We are teaming up with the eBay Green Team to offer one free Chinook Book to any volunteer who performs 3 hours of service. Whether you need community service hours for school or just want to give back to the community, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for everyone.
Chinook Book is an annual resource guide and discount book that promotes healthy, sustainable living. Each Chinook Book contains over 800 print and mobile coupons for groceries, dining, theater, museums, items for the home and garden, outdoor gear and more. A $20 Value! E-mail us to shcedule your qualifying volunteer effort, or call Emily at 408-298-7657.
Volunteering
with us can bring you many benefits -- from learning
successful gardening techniques, to having the satisfaction of doing
something good for the environment. Docents will improve their
public speaking skills and have an opportunity to introduce the park
to visitors. High school students can earn community service
credits. And helping with our children's education programs can be
fun and fulfilling for volunteers.
If you don't have time to volunteer on a regular basis, please
consider helping out at one of our special events, like Pumpkins in
the Park or Spring in Guadalupe Gardens. We need many
people to present these events and your help on a one-time basis would
be greatly appreciated. Meet new friends and help us maintain the Gardens
at the same time!
Minors will need the form below signed by a parent or guardian. Note: Minors 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Volunteer Form For Minors
If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view .pdf files, click here to download it.
Volunteer Profiles
Meet the Board: Jeff Lawson Jeff Lawson is a shareholder and director of the Silicon Valley Law Group. He heads the firm’s environmental practice. He has considerable experience in the areas of: commercial litigation; environmental litigation; and water rate litigation. His environmental practice includes: compliance, defense of enforcement actions; real property site assessments; cleanups under Federal and State Superfund statutes; due diligence; development of contaminated sites; water rights; the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; Proposition 65; risk assessments; underground storage tanks; and environmental insurance. He has represented clients in state and federal court and before federal, state and local environmental regulatory and political entities involving a variety of land use, permitting and enforcement matters. He also serves as a mediator in environmental and commercial disputes. He is a retired California Air National Guard Brigadier General.
Meet volunteer Rose Espinoza Rose moved to Sunnyvale when she was a little girl and remembers when orchard trees filled our valley. She started her career in nursing and volunteered at a nearby rape crisis center, where she developed an interest in criminal justice. Rose began working as a safety dispatcher at the airport 25 years ago and, during her lunch breaks, would visit the Heritage Rose Garden. One day, she came across a rose deadheading flyer and decided to volunteer in the garden. Now retired, Rose cares for 33 roses in her own yard and helps us in the rose garden and at the Visitor and Education Center. Thank you, Rose!
Corporate/Group Work Days Working together to make a difference in the community is a great way to build team spirit and demonstrate the values of your organization. Guadalupe River Park & Gardens is a regional park in downtown San Jose that offers unique opportunities for groups looking for team building and community service activities. The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy provides coordination and supervision and will work with you to find the right project(s) for your group.
Internal Press Release from Brocade "TA Grows a Green Thumb!
Not only do we recruit, but we de-root! Today, the Talent Acquisition team gave back to the community by volunteering at the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy for a VTO event. Six hard-working, enthusiastic team members weeded and removed rose-bud dead heads at this beautiful outdoor Heritage Garden. While the planes whizzed by overhead, we helped reveal the true beauty of this garden. The volunteer coordinator even joined us and immersed in the sun-soaked, green-thumb event. We became pros at pruning the duds above the 5 leaf mark and removing the invasive weeds. While every rose has its thorn, every organization has its gems. And today, we stopped and smelled the roses." Rachel Moussa Brocade
The following are just a few of the corporations that have joined us:
Cupertino Electric, Deloitte, NEC, PG & E, Kaiser Permanente, Ernst & Young, HP, Adobe, Cupertino Electric, Apple, DCP, e-Bay, KPMG, Omron
Gardens Heritage Rose
Garden Work Days The Rose Garden is a collection of more than 3,600 antique and modern roses. Established in 1995 through an extensive community effort, the garden contains more varieties than any other public rose garden in the western hemisphere. While the City of San Jose supplies materials, it is maintained primarily by volunteers. Projects will vary with the time of the year. Volunteers can learn on how to maintain their own roses or just enjoy helping with the maintenance of this special rose garden. On going volunteer workdays: Every Saturday and Wednesday 9:00 am to noon (8:00am to 11:00am June-September). Special summer evening sessions (June-September) 5:30pm-7:30pm.
