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Volunteers
The Kitchen Garden Program in schools relies on many people to work to its full potential, and the volunteer body is one of the most important facets of the project. Participating schools welcome your time, passion and enthusiasm in kitchen classes, garden classes, or both. If you are considering volunteering within a school please read the guidelines below to learn more about what is involved.
We also need volunteers in the Foundation office in Abbotsford who have office skills or who are keen to help support the Program in schools in other ways such as assistance at fund-raising events. Please email us to register your interest and skills you can offer at info@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au
Every school will have its own guidelines but we recommend reading the following information before contacting individual schools.
To facilitate hands-on learning for every child through supervising small groups of students (4-5) to undertake garden activities in weekly garden classes or supervising small groups (4-5) as they prepare a range of dishes as part of a planned menu in weekly kitchen classes. The volunteers then join the children to eat the meal.
The aim of the Kitchen Garden Program is to introduce young children to the wonderful world of good food through developing a productive food garden and an exciting kitchen that includes a nurturing place to share food, as an integral part of the school curriculum. We hope to engage the curiosity of the young students and to help them learn how to grow the very best food in the very best way, how to care for it in the garden, how to recognise when it is ripe and at its best, how to prepare it easily and enjoyably and how to develop an expanding culinary palate and be excited by all of these experiences. We want to convince children to modify their eating habits because the food they are experiencing tastes so good rather than because they are being told to eat some foods and not to eat others.
Firm and kind instruction. Your role is one of facilitator, rather than a leader who imposes direction. Be a good model. Everyone is there to learn and have fun. Volunteers are not expected to be the disciplinarians, so seek teacher intervention if the firm and kind approach does not seem to be working!
Encourage everyone in the group to participate and share the load. It is important that you don't do the work, but instead demonstrate and work with the children. Show them rather than tell them.
Encourage students to use their senses to touch, taste, smell, hear and see things around them.
Safety. Practice safe bending and equipment use and encourage the children to do the same.
Cleanliness. Making a mess and getting dirty does not really matter, however cleaning up at the end of the class does - which often involves being firm with the students to ensure this is done properly.
Confidentiality. Volunteers have a trusted relationship with the students, please respect this.
Accepting direction from the supervisors. The kitchen and garden teachers run the lessons, your role is to assist them in this
Philosophy & values. Volunteers should act according to the philosophy and the values of the Kitchen Garden Program. To read more see About the Program
In order to achieve the vision the schools need people who are not only enthusiastic about making a difference but are also able to make a genuine commitment. It is highly desirable that volunteers commit to the same class each week, and consider volunteering with for at least six months. It allows your relationship with the children to develop and is also easier for you to be familiar with your environment. It also helps with planning! Volunteers are welcome to stay for the whole day, or just for one class. It is universal practice for schools to require all volunteers to have a current Working with Children check.
Support from the Kitchen and Garden Specialists. At the beginning of every session an outline of the lesson is given to the volunteers and then again to the class when it begins. The Kitchen or Garden Specialists and the classroom teacher are present for each lesson, as well as other fabulous volunteers.
A thoroughly rewarding experience, in a healthy, safe and friendly working environment, full of people wanting to participate in the joy of growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing food.
Adequate insurance coverage for the usual activities in the Kitchen Garden Program.
Above all we want every volunteer to enjoy their time with the Kitchen Garden Program. Find a school near you
We also need volunteers in the Foundation office in Abbotsford who have office skills or who are keen to help support the Program in schools in other ways such as assistance at fund-raising events. Please email us to register your interest and skills you can offer at info@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au
Guidelines for Kitchen and Garden volunteers in schools
Every school will have its own guidelines but we recommend reading the following information before contacting individual schools.
Role of the volunteer in the Kitchen Garden Program
To facilitate hands-on learning for every child through supervising small groups of students (4-5) to undertake garden activities in weekly garden classes or supervising small groups (4-5) as they prepare a range of dishes as part of a planned menu in weekly kitchen classes. The volunteers then join the children to eat the meal.
Aim of the Kitchen Garden Program
The aim of the Kitchen Garden Program is to introduce young children to the wonderful world of good food through developing a productive food garden and an exciting kitchen that includes a nurturing place to share food, as an integral part of the school curriculum. We hope to engage the curiosity of the young students and to help them learn how to grow the very best food in the very best way, how to care for it in the garden, how to recognise when it is ripe and at its best, how to prepare it easily and enjoyably and how to develop an expanding culinary palate and be excited by all of these experiences. We want to convince children to modify their eating habits because the food they are experiencing tastes so good rather than because they are being told to eat some foods and not to eat others.
Important things to remember
- Reliability and continuity. It is highly desirable that volunteers commit to the same class each week for at least six months. It allows your relationship with the children to develop and is also easier for you to be familiar with your environment.
Your commitment
In order to achieve the vision the schools need people who are not only enthusiastic about making a difference but are also able to make a genuine commitment. It is highly desirable that volunteers commit to the same class each week, and consider volunteering with for at least six months. It allows your relationship with the children to develop and is also easier for you to be familiar with your environment. It also helps with planning! Volunteers are welcome to stay for the whole day, or just for one class. It is universal practice for schools to require all volunteers to have a current Working with Children check.
What you can expect from your involvement
- Recognition - we know that the success of the program lies in the continual support from our volunteers, as much as the work of everyone else in the team.
Above all we want every volunteer to enjoy their time with the Kitchen Garden Program. Find a school near you
