Share your gardening and park passion and introduce visitors to Cox Arboretum MetroPark! Garden Guides have an enthusiasm for plants and MetroParks which is infectious and gets visitors excited about all the things they are seeing in the park. Connecting and educating visitors to a diverse landscape of plants through a tour of our gardens is what a Garden Guide does. You do not need to know the name of every plant, but a "what's in bloom" highlight will be shared at the beginning of each tour. May through September, Garden Tour Guides support our education team in providing this unique experience to visitors mainly at Cox Arboretum.
Impact
Program Support volunteers help build access, comfort, and safety for all interested in learning about the natural world. Volunteers provide support for first-time learners and help participants build subject-specific skills. Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it accessible and easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities. Nature is a respite for many, and Garden Tour Guides support our education team in providing this service to park visitors.
Tasks
- Review the Cox Arboretum Garden Tour Guide Handbook.
- Greet and welcome participants as they arrive.
- Assist with check-in of participants.
- Assist the staff lead during the program to create a better learning environment for this unique group tour.
- Provide logistical support, such as where to find restrooms, drinking fountains, and pertinent brochures.
- Provide a quick orientation to the site, highlighting some of the locations to be visited, and any learning objectives of the tour.
- Engage participants during the tour by sharing plant knowledge and highlights of the garden spaces.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term volunteers who have completed the Garden Guide training. Learn more about our types of service here.
- This opportunity is approved for OSU Master Gardener service.
Additional Notes
- Parking & Meeting Instructions: Volunteers should park and meet the staff in the main building, then meet the group in the parking lot, and go to the picnic area. Your shift time begins 30 minutes before the group arrives to allow volunteers to get a quick review of highlights and blooming interest, and to introduce you to the specific group information.
- Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e. sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and may participate in some bending, kneeling, and reaching.
- Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, and their MetroParks name badge and t-shirt. Items like water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray may help make your hike more comfortable. If you have not yet received your MetroParks name badge, please reach out to volunteer services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org.
- Garden Tour Guide training is offered seasonally. Click here to see when the next training will be offered: Training and Events page..
Look for Additional Details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Programming Volunteer Position for more information on programming opportunities with us.
To learn more about the training needed for this opportunity, click on these links: Garden Guide Virtual Training and Electic Vehicle Virtual Training.
