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.
Join us at one of our upcoming events & opportunities to say hello and learn more about how you can get involved;
"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
Click the titles below to learn more and scroll further down the page to apply!
EVENTS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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.
Outreach opportunities include:
- Our Eco-film festival
- Outreach Booths at festivals and community events throughout the year
- Youth Environmental Summit & evening Eco-Celebration (held every few years)
- Annual General Meeting (AGM held in March)
- 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
Volunteer Activities: 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 and Community Outreach Team, you can choose to participate in as many events as your schedule allows. Volunteers are expected to attend orientation and training, including shadowing BG staff at their first event.
You can learn more about our popular events here.
ECO-ACTION ACTIVITIES
Many of our energetic, hands-on team members enjoy working outdoors, making new friends and getting their hands dirty by participating in our eco-action volunteer activities! Team members can participate with one activity/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!
Eco-Action activities include:
Event Greening: It doesn’t get more hands-on than sorting waste or stationing receptacles 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% waste! 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+. (Volunteers 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.
Volunteer Activities: Post sorting waste from garbage receptacles and diverting waste into the proper compost or recycling bins. Some events are more pro-active and will include busing tables, interacting with guests to direct them on the proper disposal of their waste. Volunteers can expect to stand throughout their shift. Work is generally outdoors, can involve lifting, pulling, and standing for a few hours at a time, & 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). You can choose to participate in as many events as your schedule allows. More details about our Event Greening service are available here.
Event 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. These may include the planting of trees, shrubs, wetland species or removing invasive species. Residents from the community are invited to participate in these hands-on rewarding activities.
Experience/Requirements: Age 12+. (Volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult). No experience required. Volunteers should be physically able to use a shovel or crouch, bend, and use a garden trowel. Training and instruction are provided, work gloves, a BG t-shirt to wear and refreshments.
Volunteer Activities: Volunteers will assist with litter collection, invasive plant removal, and planting projects in Burlington. The work is conducted outdoors & volunteers can expect to get dirty!
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 how to host your own can be found here.
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” –W. Buffett
GROW TO GIVE GARDENERS
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 Wellington Square Church who provides dinner every Friday for anyone at no cost. 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 capable of using a shovel, crouching down and using a garden trowel. Training and instruction are 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: Schedules vary depending on the number of volunteers supporting the program at a given time. An estimated 1-3 hours per week during the gardening season with a heavier concentration of hours during peak activity periods such as planting, summertime watering and at harvest times.
ADVOCACY TEAM
There's never been a better or more exciting time to get involved in BurlingtonGreen's Advocacy Team. Be part of a positive, solutions-driven team that forms one of the core pillars of BG's strategic plan. Learn the inner workings of the city and regional politics. You will 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, experienced or passionate for detail and research. Additionally, it is a great way for youth to become the climate leaders of tomorrow.
BurlingtonGreen is a non-partisan group that uses evidence to focus on positive policy solutions to climate change.
Experience/Requirements: Age 16+ This role requires passionate, 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.
Volunteer Activities: Volunteers have the opportunity to work on tasks that fit their own skills: 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.
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 are available here and some of our Greenprint for the Future issue campaigns are here.
KID'S GO GREEN LEADERS
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 Greenworkshops. These workshops are provided to schools 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: Prepare program materials, lead informative, 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.
Due to the nature of this position, there is a separate application process for KGG Workshop Leaders. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more details or to get an application form.
YOUTH NETWORK & LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Do you attend a Burlington high school and are you passionate about the environment?
The BGYN (BurlingtonGreen Youth Network) connects 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.
Interested in a leadership role? Be sure to check out and apply to join our popular Youth Leadership Council!
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS NETWORK
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 Community Champions network where dedicated individuals come together to share their passion for helping the planet locally while building eco-networks in their own communities.
Please contact us here to learn how you can get involved today!
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP GREEN UP and more!
BurlingtonGreen hosts a triple component Clean Up Green Up and TLC (Tree Loving Care) events in partnership with the City of Burlington.
The city-wide community Clean Up (litter removal) begins during the week leading up to Earth Day. it is a great time for schools, businesses, groups or families including children who have time during the weekday to participate. For those unable to participate during the workweek, you can join us on the Saturday closest to Earth Day (April 22nd).
The Green Up is held in May, an event where volunteers join BG to plant native trees in a selected location within the community. Our Community Champions Network serves as liaisons helping to spread the word on this great opportunity while encouraging clean-up activities within their own neighbourhoods and workplaces. Keep your eyes open for Clean Up Green Up 2020 registration!
It's critical that we take care of the trees we have planted with the community, and thus we host at least one TLC (Tree Loving Care) event each year with the City, inviting the community to join us for some fun and educational teamwork where participants also learn handy tips to care for their own trees at home!
DIY Clean Up Green Up: 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. Our Plan a Clean Up Green Up page offers some handy step-by-step tips!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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.
Experience/Requirements: 18+ Previous Board experience with a not-for-profit organization is preferred but not a pre-requisite. You will research, develop and apply strategy to grow and operate BurlingtonGreen.
Volunteer Activities: The Board meets monthly and each Director is required to serve on one of the 3 Standing Committees: Nominations & Governance, Fundraising, Finance & Audit.
Approximate Time Commitment: Required time commitment is 10 to 15 hours per month (sometimes more).
If this is an opportunity that interests you, please contact our Board President here.
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.
*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.
**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.
