Welcome to Reiman Gardens! Volunteer engagement is an essential part of Reiman Gardens’ strategic plan. By engaging volunteers in direct and indirect service activities, we are able to expand the efforts of our programs and reach more people in our community.
Our volunteers participate by:
Volunteers can help us with a lot more than programming! If you have a skill, professional expertise, or a passion, we might have a way to use your help with special projects and behind-the-scenes opportunities.
The best way for us to know which ways you might be of use to us is to update your Interests. Hover your mouse over to the My Profile tab, click on Interests, and check all the boxes which apply to you. When an opportunity arises, we'll reach out and see if you're interested in helping out!
| Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul of Iowa 2.0 - Drone Shoot | 1 | 10/8/2023 | 10/8/2023 | |
Volunteers are vitally important for most of our public events held at Reiman Gardens. From preparing materials before an event to tearing down/uninstalling decorations after, volunteers help in many ways! Visitors greet visitors, share important information, provide directions, take photos at photo opp locations, play games, pass out candy, provide entertainment, and lot more!
Events which require volunteer help include Rovers at Reiman (April-August), Plant Sale Extravaganza (May), Pollinator Fest (June), Garden Art Fair (July), Pumpkin Carving (October), Spirits in the Gardens (October), and Winter Wonderscape (December). Volunteers can also help with Events Prep opportunities like creating decorations, cutting stencils, tracing/gutting/carving pumpkins, and more!
| Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Events Prep & Support (At Home Projects) | 1 | |||
| Pumpkins - Carving | 19 | 10/11/2023 | 10/20/2023 | |
| Pumpkins - Gutting | 7 | 10/11/2023 | 10/19/2023 | |
| Pumpkins - Tracing | 12 | 10/4/2023 | 10/8/2023 | |
| Rovers at Reiman | 1 | 10/31/2023 | 10/31/2023 | |
| Spirits in the Gardens - Candy Factory | 4 | 10/14/2023 | 10/23/2023 | |
| Spirits in the Gardens - Entrance Greeter | 6 | 10/13/2023 | 10/23/2023 | |
| Spirits in the Gardens - Event Stations | 6 | 10/13/2023 | 10/22/2023 | |
| Spirits in the Gardens - Installation | 2 | 10/2/2023 | 10/3/2023 | |
Volunteers can help and assist with various indoor gardening activities throughout the year. These activities include changing out the Hughes Conservatory display, maintaining the conservatory plantings, integrated pest management, pot washing, and projects in the greenhouses.
Prior experience is not required! All volunteers will receive onsite training by the appropriate horticulture staff member. General physical activity associated with some of these assignments has risks. Services provided may include activities that can be hazardous including, but not limited to, using garden tools, lifting heavy objects, working in wet conditions, etc.
| Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservatory Change-Out | 13 | 11/5/2023 | 11/30/2023 | |
Volunteers can assist in almost all of our outdoor garden areas. Horticulturists have set up one or two mornings each week for volunteers to assist them in their designated garden spaces.
Prior experience is not required! All volunteers will receive onsite training by the appropriate horticulture staff member on new tools or techniques as needed. General physical activity associated with some of these assignments has risks. Services provided may include activities that can be hazardous including, but not limited to, using garden tools, lifting heavy objects, working in various outdoor conditions, etc.
| Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden & Grounds Seasonal Support | 0 | 10/16/2023 | 10/20/2023 | |
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:
Continuing Education is available for volunteers to learn more about various aspects of the Gardens.
Please Note: Some training opportunities are offered as needed.
| Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entomology: Butterfly Wing Docent Training - New Docents | 4 | 10/31/2023 | 12/21/2023 | |
| Youth Program Online Trainings | 1 | |||
To educate, enchant, and inspire an appreciation of plants, butterflies, and the beauty of the natural world.
We envision a world where everyone understands and values the importance of plants, butterflies, and the beauty of nature. We encourage the partnership of employees and volunteers, so that we can achieve our mission and offer the community the best services possible. Volunteers contribute their unique talents, skills, and knowledge of our community to provide personalized attention, enable the paid staff to concentrate on the work for which they were trained, and educate the public about our organization and its cause. We recognize that volunteers provide a resource of talent that is unavailable in any other way. We value this contribution and hope to offer a satisfying, productive, and rewarding experience.
Volunteer Impact at Reiman Gardens
All of you are an important and imperative piece of everything we do at Reiman Gardens. We are so thankful for you and grateful for your ongoing support during this difficult time. Despite all the challenges and setbacks, you accomplished so much. From helping with projects from home, to planting a new garden space, to carving hundreds of pumpkins, you supported our many departments and furthered the mission of the Gardens. The 2020 Volunteer Impact Report shares more of these accomplishments, our successes, and the volunteers who made it all possible. Click here to read impact reports from previous years.
