VOLUNTEERS make it all possible!

Each year hundreds of volunteers support Hidden Villa in nearly every department and program. Volunteering at Hidden Villa is a great way to do meaningful work to help the environment, connect with nature, and have fun - all at the same time! Our list below highlights the variety of work opportunities available.

To volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (650) 949-8655 or email volunteer@hiddenvilla.org.

Summer Volunteer Opportunities for Youth (Ages 16 and up), 16-20 hours/week
Are you interested in gaining hands-on experience into how a nonprofit, a summer camp, or an organic farm works?

Hidden Villa offers a volunteer summer internship program open to high school (ages 16 and up) and college students. Month-long volunteer positions are available in Hidden Villa’s organic farm, horticulture landscapes, community programs office, summer camp office, and development office, and require a 16-20 hour weekly commitment.  The volunteer position may be used as credit towards required high school or college level community service hours.  People of color are encouraged to apply.

NEW Summer Agricultural Academy for High School Students, 16-20 hours/week
Are you a high school student interested in getting your hands in the dirt and learning about organic agriculture?

Twice a week for three months during the summer, participants will work with the Organic Agriculture team at Hidden Villa planting, weeding, harvesting, learning about irrigation and appropriate water use, and participating in seasonal, farm related activities. In addition to this hands-on work, educational enrichment opportunities will be provided to truly deepen the experience making this a thorough introduction to small-scale, organic farming and to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. This volunteer position may be used as credit towards required high school community service hours.  People of color are encouraged to apply.

Our Environmental Education Programs
Hidden Villa Environmental Education Program (HVEEP) guides School-year Program - Tuesday-Friday mornings. Volunteer Environmental Guides are needed to help children explore the vegetable garden, visit the farm animals, and hike in the wilderness area.

Each year 20,000 students and their teachers participate in one of our two environmental education programs. Farm Tour (preschool - 2nd grade) participants "meet" the living things that provide their food and clothing during a sensory introduction to a working farm. Farm & Wilderness Exploration (2nd - 6th grade) is an all-day experience that focuses on the importance of the farm and wilderness to our urban environment by introducing ecological concepts such as habitats, adaptation and cycles.

Other Opportunities

Weekend Farm Tour guides
Year-round - Saturday and Sunday mornings and early afternoons lead 90-minute farm tours for groups of all ages. Help teach visitors to become more environmentally aware by exploring our farm and educational garden. Training is provided. No science or teaching background is required.

Organic Vegetable Gardening
Wednesday mornings from May to November
You can help the Hidden Villa Community Support Agriculture (CSA) with planting, transplanting, cultivating, and weeding. Volunteers should call before they come to confirm the schedule and meeting place.

Horticulture Worker
Thursday & Friday mornings; 2nd & 4th Saturdays/month
Work with the Horticulture Manager in maintaining Hidden Villa as an enjoyable place for garden strolls as well as a safe refuge for wildlife. Learn about plant propagation, identification and care of native plants, and garden design. Hands-on work includes planting, weeding, irrigating, fertilizing, composting, and mulching. .

Trail Maintenance
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
Bring a strong back, sturdy hiking boots, your toughest jeans, work gloves, hat, and water bottle with you when you volunteer with our trail maintenance staff. Call the volunteer coordinator to confirm work dates and place. Not for the faint of heart.

Administrative Assistants
Variety of shifts
We have opportunities to volunteer in our offices and help with many different projects including data entry, filing, collating mailing pieces.

Hostel Receptionist
Weekday evening and Saturday shifts available September - May. Hidden Villa Hostel needs friendly folks to check in guests, make reservations, act as hosts to greet and welcome guests from all over the world.

Sustainable Building Tour Guide
Weekdays and Weekends
We offer tours of our buildings showcasing various sustainable building practices. Guides will lead 1-2 tours per month on Saturdays or on-call. Training will be provided. Minimum age is 18.

 

For more information about volunteer opportunities, please submit this form: