Volunteer Opportunities
WSU Thurston County Extension has volunteer opportunities available to both youth and adults in its educational programs.
4-H Youth Development:
Contact: Patt O'Neil, 360-867-2157
4-H provides a wide variety of activities for youth in grades kindergarten through twelve, and volunteer opportunities include:
- 4-H Club Leader: responsible for the leadership and proper functioning of the 4-H Club
- 4-H Project Leader: responsible for a given project area in the 4-H Club
- 4-H Activity leader: responsible for designed activities in the 4-H Club
- Special Interest Volunteer: leads a special interest group or project
- School Enrichment: leads an in-school group utilizing 4-H curriculum material
- Youth/Teen Leader: provides support to adult leaders. Volunteer leadership can be provided by 4-H members through the 4-H Leadership Project.
- Thurston County 4-H Fair Superintendent: provides leadership for a specific project area during the Thurston County Fair
Native Plant Salvage Project (NPSP):
Contact: Erica Guttman, 360-867-2164
Native Plant Salvage Project (NPSP) works to restore habitats and protect water resources through action projects and educational activities. Project volunteers recover plants from land scheduled for clearing and then replant them on demonstration/learning landscape and on restoration sites. NPSP volunteer opportunities include:
- Salvage Native Plants
- Establish Demonstration Gardens
- Install Learning Landscapes at Schools
- Maintain Plant Holding Beds
- Instruct or Assist with Workshops
Master Gardener & Master Composter:
Contact: Cori Carlton, 360-867-2162
The Master Gardener and Master Composter programs offer community horticulture education through its Master Gardener Clinic, workshops, demonstration gardens, and training programs. Master Gardener works toward educating local residents to use environmentally sound gardening practices. Master Gardener/Composter volunteer opportunities include:
- Provide support in the Master Gardener Clinic
- Staffing demonstration garden sites at the Olympia Farmers Market, Dirt Works, and Closed Loop Park