Green Aide Volunteer Program
Help Finding Volunteer Opportunities
Green Aide is a campus-wide volunteer program at the University of Illinois that invites the campus community to take meaningful, hands-on action for the environment, perhaps just once a month or even just once a semester. By signing up for a single “shift,” students donate their time to support sustainability projects across campus, making it easy to contribute without a long-term time commitment.
Volunteers may find themselves supporting activities led by Registered Student Organizations, assisting with initiatives from the Institute for Sustainability, Energy & Environment (iSEE), or contributing to efforts coordinated by Facilities & Services (F&S). Volunteers will often work alongside or under the direction of student EcoReps, gaining exposure to campus sustainability efforts while building community with peers who share an interest in environmental action.
Students who complete three Green Shift volunteer sessions will receive special recognition for their commitment. Details on awards and incentives are forthcoming (probably just in time for the Green Globes awards ceremony), but at this time only one Illini Lights Out shift will count.
Whether you’re looking to get involved, meet new people, or make a tangible impact, Green Aide offers a simple way to show up—for your campus and the planet—one shift at a time.
Work a "Green Shift" and Help Out as a Volunteer
How it works: Right now, primarily by email.
Just sign up to be notified of volunteer opportunities. When the call for aide goes out, decide if it fits your schedule and answer the email. We’ll put you in touch with the organizer and then thank you for your help!
Announcements will also probably go out in the Student Affairs Sustainability group in OneIllinois, the iSEE newsletter, social media, and other places too... but this is meant to be the one dedicated group of emails we know we can call on when help is needed!
Sign up for the listserve: https://lists.illinois.edu/lists/subscribe/sustainabilityvolunteers
Time Commitment: Low, because this is a challenge-by-choice opportunity.
You decide if you'd like to volunteer for just one event or do more. We're encouraging you to donate one "shift" of work and schedule yourself as a volunteer, just like you might at another job.
We'd also like to keep track of how many hours are donated. At the end of each semester, we'll check in to ask how many shifts you volunteered. We want to recognize you for your help - so prizes will be included!
Submit a volunteer opportunity: Please let us know if you have a need for volunteers!
If you are organizing or know of an event that could use volunteers, feel free to send a note to Dr. Katy Mike Smaistrla in Student Sustainability Programming. Or, submit the form in Illinois app, which will let the iSEE team know too.
On campus activities and projects led by campus departments or organizations will be prioritized, but off-campus opportunities are welcome too.
Questions: Contact Katy Mike.