BurlingtonGreen offers a wide range of rewarding and fun volunteer opportunities for community members 14 years of age or older*. Whether you have a little or a lot of time to give, we can find a role that meets your interests, skills, and abilities. Together we can create a cleaner, greener, more environmentally responsible Burlington!
"My experience as a BG Youth Network member has been the absolute most motivating, empowering, educational and impactful volunteer opportunity I've ever had to date. This organization has influenced my life in more ways than I ever thought possible. Most importantly it has enabled me to find full potential in my passion for the environment…"
–Zofia Smeja, BG Youth Network alumna
*Please Note: Some Eco-Action opportunities are open to volunteer participation by children ages 12 years of age and older with an accompanying adult (see below). Families with younger children are invited to help the planet locally by participating in our city-wide Community Clean Up event held each year in April. Registration for this popular opportunity begins in mid March.
Click the titles below to learn more and scroll down to apply!
After 11 years of successful programming and outreach, we need your help to grow our impact and reach even more members of our community to make long term environmental change. The Events and Community Outreach Team is a group of volunteers who are passionate about raising environmental awareness and sharing the work BurlingtonGreen does with the wider community. Members of this team work with the Marketing Coordinator and other staff to serve as ambassadors for BG at our various outreach booths and events.
Community Clean up Green Up (annual week long city-wide litter clean up plus a tree planting event held on or around Earth Day each year)
Special Events hosted by BurlingtonGreen
Experience/requirements: If you are 16 years of age or older with top notch customer service and organizational skills, who enjoys working on a team, then this might be the perfect 'fit' for you! Comfort speak with the public and familiarity with environmental issues is a definite asset for this volunteer opportunity.
Volunteer Activities include: Team members help with event logistics, set-up, execution, and take-down, and may also be involved in promotions and planning.
Approximate time commitment: As a member of the Events Team, you can choose to participate in as many events as your schedule allows. Volunteers are expected to attend orientation and training and will shadow BG staff at their first event.
These energetic, hands-on team members enjoy working outdoors, making new friends and getting their hands dirty! Team members can participate in one event, or dig in and do them all. Lots of flexibility here while contributing to initiatives with immediate benefits to the environment. We are scaling up all these initiatives to have even more people take action to benefit the environment. We can’t do it without more team members and we hope you will consider getting involved today!
Learn more about the various activities that this team participates in here:
Event Greening: It doesn’t get more hands on than sorting waste at community events to divert compost and recyclable materials from the general garbage. The events are kept light and fun with real team spirit as we focus on getting the job done - and you can immediately see the difference you are making for our landfills, diverting as much as 90% or more waste to recycling and compost! We are growing the number of public events we provide services for each year, so we are really excited to grow this team of volunteers.
Experience/requirements: Age 12+. (Under 14 must be accompanied by an adult). No experience required. Training is provided as well as refreshments, work gloves and a BG t-shirt to wear. Work is generally outdoors, can involve lifting, pulling, and standing for a few hours at a time, and volunteers can expect to get dirty!
Approximate time commitment: Volunteers are needed for various shifts generally from 3 to 6 hours (up to 8 hours depending on availability) and can participate in one or more events during the year. More details about our Event Greening service are available here.
Habitat Restoration: In addition to hosting an annual “Green Up” ( tree planting) event each year in partnership with the City of Burlington, we also support community partners such as the Royal Botanical Gardens with various habitat restoration projects. Residents from the community are invited to participate in these hands-on rewarding activities of removing invasive plant.
Experience/requirements: Age 12+. (Under 14 must be accompanied by an adult). No experience required. Volunteers should be physically able to use a shovel or crouch down and use a garden trowel. Training and instruction is provided as well as refreshments, work gloves and a BG t-shirt to wear. Work is outdoors and volunteers can expect to get dirty!
Volunteer Activities include: working with and directing community volunteers with litter collection, invasive plant removal and plant, shrub and tree planting projects in Burlington.
Approximate time commitment: This will vary but generally 2 - 4 hours are required to carry out the habitat restoration activities for each project.
More details about our Green Up project and habitat restoration actvities can be found here. “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” –W. Buffett
BurlingtonGreen hosts a dual component Clean Up Green Up event every April in partnership with the City of Burlington. Registration is NOW OPEN!
The city-wide Community Clean Up begins during the week leading up to earth day, which is a great time for schools, business, or groups who have time during the weekday to participate. Neighbourhood groups, community organizations and families including CHILDREN can also participate throughout the city on the Saturday closest to Earth Day (April 22nd) .
After theClean Up week held in April comes the Green Up held in May, an event where volunteers join BG to plant native trees in a selected location in the community. Our Community Champions Network serve as liaisons helping to spread the word on this great opportunity while encouraging clean-up activities within their own neighbourhoods and workplaces. Registration is NOW OPEN!
DIY Clean Up Green Ups: You can also take action to clean up litter from where you live, work, and play year round. With a bit more time and research, you can also undertake your own Green Up by selecting a location to remove invasive plant species and improve biodiversity by planting native plants, shrubs and trees. Our Plan a Clean up Green up web page offers some handy step-by-steps tips!
BurlingtonGreen's impactful Grow To Give food donation program is all about positive action for the community. Volunteers come together to plant, grow, harvest and donate fresh, healthy, organic produce to local food banks. We have three plots located at the Central Park Community Garden (behind the Central Library on New Street).
