Volunteers can help us with a lot more than gardening!

Education Volunteers facilitate education programs and support instructors in classrooms and workshops.

Educators and Assistants 

• evaluating our Science Communications Fellows*
• assisting instructors during classes and workshops (examples: Floral Design assistants, who support the Floral Design Host/Instructor)
• teaching a skill or something you're passionate about (examples: composting, propagation, growing special plants, building backyard trellises, birding, or teaching a craft or art technique)
• assisting staff during youth and family-oriented programs, like Summer Solstice Celebration, Winter Solstice Pajama Party, and Festive Candy Cottage Workshops.

Ready to get involved? Want more information?

• All adult education instructors or assistants will complete program-specific trainings with our Director of Education.
  • Select "I am interested in assisting or leading an Education Program!" under Activity (below).
  • Then Click on + Sign Up. We'll be in touch!
• *Science Communication evaluations do not require any pre-training. We'll tell you what to do when you arrive!
• Volunteers working with children must be 18+ years of age.
• All volunteers who assist with youth education programs are required to complete an NSOR background check and Child Abuse Awareness Training through the University's Office of Risk Management. Email the Manager of Volunteer Engagement for more information on how to complete these steps.

Entomology Lab Support/Assistants are trained by Entomology staff to help with projects in the lab.

Event Volunteers ensure that all Public Events at Reiman Gardens are fun, safe, welcoming, and fully-staffed.

Plant Sale Extravaganza volunteers work alongside staff to ensure a fun, exciting experience for shoppers at our annual fundraiser!

Volunteers prepare necessary materials for youth and family programs, assist with setup and cleanup, deliver information and/or instruct various activities, including arts and crafts, storytelling, and other hands-on activities.

Plant Sale Extravaganza opportunities may include:

• Cashiers (must pass an annual Criminal Background Check and attend an in-person training)
• Cashier Assistants 
• Event Assistants 
• Online Plant Sale Pick-up Assistants

Spirits in the Gardens

Opportunity Descriptions and links to sign up

1. Pumpkin Prep

To help make the life of our Manager of Volunteer Engagement a lot easier, we ask that all volunteers sign up for pumpkin prep opportunities via FareHarbor (linked below).

Pumpkin Tracing:

• Use pre-cut stencils and permanent markers to trace designs onto pumpkins.
• October 1-3 (two-hour shifts, starting at 2:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m.)
• October 4* (two-hour shifts, starting at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 2:00 p.m.)

Pumpkin Carving:

• Carve the pre-stenciled designs out of each pumpkin.
• October 8-9 (two-hour shifts, starting at 12:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m.)
• October 10* (two-hour shifts, starting at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 2:00 p.m.)

Pumpkin Gutting:

• We can't carve a pumpkin until we've gutted it! Work alongside Reiman Gardens' staff to scoop the guts out of pumpkins. This is a dirty job, but very fun! Closed toed shoes required!
• October 8-9 (two-hour shifts, starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m.)
• Email Kim if you would like to be Nathan's Pumpkin Assistant during a shift this year. Assistants will greet shift volunteers, make sure they are suited up in their gear, and help Nathan get the job done!

*Later shifts may be cancelled if pumpkins are completed early. To ensure you get to enjoy this activity, we encourage signing up earlier in the week.

2. Event Support:

• Event Assistants - a.k.a. "Stage hands," these volunteers will support our events staff during pumpkin prep with moving pumpkins, cleaning tools, and keeping our volunteer pumpkin prep area clean and tidy for other volunteers
• Path Prep - help ensure our paths are well-lit, safe, and provide an amazing view for our guests. Volunteers will string lights along the path (Sept 29-30), place haybales (Oct 8), and put pumpkins in place throughout the gardens (Oct 10-12). These roles require a measure of strength and stamina, but are incredibly important to create an overall wonderful Spirits in the Gardens.

3. Spirits in the Gardens:

• Event Volunteers -  stationed throughout the gardens in pairs to greet visitors, manage flow of traffic, and take photos at photo opportunity stations. (8/shift)
• Candy Factory - volunteers pass out candy (2 pieces each or a Teal Pumpkin Bag) to our guests at the end of the route. (7 stations/shift, 2-4 volunteers/station)
• Event Cashiers - a role reserved for volunteers trained to use our POS system, help check in our guests from inside a kiosk at the East Gate entrance! Minimal cash handling required, this will mostly be checking-in pre-registered guests.

Grow & Give volunteers grow, collect, and distribute donated produce from home gardens and Reiman Gardens to local food pantries.

Indoor Gardening volunteers assist staff with the care and keeping of our indoor spaces.

Outdoor Gardening volunteers assist staff with the care and keeping of our outdoor spaces.

Butterfly Wing Docent Training is held every month. All volunteers interested in this position need to complete one training session before they may sign up for a volunteer commitment on their own. All current docents need to complete a refresher-training course every April.

Iowa Butterfly Survey Network (IBSN) training is available to all volunteers across the state of Iowa. To receive instructions on IBSN training, follow these steps:

1. 1. Scroll up to Iowa Butterfly Survey Network (IBSN).
   2. Select I am interested in becoming a citizen scientist to help with the Iowa Butterfly Survey Network (IBSN)! under Activity. 
   3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Sign Up +. The Manager of Volunteer Engagement will send you an email with further instructions.

Continuing Education is available for volunteers to learn more about various aspects of the Gardens. 

Please Note: Some training opportunities are offered as needed.