We’re making some changes in our volunteering requirements in our Certificate in Native Plants program.
Now, as in the past, CNP participants can get their 40-hours of volunteering by working on native plant plots in several public gardens around the region, or they can staff event booths or be part of speaking engagements. They may help with our paperwork or accounting chores, or with CNP program planning and tracking. Some can contribute to this newsletter.
As of January 1, 2025, we added a structure layer to the volunteer requirements. We’ll be spreading the volunteer help over several categories to make sure everyone gets their hands in the dirt and to ensure we all become more knowledgeable and well-rounded CNP certificate holders.
Here’s the new structure.
Beginning the first of the year, you’ll need a minimum of:
- 10 hours hands-in-the-dirt volunteering at things like a Wild Ones sanctioned weed wrangle, hosting a Landscape In Progress tour event, working on a native plants installation effort sponsored by CHAPP (the Chattanooga Area Pollinator Partnership) or being part of a maintenance outing specifically involving native plants at any number of our partner organizations such as Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, McCoy Farms, Audubon Acres, Tennessee Native Plant Society, Lula Lake Land Trust, and Friends of the Cumberland Trail.
- 10 hours in education/teaching/public outreach. Examples are CHAPP public information tabling events, speakers bureaus or serving as a docent at a garden tour.
- 10 hours in TVWO administration work in committees or with communications and logistics, as well as membership work and coordination with other nonprofits.
- 10 hours of your choice in the above categories.
Please use this downloadable form for reporting your volunteer time.
When you submit the completed downloadable form, please indicate in what category you think your volunteer work best fits by marking it with an H,E,A or C (Hands in the dirt, Education, Administration or Choice). Then write a short narrative paragraph about your work. For instance, if you volunteer once a week in a community garden such as the Tennessee Aquarium otter garden or at a park, tell us what your work entails. Here’s an excellent example:
“Every week I volunteer at the River Journey building of the Aquarium. I spend 2 hours watering the plants and trees in the Cove Forest area by the otters. This area ( this floor and the next story up) has all native plants to Tennessee. I check the plants for health and pests and prune when needed. … I also sweep the leaves as this area is like a giant greenhouse and experiences the 4 seasons. The temperature is about 10 degrees more than outside. I have been interviewed and will have pictures on the Aquarium’s social media. I can take a picture next week if needed.“
Yes, pictures are helpful! Our CNP chairs and volunteer coaches like to see a human touch with the work logs. In coming weeks, we’ll add more helpful examples to this page.
Email your volunteer submissions or your questions to [email protected]