The TBG is a volunteer-based organization that relies upon volunteers to help run our many programs and to meet our goal of delivering horticultural information and services. Our volunteers take a great deal of pride in their many contributions to our organization. They strongly support our goals and are members of the community that we serve.

Interested in volunteering with Toronto Botanical Garden?
Then you are invited to an information evening where you can learn all about Toronto Botanical garden, its mission, vision, current and future volunteer opportunities and have a chance to meet TBG staff and some current volunteers.

THE NEXT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SESSION IS  THURSDAY, MAY 16 AT 5 P.M.
Location:  Studio 3, Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave East

Please bring an up to date resume or complete the volunteer application form on this website.

SIGN UP FOR THE INFORMATION SESSION
Please sign up for Volunteer information session – here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/2SGN69
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots – VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please email the Volunteer office who will sign you up manually.

DOWNLOAD: Volunteer Application Form

If you have any questions, please call our Volunteer Office at 416-397-4145 or volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca

CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES (updated April 2013)

TBG SHOP: The TBG shop team needs additional volunteers to help in this beautiful facility. Shifts are 3 hours in duration and volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 6 months.

Current openings exist for:

• Tuesday mornings 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Friday afternoons 1 to 4 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This role has lots of variety as volunteers in the shop assist customers, handle sales transactions and put together and maintain displays of products.

Previous retail experience and comfort handling cash systems is an asset but not essential as training with an experienced volunteer will be provided.

Skills required:

• Excellent communication skills (first class English language ability – comprehension and verbal);
• Computer literacy;
• Patience; and
• An eye for accuracy.
• Volunteers need to enjoy an active mobile role (this is an on your feet role including trips up and down stairs).

This role also has the opportunity to be creative in putting together visual displays.

In addition to providing great experience in a retail environment the benefits of this varied role include special volunteer rates for applicable TBG programs, special volunteer discount at the TBG gift shop as well as working in beautiful surroundings!

Visual Merchandizing role: Twice a month

TBG shop supervisor would really appreciate help with visual merchandizing ideally twice a month (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays). If you have a flair for putting together visual displays please bring this creativity to shopTBG!

Volunteers for both these roles need to enjoy being active and mobile (these are on your feet roles including carrying items, and trips up and down stairs).

In addition to providing great experience in a retail environment the benefits of these varied roles include special volunteer rates for applicable TBG programs, special volunteer discount at the TBG gift shop as well as working in beautiful surroundings!

If you are interested in joining our volunteer team please contact Sue Hills, Head Volunteer Services email volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca T. 416-397-4145

FUTURE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

GARDEN VOLUNTEERS
To assist head gardener in care and maintenance of our beautiful gardens. Volunteers are asked to commit to a regular weekly four hour shift (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) for a 3 month period.  April, May and June, and/or July, August and September. Training and supervision provided.

The first intake for April May and June are now active, thank you! We may be looking to increase this team for July, August and September, an orientation session for this intake is planned for June 26, 2013 for volunteers for July, August and September.
Note volunteers can commit to the full 6 month period if they wish.

GARDEN AMBASSADORS
Roving information role. TBG Garden Ambassadors are out in our gardens on hand to greet visitors warmly, offer assistance if needed, answer any immediate questions they may have, direct visitors to areas in the garden/building that might be of most interest to them, promote what is in bloom (and where to find it); provide more information /brochures if they express interest in some TBG program/activity. In addition provide feedback to TBG leadership, you are our eyes and ears on the ground interacting with our visitors and the feedback you collect will be invaluable.

Skills required: an outgoing personality, good communication skills (listening as well as speaking) knowledge of and enthusiasm for TBG, a winning smile, comfort with an active on your feet role for a 3 hour shift, able to connect with people with ease and be responsive without being overwhelming.

Time commitment 2013 role from May 2013 through to October 2013.

Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 12 noon to 3 p.m., 3 to 6 p.m.
Weekends: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 to 4 p.m., 4 to 7 p.m.

Training for this role will be provided.

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES (in addition to those listed above)
Many of our volunteer jobs are unique, the result of finding a volunteer with the particular skills and background to meet a specific need. If you don’t see the job you want listed here, it’s still worth giving us a call! A sample of volunteer jobs is listed below; all our jobs are accompanied by the appropriate training.

Administrative – We have a wide-variety of positions available for volunteers with office skills.  Some computer expertise is required.

Adult Education Course Assistants take on the role of greeting students, handling last minute arrivals, some handling of  course fees if needed, taking attendance and assisting the instructors where appropriate. This role is typically evenings and weekends and most classes are free for the course assistant in attendance.

Children’s Programs – This is one of our most physically demanding programs: good physical fitness, including the ability to bend, lift and walk up steep slopes is necessary. Volunteers require the ability to relate to children of all ages, as well as having patience, creativity, excellent communications skills and a passion for nature/horticulture. The program takes place both indoors and outdoors throughout the year. Programs run from Mondays to Fridays; many special events take place on the weekend.

Communications – Volunteer graphic artists, writers, editors, photographers and proofreaders produce our members’ magazine, Trellis.

Library – This team run the library services such as borrowing, cataloguing, indexing, data entry, advising visitors, handling book donations and library displays. Some knowledge of library systems would be useful but not essential, an ability to work well in a team, handle large quantities of data and good organizational and administrative skills are a must for this role.

Special Events covers a plethora of events, from helping out at lectures (generally held weeknight evenings) and garden tours as well as representing the TBG at a number of garden-related events.

TBG Tour Guides lead garden tours of the TBG gardens and Edwards Gardens, as well as the Toronto Music Garden and Allan Gardens.  Basic gardening knowledge and excellent communication skills is a requirement and a love of people is paramount. If you are fluent in another language, we’d welcome your ability to translate our tours to translate our tours for visiting groups.

DOWNLOAD: Volunteer Application Form

If you have any questions, please call our Volunteer Office at 416-397-4145 or volunteers@torontobotanicalgarden.ca