WE Badger Volunteers

WE Badger Volunteers Links

A WE Badger Volunteers team transplanting seedlings for a community garden.

What is the WE Badger Volunteer Program?

WE Badger Volunteers is a semester-long program focused upon sustainability and environmental stewardship that offers students (both undergraduate & graduate) training and logistical support associated with their contributions of meaningful and consistent service to the Madison community. Teams of UW-Madison students representing myriad majors, interests and stages in their academic careers, organized by a student leader, serve on a weekly basis for an entire semester and contribute to the work of community partner organizations engaged in a variety of sustainability initiatives. Topical areas include: urban gardening and food, materials consumption and waste, transportation, water, stewardship of our natural resources, activism and advocacy, community building.

WE Badger Volunteers is an extension of the highly successful Badger Volunteers™ Program offered by UW-Madison’s Morgridge Center for Public Service. It grows Badger Volunteers™, in concert with the WE CONSERVE WE-Volunteer program and UW's Office of Sustainability, in a topical area triggered by strong interest among students, the larger UW-Madison campus community, and broader Madison-area community. WE Badger Volunteers is focused upon UW-Madison’s bold vision related to sustainability (defined broadly as how we meet needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs). Specific program emphasis targets environmental stewardship, helping students and other members of the UW-Madison community become better informed and more involved in key issues associated with sustainability through community engagement, literate activism and hands-on experience. WE Badger Volunteers is offered by UW-Madison’s Morgridge Center for Public Service in partnership with WE CONSERVE and UW-Madison’s Office of Sustainability.

Do unto others downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you. Wendell Berry

For Students

Be the WE! Gain skills and experience in an area that sparks your passion. Take action and initiative. Learn more about sustainability and environmental stewardship. Engage with fellow students at a local community organization. Expand your horizons beyond the boundaries of campus. Grow compassion and understanding. Have fun. Make a difference! All UW-Madison students (undergraduate & graduate) are eligible and invited to participate and serve as WE Badger Volunteers.

For Community Partners

Harness the creativity, talents and energy of UW-Madison students who are committed to sustainability and making a difference. Seek the help of student-led teams to solve problems, support your programs and tackle special projects. Increase your organization's capacity to fulfill your mission. Consider entering into a mutually beneficial partnership by deploying one or more WE Badger Volunteers teams.