Needs From: Volunteer Houston

Hermann Park has two wonderful prairie exhibits. Each exhibit was formed from rescued plant species native to the Houston metro region. Volunteers are needed to help edge the area, weed, and assist with moving plants to create walk ways through the prairie for visitors to get a closer look at the many species of Texas native prairie grasses and wildflowers. Native prairie plants in this exhibit where rescued from surrounding areas within the Houston metro region. Tools and materials will be provided. Participants will use shovels to move or transplant grasses. A chance to see what much of Houston looked like years ago, as part of a tall grass prairie system. Bring your cameras for close-up pictures of some amazingly beautiful native plants.   Takes place on Saturdays, please email to confirm. Please contact the volunteer department for the location.  Locations are at Bayou Parkland on Almeda Rd (1st & 4th Sat.) or next to the lake in the 'heart' of Hermann Park (2nd Sat.). Families, groups, teens and individuals welcome!

Hermann Park Conservancy’s Job Shadow Program supplies students (age 13 to 17 years) the opportunity to observe and participate in a variety of work related activities.  The Job Shadow Program can enhance a student's understanding of careers in conservation and provide them with the opportunity to work alongside an experienced employee who can answer questions and provide accurate and timely advice. Job Shadow Program participants will gain knowledge, skills and an understanding of Hermann Park Conservancy. Through this experience, students will see the connection between school and the workforce.  Parents and students should attend the orientation in July (date to be determined)  from 9am to noon. Program runs for 4-5 weeks Wednesday through Friday and some Saturdays 9am to 3pm.  Application and waiver required. For more detailed information please contact the Director of Volunteer Programs, Diane Kerr at dkerr@hermannpark.org.  College students should request Saturday Volunteer Internship information, working in natural habitat.

Hermann Park’s McGovern Centennial Gardens is seeking volunteers interested in promoting a positive experience among park visitors.  Hermann Park Conservancy invites you to join us in developing a corps of  volunteers to become trained Ambassadors within a beautiful garden setting. The Centennial Gardens span 8 acres with various garden types such as succulents, vegetables, perennials, roses, pine trees, bulbs, as well the three story high mount to walk and sculptures to see!

Volunteers will learn to orient visitors, share garden information and etiquette, greet visiting groups, establish a positive rapport with all visitors and conduct periodic checks of the various gardens. Volunteer shifts for Saturdays and Sundays are 11am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm (times subject to change). This position is integral to the enjoyment of these beautiful and fragile new gardens.  Please join us in creating a corps of volunteers to help take care of this amazingly beautiful garden.

To begin the volunteer process, fill out an application and please attend one of our volunteer orientations. We will discuss information about Hermann Park Conservancy, volunteer positions in detail and go on a scavenger hunt to become more familiar with the garden space.

For more details about attending a volunteer orientation please contact the volunteer department at volunteer@hermannpark.org.

For more pictures: http://www.hermannpark.org/centennial-year/mcgovern-centennial-gardens-cherie-flores-garden-pavilion/

Do you enjoy teaching others? Do you have a garden topic that you're very passionate about? Come out to the new McGovern Centennial Gardens and lead a workshop to teach others!

Some topic ideas could include: Beekeeping, seed collecting, knowledge about gardening in Houston climate, permaculture, how to build a raised bed, small container gardening, art in the garden, etc.

The Gardens delight visitors with traditional features like a rose garden and new areas to explore such as an interactive family garden, an arid garden, a 30-foot garden mount, and a sculpture promenade featuring public art donated by countries around the world. The new gardens will receive many visitors!

To begin the volunteer process, fill out an application and please attend one of our volunteer orientations. We will discuss information about Hermann Park Conservancy, volunteer positions in detail and go on a scavenger hunt to become more familiar with the garden space.

For more details about orientation dates and to request a volunteer application please contact the volunteer department.

Do you play an instrument? Do you want to play in a beautiful garden? Sign up to play during a music and garden work day. Volunteers will weed, mulch, plant or work on other garden activities while you play.

The Gardens delight visitors with traditional features like a rose garden and new areas to explore such as an interactive family garden, an arid garden, a 30-foot garden mount, and a sculpture promenade featuring public art donated by countries around the world. The new gardens will receive many visitors!

Hermann Park Conservancy's new McGovern Centennial Gardens is now open! The Gardens delight visitors with traditional features like a rose garden, and new areas to explore such as an interactive family garden, an arid garden, a 30-foot garden mount, and a sculpture promenade featuring public art donated by countries around the world. The new gardens will receive many visitors! Assist park staff in making sure their visit is enjoyable for all as well helping to maintain Hermann Park to a high standard.

Rose Volunteers: volunteers that wish to work in the rose garden will receive training on how to deadhead and prune roses. Deadheading roses is an "evergreen" task- one that always needs attention. Once you receive training, you will be able to come in during garden hours from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

*It's okay if you need to leave early, and you don't need to attend every week.

