Do you love connecting with the natural world?
Share your knowledge. Support your community.
Make a difference as an UNH Extension Education Center volunteer!
The UNH Extension Education Center Volunteer Program (ECVP) offers a unique opportunity to share your time, knowledge, and enthusiasm while supporting New Hampshire home gardeners and communities. Education Center Volunteers (ECVs) are an important part of the UNH Extension Yard & Garden Infoline, helping provide research-based information to home gardeners on questions ranging from plant identification and gardening practices to insects, diseases, soils, wildlife, and more.
A new pathway to become an Education Center Volunteer
For more than two decades, the Education Center Volunteer Program has welcomed volunteers from across UNH Extension volunteer programs. Historically, ECVs primarily joined the program after completing the UNH Extension Master Gardener Volunteer or Natural Resources Stewards Volunteer training.
We are excited to expand access to this unique volunteer opportunity through our new online, asynchronous ECV training pathway. This dedicated 12-week training course prepares volunteers with the horticulture knowledge, research skills, and customer service skills needed to confidently support Yard & Garden Infoline clients and represent UNH Extension in their communities.
This new pathway allows us to welcome volunteers with a broader range of interests and experiences while continuing to welcome UNH Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and Natural Resources Steward Volunteers to the Education Center Volunteers team.
Supporting New Hampshire gardeners
Established in 2001, the UNH Extension Yard & Garden Infoline provides free, research-based information and support to residential home gardeners in New Hampshire and beyond. Each year, Education Center volunteers and staff help resolve more than 3,000 unique Infoline questions on a wide range of gardening and horticulture topics.
Volunteers can support Infoline from the Education Center in Goffstown or remotely from home, providing flexibility for volunteers while helping us reach more gardeners throughout the state and beyond.
Take Infoline on the road
ECVs also have opportunities to connect directly with their communities through local events and tabling opportunities. We like to think of these events as "UNH Extension Yard & Garden Infoline on the road!"
As UNH Extension Volunteer Ambassadors, ECVs help introduce community members to Extension resources, answer gardening questions, share information about the Infoline, and build connections with the communities we serve.
Opportunities to grow
As the Education Center Volunteer Program continues to grow, so will opportunities for volunteers to expand their involvement with UNH Extension. Future opportunities may include leadership and mentorship roles, special projects, educational outreach, and additional community engagement opportunities.
We encourage volunteers to explore opportunities that align with their interests, strengths, and goals as they continue their volunteer journey.
Hear from our volunteers
We welcome volunteers with a variety of interests, experiences, and backgrounds. Our online, asynchronous training pathway provides a flexible way to learn, build your skills, and prepare to make a meaningful contribution to the Education Center and the communities we serve.
Take a few minutes to hear directly from some of our current Education Center Volunteers about their experiences and why they choose to volunteer with UNH Extension.
Ready to become an Education Center Volunteer?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis as we prepare for our next ECV training cohort, with the first online, 12-week asynchronous course planned to launch in January 2027.
The ECV training course is $350 which includes the online, asynchronous curriculum designed to prepare volunteers to support the UNH Extension Yard & Garden Infoline and participate in Education Center outreach opportunities. Throughout the course, trainees will receive personalized feedback, guidance, and ongoing support from the Education Center Volunteer Program Manager as they work through weekly learning activities.
You don't need to be an expert gardener to get started! If you enjoy learning about yard and garden topics and helping others, this program offers an opportunity to build your knowledge, develop new skills, and make a difference in your community.
Interested in joining us? Submit an application to be considered for our upcoming training cohort. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants will be contacted with additional information about the application and interview process.
Apply to become an Education Center Volunteer
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants will be contacted with additional information about the application and interview process.
