Becoming a Botanical Center Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center!
Here, I will walk you through the steps of filling out an application and what you can expect about getting started.
If you have already created an account and are ready to schedule an orientation and trainings, click here for Step 2: Onboarding
1. Volunteer Application
About GetConnected
GetConnected is our new volunteer management platform and landing page for all things volunteering.
Here, you will be able to sign up for trainings and volunteer opportunities, view your schedule, track your hours and progress, and access any relevant resources to your volunteer task.
Creating a GetConnected account
First, create an account by clicking on the "Sign-Up" button in the top right corner.
If you have an existing GetConnected account, such as with URI, click Login instead to add the Botanical Center to your volunteer sites. The first time you do this, you may be asked to verify your email or reset your password.
After clicking "sign up", you will be prompted to create your GetConnected account. Use a secure password that is easy to remember. Most phones, such as Apple, have built-in password managers that can help you keep track of your password for easy reference, but there are also many free alternatives such as Bitwarden.
Verify your email
Check your spam folder if you have trouble finding the code.
Create your Botanical Center Volunteer Account
This account is specific to volunteering here, so please put all the relevant information to share with us. This includes your volunteer availability and emergency contact.
Step 2: Volunteer Interests
Please check all the volunteer areas that you are interested in at the Botanical Center. This is not a commitment, it simply allows us to share relevant opportunities with you when they become available!
There is also room for you to describe any of your relevant experience or interest in volunteering in the other tab.
Step 3: Skills
Please fill out with any relevant skills you have or are interested in learning. You can always add more or delete what you selected.
Completing a Background Check
BCI's are required for any employee or volunteer with the City of Providence, which the Botanical Center is part of through the parks department. Any volunteer with the Botanical Center, including Master Gardeners completing their hours here, is a volunteer with the City and must have a BCI on record per the City's requirement. This can be done online and gets completed on your behalf, for free, by the city. We do not accept BCI's from elsewhere unfortunately.
As representatives of a city entity that engages the public and children through programming and education, all Botanical Center volunteers must be approved prior to becoming a volunteer.
If you are a New Volunteer, click the first option and follow the link to fill out the form. (Also linked here)
Under position, type "Botanical Center Volunteer" and Department as "Parks".
Next Steps
When you are ready to schedule an orientation and trainings, click here for Step 2: Onboarding
