BY ALICIA HAMILTON
In late July, 40 volunteers from the Washington Park Arboretum, Center for Urban Horticulture, and the Seattle Japanese Garden enjoyed a special free outing to the Seattle Aquarium. For some, it was their first visit to the Aquarium in decades, and the enthusiasm carried well beyond the outing itself. It was especially nice to hear from several volunteers afterward, through emails and even a delightful voicemail, about how much they appreciated the experience.
Several staff also attended the event, and for those of us who work closely with volunteers, it was especially meaningful to see everyone gathered together in a completely different setting—one that has its own strong culture of volunteerism—and simply enjoying the community they help create at Seattle Botanic Gardens.
The outing was made possible through our new partnership with the Seattle Aquarium’s Connections program. Connections partners with local community organizations to expand access to the Aquarium through complimentary admission, group visits, educational opportunities, and other resources. The program is designed to build meaningful relationships between the Aquarium and its partner communities while creating opportunities for marine conservation education. This was our first opportunity through the partnership, and we’re particularly fortunate to be part of it as the Connections program is currently at capacity and not accepting new partner applications.
This outing was not just about enjoying a nice trip to the Aquarium; it was also an opportunity for volunteers from across our programs and gardens to connect with one another, learn together, and enjoy being part of the larger Seattle Botanic Gardens community. It also marks the beginning of more volunteer outings to come, with a focus on building community and offering educational enrichment beyond our gardens.
Alicia Hamilton is the Volunteer Programs Manager at Seattle Botanic Gardens (formerly the Arboretum Foundation).
