Welcome to our Volunteer Opportunities Page!

The generous support of The Gardens volunteers plays a crucial role in the success of the botanical gardens at Yanney Park. Many volunteer opportunities are available, from participating in educational programs and helping in the greenhouse to assisting with outreach programs and providing outdoor horticultural assistance—all essential in enriching the visitor experience.

 

Whatever your passion, The Gardens can use your interest and talent!

 

The Gardens Drone View

 

You'll find information about various volunteering opportunities at 'The Gardens at Yanney'.  Take a look and see if something interests you.  When you find an activity, fill out the application form and sign up. Application instructions are at the bottom of the page.

 

If you are already a volunteer sign up to volunteer through your My Impact Page.   MyImpactPage - Login (betterimpact.com)

 

The 2026 Volunteer Season is Here!

Hello, everyone! We are getting ready to start the 2026 volunteer season soon and have many opportunities available. We have activities in our greenhouse and outside in The Gardens this spring and summer. Please sign up ahead of time so we know that you're coming! Here is what we have as of right now:

 

  SAVE THE DATES:  

Spring Clean Up: April 18th

The Big Dig 2026: May 16th

Rock Garden Annual Flower Planting: TBD

Heritage Day: June 6th

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Education, Programming, & Documentation

Help individuals of all ages learn about gardening during an elementary-age Plant Camp session,  as a learning station presenter at an event,  as a  photographer, or as a tour guide of the Gardens. 

 

Click on the icon to learn more about the volunteer opportunity.  Double-click on the volunteer title to sign up.  We can't wait to work with you. 

Activity Shifts Start End
Photographer - The Gardens 1

Heritage Day

Yanney Park's yearly celebration. Held on the first Saturday in June.

Activity Shifts Start End
Activity Station Volunteer 1 6/6/2026 6/6/2026

Horticultural Programming

Horticultural programming volunteers have the option to participate in indoor and/or outdoor volunteer opportunities.  Indoor horticultural assistants help with seasonal greenhouse work such as starting seeds, transplanting seedlings, potting up bulbs, watering greenhouse plants, providing general plant care, loading plants out, etc. 

 

Outdoor horticultural assistants help with seasonal garden work such as planting, weeding, deadheading, pruning, and cleanup in the Gardens and Yanney Park.  

Click on the icon to learn more about the volunteer opportunity.  Double-click on the volunteer title to sign up.  We can't wait to work with you.

Activity Shifts Start End
Indoor Horticultural Volunteer 8 3/12/2026 5/7/2026
Outdoor Horticultural Volunteer at Harmon Park 26 4/22/2026 10/21/2026
Outdoor Horticultural Volunteer at Yanney Park 49 4/20/2026 10/23/2026

Outdoor Volunteer Event

Activity Shifts Start End
Dig Up The Canna Bulbs 1 10/17/2026 10/17/2026
Hydrangea & Lilac Garden Planting 1 5/1/2026 5/1/2026

Plant the Rock Gardens

We are looking for individuals to volunteer at Harmon Park's annual planting event where volunteers will install annual flowers in The Rock Garden! 

Click on the icon to learn more about the volunteer opportunity.  Double-click on the volunteer title to sign up.  We can't wait to work with you.

Activity Shifts Start End
Event Activities Volunteer 1 5/27/2026 5/27/2026
Event Hospitality Volunteer 1 5/27/2026 5/27/2026
Event Photographer 1 5/27/2026 5/27/2026
Planting Volunteer 1 5/27/2026 5/27/2026
Team Leader 1 5/27/2026 5/27/2026

Spring Clean Up Event

Join other amazing volunteers to clean up the Gardens this Spring.  Volunteers will prune, weed, fertilize, divide, and mulch the plantings. Each volunteer works in a group of other volunteers.   

The Spring Clean-Up Event is scheduled for Saturday morning, April 18, 2026. from 9 am to 11:30 am.  Come help get the Gardens off to a clean start this year!

Click on the icon to learn more about the volunteer opportunity.  Double-click on the volunteer title to sign up.  We can't wait to work with you.

Activity Shifts Start End
General Volunteer 1 4/18/2026 4/18/2026
Team Leader 1 4/18/2026 4/18/2026

The Big Dig Event

We are looking for individuals to volunteer at Yanney Park's annual planting event where volunteers will install annual flowers in The Gardens!!! This year's event is scheduled for May 16, 2026 from 8 am to 12 pm.

Click on the icon to learn more about the volunteer opportunity.  Double-click on the volunteer title to sign up.  We can't wait to work with you.

Activity Shifts Start End
Event Hospitality Volunteer – The Big Dig 1 5/16/2026 5/16/2026
Event Photographer - The Big Dig 1 5/16/2026 5/16/2026
Planting Volunteer - The Big Dig 1 5/16/2026 5/16/2026
Team Leader – The Big Dig 1 5/16/2026 5/16/2026

Becoming A Volunteer

Flexible Volunteer Scheduling:                                             

Help the Gardens look their best this season by watering, weeding, deadheading, pruning, or raking with other volunteers at times that work best for YOU. Volunteers will be trained in gardening techniques and maintain various plants in the Gardens at Yanney Park and Harmon Park.  You will meet with the horticultural staff to set up flexible volunteering. Contact Shane Young to schedule your flex volunteer meeting at syoung@kearneygov.org.

 

Group Volunteer Opportunities:                                           

Have your group plant annual flowers at a park entrance, pick up trash, spread mulch, clean up a landscape bed, transplant plants in the greenhouse, gather produce from the edibles garden, or do any other team-building activity.   If you're a group looking for volunteer opportunities, please email syoung@kearneygov.org for project information and to set up your group activity.

 

How to Become a Volunteer

There are three types of volunteers - Seasonal, event, and group/organization volunteers. Seasonal volunteers can sign up for events and other volunteer opportunities like weekly horticultural activities and educational programs.  Event volunteers can only sign up for events like Spring Clean-up, The Big Dig, Heritage Days, and Greenhouse Events.   Group/Organization Volunteers set up their activities by contacting Shane Young at syoung@kearneygov.org 

 

There are two steps to becoming a volunteer: 

A. You apply to be a volunteer. 

The volunteer application only needs to be filled out once as long as the individual volunteers once a year. 

Seasonal volunteers have to complete a more in-depth application which includes a liability waiver, a background check, and volunteer orientation.  The seasonal volunteer process allows the individual to sign up for both events and other garden opportunities. Click on this Seasonal Volunteer Application link (1) to apply to be a seasonal volunteer.

The event volunteer application is short and requires volunteers to sign a liability waiver. Click on the Event Volunteer Application (2) link and then click on the link in the top right corner of that page.  The next volunteer event will be held in the fall when the Gardens are cleaned up for winter.

B. Sign up for event volunteer activities from your Volunteer Page after applying to be a volunteer. 

Seasonal Volunteers opportunities will be opened to volunteers after they complete orientation and pass their background check

  1. Click on the Opportunities tab and select the opportunity list.
  2. Look through the volunteer opportunities offered and click on the icon next to the position title for more information.
  3. Click on the volunteer opportunity title that interests you. 
  4. Don’t forget to push the sign-up button under the action heading at the bottom of the page.
  5. You can find more information about the event position you volunteered for by clicking on the Schedule tab of your volunteer page and clicking the orange information icon next to the activity title.

Contact me if you have any questions about applying to be a volunteer or signing up.

Shane Young | Gardens Program Assistant

Kearney Parks & Recreation |P.O. Box 1180 |Kearney NE 68848

syoung@kearneygov.org