Gardening Work Group

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.

• At least 18 years of age
  • Possible consideration for 16+ with a parent/guardian
• Strong gardening background
• Strong attention to detail
• Able to easily switch between sitting and standing
• Able to work independently with little supervision
• Able to hear and process verbal instructions

9-12hrs/mo: Rain Gardeners commit to a weekly shift between Late April and the end of September.

• Online
  • Volunteer Software Basics (5-10min)
  • Volunteer Orientation (1-2hrs)
  • Basics of Zoo Horticulture, Safety & Expectations (20min)
• In-Person
  • Onsite orientation (1hr) - Meet other volunteers and HVZ Staff, tour of the Zoo and gardens, find toolshed & compost bin

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.