CareErs in Public Horticulture
Career Category:
Public Garden Administration
Position Title:
Volunteer Coordinator
Position Summary
- Recruits and coordinates the training of volunteers and docents, manages their day to day activities and integration into the organization, and administers strategies to appreciate them
- This position often requires an undergraduate degree and 2 years of experience
- Other abilities: excellent interpersonal and communication skills
2006 APGA Salary Range
$21,225 to $39,026
Career Profiles of Volunteer Coordinators
Arlene Ferris 
Title
Director of Volunteer Services, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, FL
Job Responsibililties
- Formulate ways for the Volunteer Program to best serve the mission of the organization
- In conjunction with staff, develop jobs for volunteers
- Recruit, train, and motivate volunteers and provide ongoing evaluation of their involvement and make adjustments accordingly
Professional Experience
- Bachelor of Science, Political Science
- Volunteer Management Training Courses, University of Colorado at Boulder
- Member of APGA Volunteerism Committee
Educational Experience
- Ten years of personal experience as a volunteer in various organizations
- I joined the staff at Fairchild as a tour guide, which involved learning to communicate effectively about our collections and programs, and seeing first hand what members and visitors responded to. This has been invaluable in identifying good volunteers and defining their roles.
- I took every class and networking opportunity available in Volunteer Management, and sought and utilized mentors (I still do!)
Favorite Part of the Job
- Making a productive "match"- i.e. finding the right volunteer for a job, and finding the right job for a volunteer- and in this way furthering the mission of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
Advice
"You never know where a job might lead, so whatever job you are doing, take it seriously, always do your best, and look for ways in which you can be helpful outside of your direct responsibilities. And always be nice to volunteers!"
Why is Public Horticulture a Good Career Choice?
"The quality of people's lives all over the world is dramatically improved by public access to plants displayed in green spaces, public parks, botanic gardens, and along the streets where they live and work. As increasing numbers of people live in cities and suburbs, professionals in horticulture will need to create and maintain these spaces and keep people connected to nature via first hand experiences with the glories of the natural world."