No need to sign up to volunteer unless you're coming with a large group (5 people or more), just show up! Please come prepared with clothes you can get dirty. Long pants, closed toed shoes, water bottles and sun protection (hat and sunscreen) are a must. All tools provided. We will be meeting at the Heritage Rose Garden shed. Parking is available at Seymour St. parking lot, click here for directions.
Courtyard Recycled Water Garden
The Courtyard Garden was one of the first elements of Guadalupe Gardens to be completed. It is a demonstration area showcasing the use of recycled water on a variety of plants. Volunteers assist the City Staff in planting and maintaining the Courtyard Garden. Volunteer workdays: 9:00 am to noon. Special week work hours can also be scheduled.
Taylor Street Rock Garden
The Drought Tolerant Rock Garden on Taylor Street, established in 1992, is a labeled collection of plants and rocks. The Drought Tolerant Garden provides an attractive streetscape and also demonstrates the use of plants and rock to save on precious water resources.
"Yesterday I worked as a supervisor in the Taylor Street Rock Garden. I worked with a group of about 6 or 7 people and boy did it make a difference. In only two and a half hours the area looks so much better. I drive down that road at least once a week and can't wait to get the next section cleaned up. When I got home I was tired and dirty but had the best feeling. The group from Cisco that I worked with was phenomenal. We had a great time working together and are proud of our little rock garden cleanup! Thank you Guadalupe River Park Conservancy! I cant' wait for my next volunteer job!" Kourtney Feinstein Leaping Designs
Historic Orchard
The Historic Orchard is a 3.3-acre orchard, planted in 1994, to showcase the fruit varieties that once made the Santa Clara Valley famous as “The Valley of Heart’s Delight”. The orchard contains over 250 fruit trees, including cherries, apricots, prunes, apples, and more. Fruit harvested from the orchard is donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule work sessions.
River Clean Ups & Trail Maintenance At least twice a year the Conservancy organizes river clean-up efforts in the area between Coleman Avenue and HWY 880. This is a great opportunity to meet with friends, co-workers or new friends who share an interest in maintaining the beauty of the river and protecting the natural habitat.
The award-winning 254 acre park, including 2.6 miles of trails, offers visitors an opportunity to explore nature, enjoy the many water features and playground areas, or travel the trails that meander through the park.
Volunteers can help the City of San Jose to maintain the areas of the trail on the 2.6 miles of trail from Hwy. 280 to 880. Projects could include weeding, planting, spread mulch, trimming trees, refurbish park benches, cleaning signs, etc.
Become a River Park or Gardens Docent Docents are volunteers who have been trained to give interpretive tours of both the Guadalupe River Park and Guadalupe Gardens. Gardens and river docents provide interpretive tours of the River Park and Guadalupe Gardens for the public. Docents bring the Park & Gardens to life through stories, details about history, flora & fauna, and public art, and interaction with the tour attendees. Our docent training program provides all the specific background information a volunteer will need to conduct tours for the public. The Education Coordinator supervises this program and schedules docents to lead public tours.
Student Interns Interns work in all areas of our operations, including our
Education and Volunteer programs as well as event planning.
Having no experience in events and starting my first internship at GRPG, I feel that I have gotten so much more than what I expected. Working with a small, but fantastic, team was a great experience in itself. Thanks to the staff, I have gained not only event planning experience, but have also learned about the different aspects of the organization. Thank you Guadalupe River Park Conservancy for giving me the opportunity! Thoai-An Le, SJSU
Education Volunteers
Guadalupe River Park Conservancy offer a full calendar of classes and workshops for adults and children. Many of these classes, particularly the ones for children, require volunteers to prepare materials in advance and instructors/assistants to help the education staff deliver the programs. Education volunteers actively participate in all facets of our activities, including, but not limited to, assistance with after school workshops for children, field trip programs, education booths at festivals, our research library, annual Water Wizard Festival, the compost demonstration site, adult workshops, and preparing material for educational programs.
