Minor Application Form - Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs

Purpose

To ensure safe, meaningful volunteer opportunities for minors while protecting the wellbeing of youth, visitors, and the Gardens, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, best practices and BGSS insurance.

Scope

This policy applies to all minor volunteers (under age 18), their parent/guardian(s), and any adults who supervise, coordinate, or work alongside minor volunteers at the Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs.

This policy does not apply to school tours in the gardens.

Definitions

• Minor/Youth:  Any person under 18 years of age.
• Parent/Guardian:  Person with legal authority to consent for the minor.
• Supervisor: Garden Lead, Board Member, or designated adult volunteer (age 18+) approved to oversee minors.
• High-risk tasks:  work involving chemicals, power equipment, vehicles, heights, heavy lifting or other elevated hazards.

Eligibility and Age Bands

• No children under the age of 6
• Ages 6-11 (“Children”): May participate only in pre-approved group activities designated for children; a parent/guardian must be onsite and responsible at all times.
• Ages 12-17 (“Teens”): May volunteer with written parent/guardian consent and completion of a BGSS orientation tour.  BGSS reserves the right to require a parent/guardian onsite for any minor, based on task, setting or capacity.

Acceptable Roles for Minors

• Garden care: hand-weeding, watering with hoses/watering cans, mulching with hand tools, planting tasks, staking, deadheading.
• Visitor support: example, welcome tables, event setup/tear-down, educational events

Prohibited Tasks for Minors

• Operating motorized or powered equipment (i.e. chainsaws, mowers, ATV’s).
• Mixing/Applying pesticides, herbicides, fuels.
• Climbing ladders above 6’.
• Heavy lifting (>20kg).
• Use of table saws, circular saws, nail guns, or other high-risk shop tools.
• Any activity the Garden deems medium/high risk after assessment.

Supervision & Ratios

• Two Adult Rule:  Minors are never to be alone 1-on-1 with an adult out of public view.
  • Ages 6-11: 1 adult must be the minor’s parent/guardian and the second adult must be the garden lead or designated volunteer who will ensure the two adult rule is followed.
  • Ages 12-17:  Work under the supervision and direction of the garden lead who will ensure compliance with the two adult rule.

Consent, Registration & Documentation

Before participation, the following must be completed and kept on file:

• Minor Volunteer Application
• Parental/Guardian Consent
• Liability Waiver
• Photo/Media Consent (opt-in or opt-out).
• Health & Safety Guidance & Vandalism Reporting Processes

Accessibility & Inclusion

• The Garden welcomes volunteers of all abilities.  Reasonable accommodations will be provided where feasible and safe.  Disclose support needs during registration to plan suitable roles.

Health, Wellness & Medication

• Supervisors must know of any disclosed allergies or conditions relevant to tasks and emergency response.
• Garden volunteers do not administer medication.  Minors manage personal medication with parent/guardian direction unless otherwise arranged.

Acknowledgment

All minors, parents/guardians, and supervisors must sign an acknowledgement confirming they have read, understood and will follow this policy.