Future Volunteer Possibilities
A project of this scope may have opportunities for individuals of most ages, abilities, and experience. It’s through this collaborative effort that we’ll have our best chance of success as we continue developing our strategy.
Potential volunteer positions will be unpaid. If part time or full time work becomes available we will feature those positions on a separate page.
Although volunteering is often its own reward, we hope to give special perks and benefits to volunteers in compensation for their efforts.
Join Our Future Volunteer List
If you’re interested in joining our list of potential future volunteers and would like to stay updated on this project, please fill out the form below.
Possible Volunteer Positions
Physical Fitness Required. NO Experience Required.
This is likely the most urgent and important position at the beginning of our recovery process.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Bamboo clearing and hauling
- Weeding / Weed Whacking
- Debris clearing
- Mowing
Requirements:
- Physical strength and endurance inherent in landscaping work
- Ability to work in a team and take instruction
Creating a durable bamboo fence along Charlestown Road and within sections of the garden will be key in creating a visually impressive experience and dulling road noise. You will work in a group to strip, prep, and construct portions of fence.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Bamboo cutting and gathering
- Bamboo quartering and stripping
- Selecting and setting up usable pieces
- Constructing slate portions
- Repairing/creating stable posts
- Attaching fencing to posts
- Tying aesthetic strapping to posts
Requirements:
- Basic physical fitness for hauling and labor
- Ability to work in a team and take instruction
The manor home and other buildings on the property will require serious recovery to become safe for traversal. Once safe, volunteers can enter and begin clean up and basic rehabilitation.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Debris clearing
- Cleaning
- Painting
- Wall patching
- Floor sanding and staining
Requirements:
- Basic fitness for cleaning and hauling
- Ability to work in a team and take instruction
Physical Fitness Required. Experience Required.
The grounds have some trees and shrubs which are fully dead and require removal.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Chainsaw elimination of branches and full trees inside a delicate environment
- Usage of ladders, trucks, or climbing rigs
- Hauling and/or chipping of wood
Requirements:
- Experience in chainsaw operation
- Licensing in landscaping or tree removal a plus
- Valid driver’s license and experience with trucks or bucket trucks
The gardens contain a number of gates, bridges, and wood structures that require rehabilitation. We are looking for skilled woodworkers who can recreate original designs or innovate solutions to deterioration.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Advanced woodworking
- Investigation of Japanese architecture and methods
- Sourcing of needed materials (Foundation will pay for supplies)
- Adherence to cultural guidelines for structure construction (including limitations of materials that can be used)
Requirements:
- Experience in advanced woodworking (specific Japanese construction experience a plus)
- Tools required for custom woodworking
NO Physical Fitness Required. Experience Required.
Volunteer events will require administrative and organizational assistance. We’re looking for individuals with administrative and organizational experience to help streamline and run events.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Reachout to relevant volunteers
- Management of event assistants who will man tables, conduct registration, and distribute concessions
- Organize waivers and other needed paperwork
- Track attendance and ensure volunteers are guided to the right locations
- Ensure delivery and setup of tables, tents, food, etc.
- Resolve basic issues between team leaders and volunteers
Requirements:
- Experience in an administrative environment
- Experience running events and managing volunteers
- Valid driver’s license and ability to drive, make phone calls, and operate basic email and volunteer software
- Friendly disposition with a mindset for solutions
- Experience in crisis management a plus
While Swiss Pines isn’t ready for formal garden planning just yet, there are still a wide variety of interesting plants and trees on-site that could use care and maintenance. The more we can save, the fewer we need to repurchase.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Weeding, trimming, feeding, and restoration of specific plant types
- Research into specific plant care and maintenance
- General gardening skills (plant bed cleaning, weeding, etc.)
- Clearing of invasive species
- Collaboration with a master gardener to execute largescale garden restoration plans
Requirements:
- Experience in gardening and plant research
- Formal horticulture education considered a plus
- Collaborative mindset and ability to take instruction from garden managers
Some plant types may be specific to Japanese gardening and would not do well with traditional western trimming and cultivation concepts. We’ll be looking for individuals that can take a “less is more” approach on species that they are not formally trained in.
NO Physical Fitness Required. NO Experience Required.
Every event needs individuals who will do the small jobs to create efficiency and a pleasant environment.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Food pickup and delivery
- Distribution of tools, supplies, drinks, etc. to volunteer sites.
- Rental equipment pickup and delivery
- Small purchase runs (Foundation will cover costs)
Requirements:
- Valid driver’s license
- Ability to work in a team and take instruction
- Ability to text, call, and use GPS
All events require friendly people manning the booths and helping steer people in the right direction.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Registration management
- Waiver management
- Volunteer and visitor guiding
- Basic ID checking and form filling
- Concession stand operation
- Food and supply delivery to volunteers
Requirements:
- Friendly disposition
- Comfort with ipads, phones, and basic software (volunteer manager will train you on needed software)
- Ability to work in a team and take instruction
Once the buildings and grounds are stabilized we intend to institute a gift shop and front desk for questions, check-ins, etc.
Responsibilities May Include:
- Visitor check-in assistance
- Gift shop sales and management
- New member registration
- Basic Q&A regarding the grounds and facility locations
Requirements:
- Friendly disposition
- Comfort with ipads, phones, and basic visitor management software (volunteer manager will train you on needed software)
- Clear background check
Our Volunteers
We’d like to highlight and thank those individuals who have volunteered.