Welcome Allerton Park & Retreat Center Volunteers!

Summary: Create a memorable and educational experience for visitors by sharing the history and interesting facts of the Formal Gardens or Mansion.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Be familiar with Allerton facts and history
• Lead tours for Allerton Visitors
• Answer visitor questions about the estate during the tour
• Know your audience and get to know the group you are touring
• Assist with training of future tour guides

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Read books, handouts, and online resources of the history and facts of Robert Allerton, his estate, and the art and gardens within it
• Shadow at least 3 tours in your area of interest (Mansion, Formal Gardens) led by an experienced tour guide
• Take and pass a tour guide quiz in your area of interest (Mansion, Formal Gardens)
• Lead your own tour, shadowed by an experienced tour guide
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Most tours last about 1 hour. During special events, you may lead 2-3 tours.
• Complete your training at your own pace; however, most tour guides are fully trained within a month depending on available tours to shadow/lead.

Summary: Plant, water, weed, and prune to keep Allerton’s 14 formal gardens looking their best. “Adopt a garden” to care for a specific garden more extensively.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Help with routine aspects of gardening and landscaping like weeding, watering, and planting
• Adopt-a-Garden by performing regular maintenance for one garden
• Assist with cleaning and maintaining sculptures and planters within the Formal Gardens

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Become familiar with the gardens and their history
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Volunteer at least 4 hours a month
• Most volunteer work in the gardens would be done between April and September/October

Summary: Keep Allerton’s 14 miles of hiking trails safe and useable.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Pick up litter and debris
• Remove small obstructions from the hiking paths
• Report any conditions that need immediate attention by staff (i.e. fallen limbs, standing water, etc.)

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Become familiar with the Natural Areas and trails
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Hike a particular trail at least once a month for a period of one year

Summary: A dedicated Natural Areas group that focuses on keeping Allerton’s Natural Areas safe and beautiful

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Remove invasive species
• Plant native species
• Assist with trail maintenance
• Participate in wildlife surveys

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Become familiar with the Natural Areas, native and invasive species, and trails
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Attend monthly workdays planned by the Allies, usually Saturdays

Summary: Contribute to our marketing efforts by taking photos around the park and during special events and programs. Not a photographer? No problem! Consider joining the Allerton Park Photography Group to learn photography skills and techniques. If you're a pro, consider joining to teach new photographers what you know. Ask Olivia how you can become a member of APPG!

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Visit the park on your own time to take photos of wildlife, the Gardens, and Natural Areas
• Attend special events and programs and take photos of the event and participants
• Sign a photo release

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Provide Allerton with photos taken during events and around the Park
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Attend at least one special event or program a year (2-3 hours)

Summary: Be part of our community engagement efforts by helping with various tasks that go into providing engaging and successful programs and events at Allerton.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Share your skills and expertise where you are comfortable in order to help plan a successful program or event
• Assist with planning, set-up, tear-down, and other tasks involved with event and program planning
• Assist with promotion for events and programs as needed
• Ensure guests/participants are getting their needs met during the event or program

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Assist with at least one special event or program a year (2-3 hours)

Summary: Assist with Allerton’s various youth programs held throughout the year including Youth Summer Camp. If you have an idea that would make for a great youth program, you can help with the planning and delivery of the program.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Share your skills and expertise where you are comfortable in order to help plan a successful youth program
• Assist with planning, set-up, tear-down, and other tasks involved with program planning
• Assist with promotion for events and programs as needed
• Ensure participants are getting their needs met during the event or program
• Assist Youth Summer Camp instructors and coordinators during camp days

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Assist with at least one special event or program a year (2-3 hours)

Summary: Assist with miscellaneous or one-time projects, usually temporary, focusing help to assist with a specific project like painting, maintenance, etc.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Share your skills and expertise where you are comfortable
• Assist Park staff where needed

Requirements:

• Attend a General Information session for new volunteers (virtual or in-person)
• Sign and return Volunteer Waiver & Release form
• Log hours on MyImpact Portal

Time Commitment:

• 1-hour General Information session for new volunteers
• Assist with at least project a year, if available (2-3 hours)

Available to answer FAQs, connect visitors with resources, and make recommendations about what to see and do at the park, volunteers at the McCraw Family Visitor Center are an important first interaction at the park for new and returning visitors alike.