Vancouver Botanical Garden Association (Garden Guides)

Organization Name: Vancouver Botanical Garden Association
Opportunity Title: Garden Guides
Category: Environmental Improvement
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year
Start Date: April 3, 2023
End Date: September 20, 2025

Email: jdepaz@vandusen.org
Website: https://vandusengarden.org/about-vancouver-botanical-gardens-association/
Details:

• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
• Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
• Training or orientation required

Opportunity Description:

Organizational profile

Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association, a registered charitable organization, delivers educational programs and Garden projects at VanDusen Botanical Garden, a 55-acre botanical garden and Bloedel Conservatory, a domed, lush tropical rainforest paradise in the heart of Vancouver. As Vancouver’s ‘green heart,’ we help to protect the globe’s biodiversity while acting as an oasis of calm in a busy city, providing a place for people to connect with nature and find peace in a world of plants and beauty.  

 

Purpose:

As Garden ambassadors, VanDusen Guides invite visitors to explore and learn more about the Garden and the amazing world of plants. By offering dynamic guided tours and acting as information resources, Guides help visitors connect with VanDusen’s beautiful 55-acre garden. Guided walking and cart tours are offered daily from April to October, walking tours are also available Sunday afternoons year-round weather permitting.

 

Responsibilities: 

• Plans, organizes and conducts walking and/or cart tours
• Interprets the Garden’s collections, history and horticultural practices, while welcoming visitors and answering their questions
• Keeps up-to-date and informed about the Garden

• Attends Guide Education meetings and Garden Walks, (if unable to attend, please review online), participates in Guide projects and special events in the Garden as appropriate
• Records Guide activity statistics as required

 

Skills, Attitudes, Knowledge Required:

• Enthusiasm for nature and the environment 

• Experience in presenting, teaching, guiding, customer service, interpretation or botany is an asset 
• Excellent communication skills and customer service focused
• For driving Guides, a valid class 5 driver’s license is required

 

Training and Orientation: 

• 4 Hours of online training to be completed prior to in-person training
• Required in-person training on Saturdays April 8th, April 22nd, and May 6th from 9:30 – 3:30pm. Must be available to attend all dates.
• Shadow shifts

 

Time Commitment: A minimum of 2 shifts per month, in addition to guide education, and a minimum 1-year commitment.

 

Supervisory Relationships/liaison: Candidate will be supervised by, and liaise with, the Guide Captain.  

 

Authority/Decision Making: Must be comfortable making decisions and problem solving with minimal supervision.

 

Volunteer Benefits:

• Enhance botanical knowledge, further develop customer service, interpretation and communication skills
• Opportunity to work with a dedicated team in a well-respected charity
• Contribute your time and talents in an impactful way for a worthwhile cause 
• Reference letter

 

The VBGA is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; Indigenous peoples; visible minorities and racialized people; and people with disabilities.