Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Services Coordinator - Marguerite Sykes 608-238-2015, sykesmargs@yahoo.com
Assistant  - Marilyn Nelson - 608-833-5886

Training for the following volunteer opportunities is usually "on the job" unless there is a special session offered. Please call the contact person or Volunteer Services Coordinator if you have any questions.

---

ALLEN CENTENNIAL GARDENS

Contact: Ed Lyon, 608-262-1549, eslyon@wisc.edu, or visit www.horticulture.wisc.edu/allencentennialgardens/.

There are needs for hands-on gardening including planting, pruning and potting. We offer free and convenient parking, kneeling pads, gloves, sun block, clean towels, fruit juice in the summer and hot chocolate in the winter

---

AMERICAN FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Contact: Tina Nelson, 608-890-8323, volunteer.services@uwhealth.org, or visit www.uwhealth.org/kids

Volunteers read to children or engage them in activities while waiting for treatments or appointments. Siblings of patients also need direction in art activities or projects in playrooms. Safety equipment and informational materials could be distributed or stcked by volunteers.

---

BOOKWORMS

Contact: Mary Warfield, 608-273-9809, warfield-wi@tds.net

Once a month from September until May, volunteers read to preschool classes of students from low income families of Dane County. After reading, volunteers present each child with a copy of the book to keep. At many sites, readers then lead the students in activities that relate to the books. Some of these preschools serve children for whom English is a second language.

 

 

---

CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART

Contact: Mary Carr Lee, 608-263-2495, or visit www.chazen.wisc.edu/home.htm
The Chazen Museum of Art offers exhibitions, a permanent collection of 18,000 works of art, and educational programs free to the public. Volunteers help at exhibition receptions, in the museum shop, and as docents (volunteer tour guides). Training is provided.

 

 

 

---

LAKESHORE NATURE PRESERVE

Contact: Cathie Bruner, 608-265-9275, cbruner@fpm.wisc.edu, or visit www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu.

Volunteers can participate in habitat restoration projects. Possible activities include planting native plants, trail maintenance, and removal of invasive plants. Work is usually done by groups of volunteers, which adds to the enjoyment.

---

MADISON FRIENDS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, INC.

Contact: Office Hours Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to noon, 608-263-4010, mfis@odos.wisc.edu, or visit http://iss.wisc.edu/mfis/

Volunteers help with short-term housing for newly arrived students, Thanksgiving and holiday meal hosting, individually planned "Friendship Sharing" get-togethers, one-on-one English partnering conversation, group social activities and special events, furniture and coat loan programs, and English language classes.

---

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ARBORETUM

Contact: Judy Kingsbury, 608-262-5604, jakingb@wisc.edu, or visit http://uwarboretum.org/

Volunteers help by staffing the reception desk, patrolling trails, planting in the native garden, or assisting with other indoor and outdoor projects.

---

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

Contact: Tina Nelson, 608-263-6046, volunteer.services@uwhealth.org, or visit www.uwhealth.org/volunteer

Volunteers help out anywhere from the Main Information Desk to inpatient hospital units doing anything they can to make a patient or family member more comfortable.

 

---

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LIBRARIES

Contact: Elizabeth Owens, 608-262-2566, eowens@library.wis.edu, or visit www.library.wisc.edu/friends, or Contact: Friends of UW Libraries, 608-265-2505, friends@library.wisc.edu

Volunteers help with the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale, the Children's Cooperative Book Sale and can assist with special projects or events. Volunteers who can commit to a regular and long-term schedule can help with book repair work with permission of the person running the conservation laboratory.

.

---

UW MADISON ODYSSEY PROJECT

Contact: Emily Auerbach, 262-3733, eauerbach@dcs.wisc.edu, or visit www.odyssey.wisc.edu
For Meal Donations: Julie Haberkorn 608-244-2400, ext 2868, julieh@wisconsincu.org

The UW-Madison Odyssey Project gives motivated adults near the poverty level a chance to start college free of charge. Through this transformative evening humanities course, students not only earn six college credits but also gain a new sense of pride and hope. University League helps by raising funds, providing supplies and meals, and publicizing and generating interest about the project.

---

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Contact: Kristina Clark, 608-264-6563, kristina.clark@wisconsinhistory.org , or visit
www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/volunteer

The Wisconsin Historical Museum seeks to assist in our mission to help people to collect, preserve and share stories. Positiions available include Information Desk, Special Events, Docents, and Fundraising. Schedules are flexible. Training is provided. Benefits include discounts and historic sites passes.

---

WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION (WPT)

Contact: Erika Balgord, 608-265-4436, erickabalgord@wpt.org, or volunteer@wpt.org, or visit www.wpt.org/development/volunteer

Volunteers support public television by staffing a wide variety of enjoyable fundraising and community events. They answer phone calls during four annual membership drives, greet visitors and assist with presentations at the Quilt Expo and the Garden Expo, and participate in our energetic on-air auction each May as cashiers, merchandise handlers, phone operators and on-air camera auctioneers.

---

"I am only one... but still, I am one. I cannot do everything,
but still I can do something." - Helen Keller