Experience/requirements: Age 16+ No experience required. Volunteers should be physically able to use a shovel or crouch down and use a garden trowel. Training and instruction is provided. Volunteers often work alone or in pairs and can expect to get dirty.
Volunteer Activities include planting vegetables in early spring maintaining (watering and weeding) and harvesting the produce through the growing season to early November, and then helping to close up the garden for the winter months.
Approximate time commitment: Varies depending on the number of volunteers supporting the program at a given time. An estimated 1-3 hours per week during gardening season with a heavier concentration of hours during peak activity periods such as planting, summertime watering and at harvest times.
More details about our Grow to Give program can be found here
There's never been a better or more exciting time to get involved in BurlingtonGreen's Advocacy Team. Be part of positive, solutions-driven work that forms a core pillar of BG's strategic plan. Learn the inner workings of city and regional politics and participate in shaping the agenda and decisions towards a greener, more sustainable future. This is a great opportunity for people who like working behind the scenes, or who have experience or passion for detail and research. It’s also a great way for youth to develop their skills towards becoming the climate leaders of tomorrow.
BurlingtonGreen is a non-partisan group that uses evidence to focus on positive policy solutions to climate change. Volunteers have the opportunity to work on tasks that fit their own skills: doing background and policy research, writing for local and regional media, delegating or networking with other stakeholders in the community, and participating in developing BG's positions.
Experience/requirements: Age 16+ This role needs passionate, yet balanced and positive, informed individuals who want to be involved in changing local regulatory policies, procedures, bylaws, and approaches to planning and development. Experience gathering research and effective written and verbal skills are assets for volunteers on this team.
Approximate Time Commitment: The advocacy team meets monthly, but members also spend time working independently or collaborating online for different projects. Typically, you can expect a time commitment of about 8-10 hours per month.
*Due to the nature of advocacy work, not every applicant will be suited to this position. We will make every effort to find a role that fits your skills and interests, but cannot guarantee a position on the team.
More details about BG Advocacy is availablehereand some of our Greenprint for the Future issue campaigns arehere.
Board of Directors: As a Director serving on our 'working' Board, you will be an ambassador of the organization collaborating with 9 to 12 other Directors to effectively advance the vision and goals of our organization. As a governing body, Directors develop and apply strategy, solution-focused decision making with financial and governance oversight to ensure our organization continues to operate and grow effectively, always with integrity and professionalism.
The Board meets monthly and each Director is required to serve on one of the 3 Standing Committees: Nominations & Governance, Fundraising, Finance & Audit. Required time commitment is 10 to 15 hours per month (sometimes more).
Previous Board experience with a not-for-profit organization is preferred but not a pre-requisite.
Do you enjoy and have experience working with children? Perhaps you are a substitute teacher looking to gain valuable experience leading engaging programming? We have a small number of opportunities for reliable, enthusiastic volunteers to lead our fun and educational Kids Go Green workshops. The workshops are provided to school and community group children, ages 4 to 12 (grades JK to 6). Training is provided as are travel expenses to and from the workshops (Burlington schools and community centres).
Experience/requirements: 18+ Must have driver's license and vehicle to transport supplies to and from Burlington workshop locations. Verification of police background/vulnerable sector screening is required as well. A passion for engaging children, highly organized, punctual and reliable. Experience teaching or working with young children is an asset.
Volunteer Activities include: preparation of program materials, lead informative and fun workshops, post workshop clean up, program evaluation (with Coordinator’s supervision).
Approximate time commitment: 2.5 to 3 hours per workshop including travel time within Burlington. An estimated 1 to 2 workshops booked per month, fewer during summer months.
You can learn more about the popular and impactful Kids Go Green Program here. Due to the nature of this position, there is a separate application process for KGG Workshop Leaders. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details or to get an application form.
Do you attend a Burlington high school and are you passionate about the environment?
The BGYN connect youth from across the City with each other and with local opportunities to make a positive impact on the environment. We aim to create the next generation of local eco-heroes through youth mentoring youth, environmental leadership opportunities and participation in tree planting, event greening, and more. Click here to find out more!
Interested in a leadership role? In October 2017 we launched BurlingtonGreen's very first Youth Leadership Council! Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more, or fill out the application today!
Are you passionate about lasting change for our environment? Are you interested in leading others in your community to do the same?
Consider joining our new initiative of Community Champions, dedicated individuals who will work to encourage and build eco-networks in their own communities. By empowering your own neighbourhood or community to raise awareness, advocate, and take action to grow a healthier and more sustainable city, we can further the reach and impact of BurlingtonGreen’s successful model.
Fill out our short application or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get involved!
Please Note: We make every effort to match opportunities to your skills, experience, and interests. Due to this, we cannot guarantee that there will be a volunteer opportunity for you. If we don’t have something for you right now, please check back to this page regularly to see if there is something for you in the future. BurlingtonGreen also reserves the right to not place a volunteer if they are unable to meet the responsibilities of the position, or if they are unsuitable to our organization’s goals and principles.
Support provided by
BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association, 1295 North Service Road ( Suite 114), Burlington, ON, L7P 3A7
Questions? Comments? Contact us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 905-975-5563.
Together we make a difference for a healthier, more environmentally responsible Burlington.
After 11 years of successful programming and outreach, we need your help to grow our impact and reach even more members of our community to make long term environmental change. The 
Habitat Restoration: 
BurlingtonGreen hosts a dual component 
Are you passionate about lasting change for our environment? Are you interested in leading others in your community to do the same?
