Volunteer
Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary welcomes volunteers to help care for our animals and their home.
Animal Care Volunteers
Volunteer at the Sanctuary on a regular basis and get to know our animal residents while assisting staff with cleaning, feeding, socializing, and enrichment. Animal Care Volunteers are expected to commit to 2 hours a week most weeks for at least three months.
To participate, you must complete an application, sign a liability waiver, attend an orientation session, and agree to our volunteer guidelines.
Garden Volunteers
Assist with planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting our vegetable garden. Garden Volunteers are needed April to September.
To participate, you must complete an application, sign a liability waiver, attend an orientation session, and agree to our volunteer guidelines.
Volunteer Days
If your availability to volunteer is more limited, please come to the Sanctuary for scheduled Volunteer Days. To participate, watch our events schedule and register for these periodic weekend events. You will get to meet our animal residents while assisting staff with cleaning, feeding, socializing, and enrichment.
To participate, you must register for the volunteer event and sign a liability waiver.
Corporate Volunteer Day
We are delighted to welcome your team for a volunteer team-building event. Please contact us to discuss your needs.
More About Volunteering
Volunteer Orientation
Volunteer orientations are generally offered three times a month on the second and fourth Saturdays from 10 - 11:30 am and the first Monday, from 5 - 6:30 pm. Please complete your volunteer application, check the event schedule for upcoming sessions, and register in advance. Orientations are also offered at other times, as needed.
During the orientation session, you will tour the farm, meet the animals, and learn about the tasks that must be completed and the safety rules to follow.
Animal Care and Garden Volunteer Schedule
Rosie’s welcomes volunteers for two-hour shifts, and you will be able to pick shifts each week that fit your schedule.
Shifts are offered Thursday – Tuesday from 10 am – 12 noon and 4 – 6 pm. The hours change seasonally with daylight hours.
We request that volunteers work a minimum of 6 hours each month and make a commitment of at least three months.
Volunteers are not present on Wednesdays to allow the staff to meet other responsibilities.
Youth Volunteers
The minimum age for all volunteer positions is 12 with a parent present and 15 for children on their own unless arrangements are made with a staff member in advance.
Montgomery County SSL Hours
Rosie’s is an approved Montgomery County School Student Service Learning (SSL) provider.
Working Conditions
Volunteers should be aware that, as a working farm animal sanctuary, you will walk on rough surfaces, get dirty, and be exposed to the natural weather (rain, heat, wind) elements. You will also get to know the animals more intimately than you would on a tour and develop relationships with them.
What to Bring
We encourage you to bring a filled water bottle during the summer months as it gets hot! We have limited shade and coverings. We sometimes have gnats in the summer months, so a brimmed hat, sunglasses, or umbrella may be helpful. Sunscreen is also suggested.
We encourage you to bring your camera or mobile device to take pictures. Please tag us!
Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Twitter.
Please do not bring any food or yummy-smelling items on your body or in your bag as our animals love to eat and are on special diets.
What to Wear
We will be walking in animal pastures, so wear closed-toe shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Boots are preferable, but any closed-toe shoe will do. As we will be will interacting with the animals, washable materials and no dangling (scarves) items are best. If you have them, please bring work gloves.
Only Vegan Food Onsite
Out of respect for our animals, we do not allow any food with animal products to be consumed at Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary. Please ensure that all edible items are plant-based (no dairy, no cheese, no cow’s milk ice cream, no meat, no fish, no eggs). If you want any assistance on selecting plant-based choices, please feel free to contact us. We thank you for your cooperation and respect for this. It is very important to us.