CU Plantations seeks volunteer tour guides

Cornell Plantations is looking for volunteers to serve as garden tour guides. Anyone with a love of plants and gardens and a willingness to share that love with others is encouraged to sign up for a series of free volunteer training sessions this spring.

These meetings will take place over seven consecutive Thursdays, beginning March 10 and continuing through April 21. The dates are March 10, 17, 24 and 31 and April 7, 14 and 21. Each week's program will include a general learning session from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by tour guide training from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Meetings will be held in the Lewis Education Center, located at One Plantations Road on campus.

The 9 a.m. learning sessions will focus on a different horticultural topic each week and will provide opportunities for volunteers to network with other volunteers and staff. Guest presenters from Plantations and Cornell will speak about the different areas within Plantations, as well as special horticultural themes. New volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions; current volunteers are welcome as well.

The 10:30 a.m. garden guide trainings will focus on the history and collections of Cornell Plantations, general botanical and horticultural knowledge, and building interpretive skills. These classroom sessions, which are prerequisites for becoming a Plantations tour guide, will be reinforced with field experiences throughout the growing season. New guides will have the opportunity to work with experienced volunteers for further training.

Additional volunteer opportunities exist at Plantations on an as-needed basis, generally on weekdays throughout the spring, summer and fall. Volunteers assist with the programs and operation of Cornell Plantations in many ways, including helping with youth education programs, weeding and maintaining our extensive plant collections and grounds and assisting with campus outreach efforts. Volunteer benefits include discounts on membership and program fees, free training, and frequent learning opportunities. All ability levels are welcome.

To sign up for the learning sessions or garden guide trainings, or for more information about the volunteer program, please contact Kevin Moss, community outreach coordinator, at km274@cornell.edu or call 254-7430.

Cornell Plantations http://www.plantations.cornell.edu is the arboretum, botanical garden, and natural areas of Cornell, and is a member of Ithaca's Discovery Trail partnership http://www.discoverytrail.net.