Volunteer

participate -> Volunteer

Get Involved - Learn - Play - Eat

By volunteering at EYA, not only will you be making a difference in your community and learning all about what EYA does, you will also gain invaluable work experience in the environmental and social justice not-for-profit world. We've got a variety of activities to suit a wide range of skills and interests.

Are you:

Looking to get some hands-on experience of growing your own food in the city?
Intrigued by the idea of escaping the city confines by spending time in an urban oasis where you can reconnect with nature?
Interested in helping to establish sustainable school food gardens and deliver interactive, educational workshops for children & youth?
Searching for a opportunity for your volunteer group that would enable you to have fun as a team and give back to the community at the same time?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, then read on to find out more about our opportunities!

Volunteer Garden Sessions

Garden volunteer sessions operate on a drop-in basis and currently take place every Saturday from 1-3 pm. A volunteer update email is sent out once a week detailing where our garden sessions will be held (EYA has three garden locations in East Vancouver) and what activities we'll be doing. If you'd like to receive volunteer updates, please contact Claire at volunteer@eya.ca.

As we're approaching the end of the main growing season, we're transitioning our focus from gardening to processing and packaging up seeds that we saved from the EYA Youth Garden as part of our Urban Seeds program. In the early spring we'll return to the gardens to expend our energies there!

Garden Sessions this week:

This coming Saturday we're going to be working on re-potting and potting up a large number of native plants. Let's meet at the Eco-Pavilion in the Strathcona Community Garden at 1 pm. We'll be working in the Plant Lock-Up close to the Eco-Pavilion, so meet us there if you arrive late. Both locations are visible on the map here.

It doesn't look like we're going to have such good luck with the weather again this weekend, so be sure to wear warm, waterproof clothing (that you don't mind getting dirty) and decent footwear.

For more info, contact Claire at volunteer@eya.ca

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Outreach Opportunities

Stay tuned for upcoming events in 2012!

To sign-up or receive more info, contact Claire at volunteer@eya.ca.

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Want to Help Elementary and High School Students Build and Maintain Gardens?

The EYA's Growing Kids Program is looking for committed, enthusiastic facilitators to help with the delivery of programming in Elementary and High School Food Gardens. Help students maintain their school garden and teach them about the social, political, economic and ecological implications of our work. If you are interested, please send a resume and covering letter detailing any experience you have working with youth and/or growing food plus why you are interested in being involved to our Program Coordinator Matthew Kemshaw at matthewk@eya.ca.

For more information about the program click HERE.

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Interested in Our Organization and Becoming Involved Long Term?

The EYA board is comprised of young-minded individuals, passionate about advancing EYA's vision to expand EYA's sustainability programs across Metro Vancouver and internationally. The EYA board supports staff and volunteers through strategic planning activities, dedicated committees (policy, fundraising, social enterprise, board recruitment) and establishing direction for other programming initiatives (project-based funding proposals).

EYA has three vacant board positions that will be filled at 2012 EYA's Annual General Meeting. Over the next six months, EYA's Board Recruitment Committee will define the desired skills-sets from board members and recruit passionate individuals that may meet EYA's board needs. This is an exciting opportunity for EYA members and volunteers to get further involved - or engage passionate individuals that are interested in supporting EYA in a board capacity.

If you or anyone you know are interested in learning more about EYA board positions, please email Jonathan Reimer (jonnie.reimer<at>gmail.com) or Emily Hoffpauir (emilyhoffpauir<at>gmail.com). They will be happy to provide an overview of the board's responsibilities and outline the recruitment time frame that concludes with board elections in March 2012.

View the full board member job description here.

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Corporate/Community Volunteer Groups

We would love to host a volunteer day in one of our gardens for your group! Your group will learn, have fun and contribute to engaging youth in their community.

We can accommodate large or small groups, generally from 5-30 people. We prefer at least 3-4 weeks notice in order to arrange supplies.

To learn more about the volunteer opportunities on offer, please read through the Volunteer Group Guidelines. If you would like to apply for your group to volunteer with EYA, please download and complete a copy of the Volunteer Group Application Form.

If you have any questions about your application, please contact Claire at volunteer@eya.ca.