Special Events We hold several special events every year including Spring in Guadalupe Gardens (April), Water Wizard Festival (May), and Pumpkins in the Park (October). Volunteers are recruited to do a variety of tasks for these events including planning, set-up and breakdown, booth staffing, educational activities, and food sales.
"I was quite pleased with my volunteer experience at Pumpkins in the Park this year. The people there were very welcoming and it gave me what I call "Warm Fuzzies" when I saw little kids with their families picking pumpkins and being happy. The organizers running the show that day were very grateful and amiable, and I would like to thank them." Anh-Thu Le, Oak Grove High School
Office Volunteers An abundance of volunteer opportunities exist in our office at the Visitor & Education Center. Activities include clerical work, organizing the library, preparing materials for educational programs, etc. Other tasks can be performed from home. Volunteer efforts in the office allow the conservancy staff to focus on expanding programs and reaching out even further to the community. Commitment will vary depending on volunteer’s availability. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am – 5:00 pm.
Featured Project of the Month
Historic Orchard Work Days Community Workdays
Every 4th Saturday of the month
10 AM to 1 PM
Our 3.3 acre Historic Orchard provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to support the health of their community. Fruit harvested from the orchard is donated to local food banks, ensuring that nutritious food goes to those who need it most. Volunteers may attend regular Community Workdays every 4th Saturday of the month to help care for this important local resource. Tasks are seasonal and include harvesting, planting, weeding, mulching, pruning and more. Fruit tree enthusiasts of all experience levels are welcome, and all volunteers who take part in harvesting can sample our fruit! For more information, contact Natalie, at 408-298-7657. Click here to read the Orchard blog!
Volunteer tasks vary with the seasons. Harvest during the summer months. Click here to sign up.
Free Pruning Lessons in the Award-Winning Heritage Rose Garden!
Every Wednesday and Saturday beginning January 4th, 2012 9am FREE Ages: 18 and up Light Rain = event is on, Heavy Rain = event is off
Hands-on rose pruning lessons are being offered by volunteers in San Jose’s Heritage Rose Garden every Wednesday and Saturday, beginning Wednesday, January 4th and ending in late February. Lessons begin promptly at 9:00 am.
Come to learn and have fun! If you have favorite leather gloves and bypass shears, bring them; otherwise, loaners are available. Please wear closed-toed shoes and bring a refillable water bottle. We will meet in the center of the garden.
The Heritage Rose Garden is located on West Taylor St. near Walnut St. Free parking is available on Seymour Street, Taylor Street or Walnut streets. All minors (minimum age 18) without parental supervision must bring our signed minor release form.
Some drop-ins for regularly scheduled work days are okay, but groups of 3 or more need to be scheduled in advance.
Call Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, 408-298-7657, or email Emily at emily@grpg.org for more information. Click here to sign up.
Jeff Lawson is a shareholder and director of the Silicon Valley Law Group. He heads the firm’s environmental practice. He has considerable experience in the areas of: commercial litigation; environmental litigation; and water rate litigation. His environmental practice includes: compliance, defense of enforcement actions; real property site assessments; cleanups under Federal and State Superfund statutes; due diligence; development of contaminated sites; water rights; the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; Proposition 65; risk assessments; underground storage tanks; and environmental insurance. He has represented clients in state and federal court and before federal, state and local environmental regulatory and political entities involving a variety of land use, permitting and enforcement matters. He also serves as a mediator in environmental and commercial disputes. He is a retired California Air National Guard Brigadier General.
Rose moved to Sunnyvale when she was a little girl and remembers when orchard trees filled our valley. She started her career in nursing and volunteered at a nearby rape crisis center, where she developed an interest in criminal justice. Rose began working as a safety dispatcher at the airport 25 years ago and, during her lunch breaks, would visit the Heritage Rose Garden. One day, she came across a rose deadheading flyer and decided to volunteer in the garden. Now retired, Rose cares for 33 roses in her own yard and helps us in the rose garden and at the Visitor and Education Center. Thank you, Rose!
