Opportunities From: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

We are seeking two volunteers to come help staff represent the Authority for Diwali, the Festival of Lights, in Morgan Hill . This event will be hosted on November 16, 2-8 p.m. at the Ann Sobrato High School Gymnasium.

Staff will be present at this event and will be bringing materials to and from the event. We are seeking volunteers who can attend and engage the public around Open Space and our mission to connect people to nature. Please wear a clean collared shirt with your name-tag as this is a formal event. 

This will be our first time participating in this event but we are excited to share resources and opportunities for further connection with our neighbors in Morgan Hill! We hope you can join us!

We are seeking two volunteers to come help staff represent the Authority for Diwali, the Festival of Lights, in Campbell in partnership with Campbell Desis. This event will be hosted on October 18, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Westmont High School Cafeteria.

Staff will be present at this event and will be bringing materials to and from the event. We are seeking volunteers who can attend and engage the public around Open Space and our mission to connect people to nature. Please wear a clean collared shirt with a name tag as this is a formal event. 

This will be our first time participating in this event but we are excited to share resources and opportunities for further connection with our neighbors in Campbell! We hope you can join us!

Come represent the Authority at the San Jose Roots  celebration on Nov. 1.  Share your love of open space preserves and your excitement for upcoming educational activities with visitors at the Authority's booth!

Here is the event description from organizers:

History San José is honoring the cultural diversity of the region on November 1st at the San Pedro Square Market. San José Roots celebrates San José's history, starting with its earliest periods to its present innovative spirit. The free program aims to provide a platform for cultural exchange, storytelling, and artistic expression, showcasing the rich historical and contemporary contributions of various communities in San José. Community members will get to enjoy hands-on activities from the Spanish and Mexican eras, community booths from local historical and cultural organizations, tours of Gonzales/Peralta Adobe and Carmela & Thomas Fallon House, along with cultural performances on the San Pedro Square Market Stage and the Fallon House Stage in with collaboration Mosaic America. To accommodate more community partners and cultural organizations, History San José is closing W St. John Street between Almaden Ave/Terraine Street and N. San Pedro Street, providing an open, vibrant, and pedestrian-friendly space for the festivities.

The event itself will be from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and we have set up shifts from 10:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nearby parking may not be free and info can be found at https://parksj.org/. Please save receipts so that you can be reimbursed later. Staff will be present at this event and we would love to have your help to engage the public as well as set-up and take down the booth. 

Come represent the Authority at San Jose Museum of Art's annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration on Nov. 1.  Share your love of open space preserves and your excitement for upcoming educational activities with visitors at the Authority's booth!

This celebration is free and open to the public—everyone is welcome. It's a family-friendly event filled with hands-on activities and special performances, all themed around Dia de Los Muertos. Attendance is typically 1000–1200 with a lot of young families. 

The event is indoors and the museum is providing a table and chairs-- we only need to provide our outreach materials. Nearby parking may not be free and info can be found at https://parksj.org/. Please save receipts so that you can be reimbursed later. 

 We will email sign-ups and update this listing as more details become available. Upon signing up, Kat Hill will be reaching out to see if you are able to take a booth outreach kit and schedule a time for you to pick up materials during the week before the event.

Help us engage our communities at Raptor Fest! We need 3 volunteers to support the information booth and interactive activities during this event.  The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov 15; timing is expanded to account for set-up and take-down times. 

Raptor Fest  is a free -educational event that highlights very important species of raptors who play an integral role in the health of our ecosystems!  The event will be hosted at Rancho San Vicente, a newer addition to Calero County Park that was protected by POST and is rapidly becoming a destination to view a variety of raptors. 

We are excited to have volunteer champions to represent the Authority at this fun event! Details coordinating pick-up and drop-off of materials will be confirmed as we get closer to the event. Please let us know if you are able to transport materials (kit, table, canopy, weights and cart) when you sign up.  We will send out further details to sign-ups as they are confirmed.

Come represent the Authority among our neighbors at Happy Hollow! On Oct. 25, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Happy Hollow is hosting a Green Halloween Fair! They will be providing tables, chairs and we will need to bring our own canopy and kit. Volunteers will bring a small kit with giveaways and collateral and encourage attendees to join us for upcoming events. Kat will coordinate the pick-up and drop-off of a kit with volunteers.

Help us engage our communities at the Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch. We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to staff the information booth and festivities of this autumn tradition.

Our booth will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 10/4 10/5,10/11, 10/12, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26. It will run 1-5 p.m. on 10/12, 10/19 and 10/26 and we have select OSA staff coming out to help at the booth as well. Please note that we have a separate entrance for staff and volunteer use during the busy times of day. The Spina Farms Pumpkin patch is a great place to engage with families about our shared agricultural heritage and care for open space. 

Details regarding set-up, take-down, parking and the transport of materials will be communicated as we get more details about the event and will be updated on this page.

Help us engage our communities at Pumpkins in the Park! We are seeking 2 volunteer who can stay for the duration of the event and engage with the public alongside staff. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pumpkins in the Park brings thousands of visitors to enjoy a fun-filled family celebration and spread awareness to one of our region’s unique natural resources, the Guadalupe River Park. We are excited to have volunteer champions to represent the Authority at this fun event!

Staff will set up and take down materials, volunteers only need to arrive and be the best representatives they can be. 

Help us engage our communities at Picnic by the Lake hosted by the Office of CA Senator Dave Cortese and in partnership with Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation at Hellyer County Park! We are seeking 2 volunteer per shift who can engage with the public alongside staff.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  with set up at 9 a.m. It will include multi-cultural performances along the scenic Cottonwood Lake as well as a resource fair for families. We are excited to have volunteer champions to represent the Authority at this fun event! Staff will set-up and take down materials with the help of volunteers.

We need at least two volunteers to come represent the Open Space Authority at the California Native Plant Society's Annual Plant Sale at Hidden Villa in Los Altos, the event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so please plan to get there by around 9:30 a.m. for set-up. 

CNPS will be providing a table and chairs; OSA volunteers will be provided a kit with information about upcoming events, as well as how interested members of the public can become volunteers! 

Help us engage our communities at the Martial Cottle Harvest Festival! We are seeking 2 volunteers to engage the public alongside staff for the duration of this event! 

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 11; The Fall Festival will celebrate the harvest season, our shared agricultural heritage, and our continued connection to the land and food systems through farm tours, garden workshops, produce, crafts, homemade goods, live music and more. 

Staff will drop off materials the day before the event and will be there towards the latter half of the event to provide coverage for lunch and to take materials back at the end of the day.

If you are looking for the next opportunity to be an Authority ambassador, don't miss your chance and sign up at the link!

Details regarding parking and what to bring will be sent out to volunteers who have signed up.