Get Involved and Have Fun! Join Us! (All formal group meetings or activities are on hold until May 2021 under all Dane County Parks guidelines.)

Volunteering is a great way to get some "outdoor" exercise, develop new friendships, learn new skills, ensure students are connected to "the land," preserve our agricultural heritage, and help the community develop a new unique park.

Community Garden Project (2021)
Anderson Park Friends, Inc. (APF) is partnering with Dane County Parks (DCP) and Rooted to create a “large-size” garden opportunity for interested individuals, churches, nonprofits, and/or businesses. Interested organizations can apply now to be considered for one of the plots. Certain limitations will apply during this 2020 pilot project. Click here for more information!. Act before April 27, 2020.

Oregon Area Food Pantry Garden (2021)
Most of us have a dose of “cabin fever”. Too much snow and indoor activities. Paging through seed catalogues can help alleviate this “closed-in” feeling. What do APF volunteers do? We read those same catalogues.

Our APF garden leadership team has been doing just that-reading seed catalogues. We are organizing our strategies for the 2021 Food Pantry Garden. This includes ordering and purchasing seeds as well as starting seedlings at the Oregon High School greenhouse.

Goals for this year include increasing the pounds of fresh produce and increasing the variety of produce for local pantries. Last year APF volunteers raised 1,200 pounds. The goal this year is over 2,000 pounds. In 2020 we raised 9 types of vegetables. This year will grow over 14 varieties with a 2-growing season strategy. Beets to Zucchini are on our mind.

Click here for the Food Pantry Garden fact sheet.

The garden will support the pantries in Oregon, Belleville, and Verona.

Donations are needed to meet our goal of $2,000. Go to the APF Member & Donation page. Select the other category and indicate a donation with your credit card.

We want to recognize Jung’s Garden Center for their donation to the pantry garden. It is appreciated and very timely. Other donations are still needed.

Join us by going to https://www.andersonparkfriends.org/volunteer.

Board Meetings
All Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Town of Oregon Hall, 1138 Union Road, Oregon, WI. They start at 7:00 p.m. and are always done by 9:00 p.m. (No long meetings for this group!) All planning is conducted at the meetings in conjunction with the Dane County Parks Division. The annual 2020 membership meeting is September 16, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. (Zoom format).

Work Events
The regular workday is the second Saturday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (or later if you wish to stay).

Custom or special work events are organized on an ad hoc basis and meet the special needs of groups interested in volunteering. Businesses, school groups, 4-H, and churches are just some of the many groups who volunteer at the park.

Volunteer experiences are between 2 to 2.5 hours in length.  Leadership is provided by APF members.  Work and safety equipment is provided. Safety glasses, hats, full-length pants, and leather shoes are common clothing for work projects. Tool orientations also provided. Dress for the weather. Workdays always include fellowship time and snacks-a time to meet your neighbors.

Access to work projects is through the parking lot at 914 Union Road, Oregon, WI.

Volunteer opportunities within projects include:

• Planning and restoring the Arthur Sholts Memorial Woods
• Creating and maintaining a 5-acre prairie: planting native plants and harvesting prairie seeds
• Creating and maintaining a 40-acre dog park and prairie. (Opening in late summer 2021). Dog Park Map for more information.
• Creating and maintaining a food pantry garden
• Creating and maintaining trails-hiking, equestrian riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
• Planning and developing market garden farm plots (organic and sustainable) and an agricultural center (2020)
• Planning and coordinating education programs for K-12, community college, and university students
• Building signs, kiosks, and a park shelter
• Creating bird habitat and a bluebird trail

Volunteers are covered by insurance after registering via a "signed" volunteer waiver form.  People under the age of 18 need the consent of a parent.  Please print and fill out either the individual waiver form or the group waiver form and bring it to our next event.  Also, please review a summary of the waiver guidelines.

Other activities include quarterly newsletter, web site maintenance, fundraising, community outreach, event planning (i.e. Global Youth Service Day, Arbor Day, Earth Day, etc.) and more! All event held in accordance with Dane County Parks guidelines.

Check out our calendar for a listing of events.

To volunteer, complete the form below.  Your information is private and will only be used to coordinate volunteer projects.