemented with weekly tours of the Arboretum gardens and talks by staff and current volunteers.

Participants can choose to train to become volunteer gardeners, nursery assistants, docents, naturalists, and/or curatorial assistants. Following the core training, volunteers train for six weeks in their chosen area(s) of specialization. All new volunteers are also trained to help at plant sales.

We are not offering our core training course in Fall 2008. We will consider apprenticing interested applicants into existing volunteer teams if we find there is suitable match of interests and availability. For more information, or to receive a volunteer application, please call (530) 752-4880, or email arboretum@ucdavis.edu.

Volunteer Training Classes for Winter 2009

Volunteer Gardeners: The course will consist of six sessions on Wednesday mornings from Jan 14-Feb 18, 2009 from 9:00 am-noon. Any prospective volunteers who would like to join this course may do so without having attended an introductory fall training course. You will be expected to attend the introductory course the next time it is offered. If you are interested, please call (530) 752-4880 or email arboretum@ucdavis.edu.($10 materials fee)

Volunteer Naturalists (to lead tours for children in second through fourth grades): Any prospective volunteers who would like to join this course may do so without having attended an introductory fall training course. You will be expected to attend the introductory course the next time it is offered. If you are interested, please call (530) 752-4880 or email arboretum@ucdavis.edu. ($10 materials fee)

New Volunteer Opportunities for Winter 2009

The Fabulous Fix-It Crew
The Fix-It Crew will work with with the Arboretum Steward to maintain the equipment, teaching nursery facility, and public amenities of the Arboretum. Fix-it team members must complete a basic orientation session plus specialized training then will participate in regular workdays on Tuesday or Thursday mornings. Fix-it crew members should enjoy working outdoors, have a basic level of physical fitness and be able to use hand tools and mechanical equipment safely and confidently. If you enjoy tinkering and working with your hands and find it rewarding to fix and restore things, this is the team for you. Training: January 14, 9 a.m.-noon; additional training based on availability. ($10 materials fee)

The Outstanding Office Team
Office team members will work with the Administrative Manager to keep the front office running smoothly. Volunteers should enjoy working in an office setting greeting visitors, answering phones, preparing mailings, entering information in the computer and assisting staff with office support. After a half-day orientation and introduction to the office, new volunteers will be asked to sign up for a three-hour weekly shift. Training: January 14, 9 a.m.-noon; additional training based on availability. ($10 materials fee)

The Nursery Records Group

Nursery records volunteers will partner with the Arboretum Nursery Manager to help with plant inventories, enter propagation results in the computer, maintain a nursery inventory, and update database information. After completing training, team members will participate in regular workdays on Wednesday mornings. Nursery Records Volunteers should enjoy detail-oriented work that involves critical thinking. Computer literacy is required but careful attention to accuracy is more important than speed. The work is quiet and independent and well suited to the well-organized person. If you enjoy puzzles or untangling a ball of yarn, this job is for you! Training: Wednesdays, January 14-February 18, 9 a.m.-noon. ($10 materials fee)

Please check back for updates on other volunteer training opportunities for Fall 2009.