To begin the volunteer process, please complete an application found on our website at http://www.hermannpark.org/volunteering-opportunities and attend one of our volunteer orientations. We will discuss information about Hermann Park Conservancy and volunteer positions in detail.

For more details about attending a volunteer orientation contact the volunteer department at volunteer@hermannpark.org 

For pictures: http://www.hermannpark.org/centennial-year/mcgovern-centennial-gardens-cherie-flores-garden-pavilion/

Want to have a serene yet fulfilling volunteer opportunity? Then come to the newly renovated Japanese Garden in Hermann Park to volunteer your time to maintain this jewel in the middle of Houston’s premier regional Park.

The Japanese Garden was built in 1992, designed by Japanese landscape architect Ken Nakajima. Over the years the Garden slid into a Texas style garden, prompting the Hermann Park Conservancy to engage another renowned landscape architect from Japan, Terunobu Nakai, to advise the gardening team as to the finer details of Japanese style gardens. Utilizing plants appropriate to the Garden as well as to the Houston climate, Mr. Nakai and celebrated landscape gardener Hiroshi Iwasaki in 2007 began their annual visitations to the Garden to assist the park gardeners with the return of the Garden to its Japanese roots. 2016 saw the completion of their 10 th visit to the Garden with the development of the new dry stream garden, mimicking features of a stream, a beach and waterfalls to be accessed via a new entry gate on the Fannin side of the Garden.

The Japanese Garden gardeners would appreciate your assistance with the garden's upkeep: maintaining the paths and entries, keeping the weeds at bay, trimming shrubs and trees in the Japanese style, raking pine needles and mulching shrub beds, deadheading spent blooms, and planting shrubs, plants, and ground cover. Volunteers will be working alongside and under the direction of the garden staff. Instructions will be given on site by staff. 

Workdays are each Thursday or 3rd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Group volunteers (groups with less than 50 people, from churches, organizations, businesses, etc.) are welcome and should schedule a workday ahead of time by contacting Hermann Park Conservancy's volunteer department.    For more information contact volunteer@hermannpark.org

Are you looking to gain experience in leadership, management, event planning, or hospitality?  Let us help further develop your leadership skills by volunteering as a Special Events Volunteer Leader at Hermann Park Conservancy!  Come see how our events work, behind the scenes, while adding to your resume!

As a Special Events Volunteer Leader you will receive dedicated training to manage and direct other volunteers the duration of our events.  You will play a vital role in helping manage who is where and what they are doing!    

Join us Sunday, September 30th, 2018 from 1-5pm for a FREE lunch and training focused on developing leaders for our Park to Port Bike Ride event coming up October 6, 2018.

REGISTER HERE

Events Include:

Hermann Park Conservancy Mission Statement

Hermann Park Conservancy (HPC) is a non-profit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park- today and for generations to come.

If you want to help give back to Hermann Park, but prefer to volunteer indoors- this opportunity is for you!

Hermann Park Conservancy is in need of an on-going phone operator during one or all of the following shifts:

Tuesday:              9am-12pm

Friday:                  9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm

Training will be provided so that you can help answer questions from park visitors as they call the Conservancy.

If you are interested in signing up, please reach out to schedule an orientation.

Hermann Park Conservancy Mission Statement

Hermann Park Conservancy (HPC) is a non-profit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park- today and for generations to come.

Love being outside? Enjoy spending time at Hermann Park? Combine the two and volunteer at McGovern Centennial Gardens. McGovern Centennial Gardens, a paradise for garden lovers, offers many opportunities for volunteers in the various horticultural-themed gardens. Come assist our team  by helping weed, mulch, or plant.

To commemorate Hermann Park’s centennial in 2014, Hermann Park Conservancy transformed the former Houston Garden Center site into the eight-acre McGovern Centennial Gardens. The Gardens were custom-made for Hermann Park and add a new dimension to Houston’s garden attractions. Visitors can explore a variety of themed garden rooms arranged situated along a spacious central lawn, the Centennial Green, and are home to more than 490 new trees of over 50 species, 760 hedge shrubs, 55,000 perennial bulbs, 650 azaleas and 4.5 acres of grass. They include the Arid Garden, the Rose Garden, the Celebration Garden, and the Woodland Garden, and an educational Family Garden, which produces seasonal vegetables, herbs and fruit trees. The main entry into the Gardens is through the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, which was designed by Peter Bohlin, architect of Apple stores worldwide.

Join us in helping maintain this beautuful feature of Hermann Park!

Wednesday Morning, McGovern Centennial Gardens 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Saturday Morning, McGovern Centennial Gardens 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

To begin the volunteer process, email us at volunteer@hermannpark.org or sign -up at https://hermannparkconservancy.volunteershift.com/shifts?sort=soonest

We welcome school, church, civic or corporate groups! For Group Volunteer opportunities. Please contact the volunteer department if you wish to schedule a date for your group.