Become a member or
Get involved as a volunteer
Milner Gardens and Woodland is looking for volunteers who are willing to offer a few hours of their time on a regular basis to instruct and work with others in horticulture and gardening.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills and to participate in making Milner Gardens and Woodland a world-class venue.
Milner Gardens and Woodland volunteers are given an orientation, hands-on training, horticultural knowledge, invitations to volunteer-only events and courses, the satisfaction of being part of creating an exciting community-oriented project, and, of course, you will have our undying gratitude.
To become a volunteer, please fill out a 
Volunteer Application Form and either drop it off at the garden or mail it in.
Milner Gardens & Woodland
2179 West Island Highway
Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1G1
Volunteer Positions
Please see below for a description of the various volunteer opportunities
Education
Shoots with Roots Mentors
The Shoots with Roots program always welcomes new volunteer mentors! No experience necessary, just a willingness to work and learn with kids. School visits run Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday until the end of June, 2.5 hr/day. Join us for one day or 45. A criminal record check is required.
Garden Keeper
Help the Children’s Food Garden by doing small tending duties, greeting visitors, talking about the SwR program and engaging young visitors in hands-on activities (garden tending and newspaper pot making/planting activities).
Interpretation
Tour Guide (Gardens & Woodland Docent)
Lead groups through the gardens and woodland identifying plants, birds and animal habitat, while telling of its history, connections to the Milner family, and relationship to Malaspina University-College and horticultural collection.
House Docent
Give the public visiting the house information about the house and its history, as well as about the social history surrounding Milner Gardens and Woodland, while keeping an eye on all the items that belong in the house.
Horticulture
Plant Sales Assistant
Assist the Nursery Grower with the organization of plant sales. Cares for and sells plants in the sales area and interacts with the visiting public.
Trail & Woodland Steward
Walk the trails, woodland, driveway and parking lot to ensure that they are clean (raking, sweeping and removing broken/fallen branches), all plant labels and signage are in place and clean and that it is presentable to and safe for the public prior to opening in the morning.
Wednesday Gardener
Meet every Wednesday and assists the Horticulturist with gardening tasks around the garden.
Visitor Services
Welcome & Interpretive Centre Cashier
Take admissions and/or checks membership status, promotes membership and processes membership applications, informs the public about general information, policy and activities of the Gardens and takes reservations.
Gift Shop Assistant
Interact with visitors, transact sales, and prices merchandise and uses creative talent to help display the gift and gardening items. Also, serves visitors drinks and snacks and handles the payments.
Tea Room
Kitchen Helper
Assist the Tea Room Servers by doing all the necessary kitchen preparations.
Tea Room Server
Serve the guests in the tea room.
Luncheon Helper
Assist in the preparation, serving, and clean-up of luncheons
Miscellaneous
Golf Cart Driver
Transport visitors from the Welcome and Interpretive Centre to the Gift Shop, Nursery or Main House and return in a 7 passenger golf cart.
Parking Attendant/Traffic Controller
Direct traffic at the entrance and the parking lot during especially busy days (Mother's Day, statutory holidays, etc.) and special events.
Maintenance
Facilities Maintenance & Construction
Painting and repairing the Main House, Gardener’s Cottage, Gift Shop, Welcome and Interpretive Centre and other out buildings.
Garden Maintenance & Construction
Mend fences, builds benches and does repairs and/or minor renovations to the structures on the property.
Special Events
Garden Ambassador
Staff our booth at various garden shows, answering questions, handing out membership information and garden brochures, facilitates events by helping to organize and/or prepare the site for the event and clean up afterwards and especially to being available to work at the event in some capacity, which could include selling raffle tickets, giving out information, etc
Committees
Fundraising Committee
Help to source and write grant applications and raise funds to support the general running, growing, and evolution of the Gardens.
Marketing Committee
Assist in the promotion of the garden through various activities including writing press releases, planning for and participation in community events, and distribution of promotional material.
Wedding Committee
Help organize and participate in wedding events, assists in preparations before the event and clean up after the event, meets potential clients to discuss price/policy and show them the grounds.
Milner Gardens & Woodland Volunteer Support Group
Assist staff with the recruiting, enrolling, orienting and tracking volunteers; developing and scheduling volunteer enrichment and training activities.
This group formed in early 2004 has organized or participated in the following activities: bus tours for volunteers to other gardens, assisted staff with Volunteer Opportunities Day, assisted staff and the Special Events Committee with planning, organizing and presenting Christmas Magic, arranged for MGW volunteers to attend Mount Arrowsmith Rhododendron Society meetings for special guest speakers.