Big Sunday happily welcomes you to Our Really Big Community Calendar

We try to include all kinds of volunteering and helping opportunities for all kinds of interests, talents, passions, and ages! As you’ll see, these include volunteering opportunities (one-time and long-term) as well as the chance to support a nonprofit by attending fundraising events. Plus, of course, we include all of Big Sunday’s homegrown events, too! Whoever you are, and whatever you do, there is someone out there who could use your help.

If you have questions about our calendar, or would like to add a listing, please contact calendar@bigsunday.org or submit your event/opportunity via the button below.

Big Sunday Event Giving Opportunity! One-time Volunteer Opportunity Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity
Oct
10
Sat
Garden Night Photography @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Oct 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

GARDEN NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP SESSION – 2015

Don’t miss the Arboretum’s on-going series “Garden Night Photography Group Session”! Night offers unique photographic opportunities in the garden so come and discover your own creative images!  Share your night photography techniques with other photographers. Specific emphasis will be placed on the ‘Painting with Light’ technique, so bring your ‘big gun’ flashlights.

Saturdays: 

August 15th          from 7:30pm-10:00pm (Introduction to Night Photography)*

September 5th     from 7:00pm-9:30pm

October 10th         from 7:00pm-9:30pm  

*PLEASE NOTE: It is highly recommended that you attend the August 8th “Introduction to Night Photography” class if you have never photographed at night before, AND be sure you have a DSLR or camera that has manual control capabilities, AND please bring camera’s paper manual or pdf on your phone.

WhereMeet outside the Main Entrance – then visit the Arboretum gardens near the Entrance/Rotunda, Peacock Cafe, Bauer Lawn & Fountain areas, Cactus and Succulent Garden and Madagascar Exhibit area.

WhoFrank McDonough, session leader, botanist and photographer

Fee: Per Class – $30 Arboretum members/$35 Non-members (includes Arboretum admission)

LIMIT 12 Photographers – Pre-registration required; Please call the Class Registration line at LA County Arboretum logo626-821-4623; classes are non-refundable.*

*In case of rain, class will be rescheduled in the near future; you may attend the class or obtain a refund. 

EQUIPMENT INFORMATION:

You will need:

HEADLAMPS: You need to bring your own headlamp.  For safety reasons, if you do not have a headlamp, you will not be permitted to attend. You may purchase inexpensive headlamps at Harbor Freight and Home Depot.  

TRIPOD

DSLR CAMERA capable of long exposure time.

LIGHTS: Battery powered high illumination lights/flashlights, laser pointers.

COMFORTABLE SHOES: you will walk and maybe get dirty! 

About the Session LeaderBesides doling out plant advice here, Arboretum Botanical Information Consultant Frank McDonough photographs the Arboretum on a regular basis. His work can be seen on the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens Facebook pagethe Arboretum tumblr site, and throughout the Arboretum’s web site  (www.arboretum.org).

Apr
30
Sat
YALLWEST @ Santa Monica High School
Apr 30 – May 2 all-day

YALLWEST is a local literary festival focused on Young Adult novels. This year they're bringing in over 125 authors for a weekend of discussions, books, and fun! In addition to bringing in authors, YALLWEST busses in over 800 students from Title 1 schools who get to attend the festival and get a book for free!

They're looking for volunteers to help with:

  • staffing panel rooms
  • helping to set up/tear down
  • be guides for incoming school groups
  • helping with author signings

Time Commitment: each shift is 4 hours.

Perks: free parking, a t-shirt, and a ticket to one paid event.

To sign up visit: http://www.yallwest.com/volunteers or email our Volunteer Coordinator Gretchen Schreiber at gretchen@yallwest.com.

Jun
3
Fri
“Sun Sand Sea” Fundraising Event @ Santa Monica Place
Jun 3 – Jul 4 all-day

Sun, Sand, SeaThe Sun Sand Sea event is an intriguing blend of vintage and modern art joining two art mediums: photography and painting. It’s a truly unique experience. 

At its core, it is an exclusive photographic collection featuring the beaches, events and people of Santa Monica and Venice, circa 1920-1950. Curator, Branded Arts, has brought the event to a new level by commissioning cutting-edge artist, Hueman, to not only exhibit new paintings, but paint an onsite interpretive mural. 

Look for Sun Sand Sea at Santa Monica Place from June 3-July 3.

Event proceeds benefit P.S. ARTS, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing high-quality arts education to California's underserved public schools and communities.

Mar
18
Sat
Garden Night Photography @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Mar 18 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Join the Los Angeles Arboretum’s on-going series “Garden Night Photography Group Session”!  Night offers unique photographic opportunities in the garden so come and discover your own creative images!  Share your night photography techniques with other photographers. Specific emphasis will be placed on the ‘Painting with Light’ technique, so bring your ‘big gun’ flashlights.
                             
*PLEASE NOTE: Be sure you have a DSLR or camera that has manual control capabilities.  AND, please bring camera’s paper manual or pdf on your phone.
 
Where:     
Meet outside the Main Entrance – then visit the Arboretum gardens near the Entrance/Rotunda, Peacock Cafe, Bauer Lawn & Fountain areas, Cactus and Succulent Garden and Madagascar Exhibit area.

Who:          
Frank McDonough, session leader, botanist and photographer

Fee:              
Per Class – $30 Arboretum members/$40 non-members
 
LIMIT 12 Photographers – Please call the Class Registration line at 626-821-4623
 
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION:

HEADLAMPS: You need to bring your own headlamp.  For safety reasons, if you do not have a flashlight, you will not be permitted to attend. You may purchase inexpensive headlamps at Harbor Freight and Home Depot.  
TRIPOD
DSLR CAMERA capable of long exposure time.
LIGHTS: Battery powered high illumination lights/flashlights, laser pointers.
COMFORTABLE SHOES: you will walk and maybe get dirty!
 
About the Session Leader: Besides doling out plant advice here, Arboretum Botanical Information Consultant Frank McDonough photographs the Arboretum on a regular basis. His work can be seen on the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens Facebook pagethe Arboretum tumblr site, and throughout the Arboretum’s web site  (www.arboretum.org).

Apr
22
Sat
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC
Apr 22 @ 10:00 am – Apr 22 @ 6:00 pm

15_FOB_stk_taglineThe Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

Apr
23
Sun
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC
Apr 23 @ 10:00 am – Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm

15_FOB_stk_taglineThe Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

Apr
29
Sat
YALLWEST
Apr 29 – Apr 30 all-day

YALLWEST is a Young Adult Literary Festival held in Santa Monica. This year they are bringing in over 125 authors for a weekend of panels, signings, and fun. They also bring in over 800 students from Title 1 schools with their program Books, Buses, and Burgers. This allows students free transportation to the festival, lunch, and a free book of their choosing.

Volunteer hours are between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm and they run in 4-hour blocks.

Tasks:

  • Panel Monitoring
  • Ticket taking
  • Author Signings
  • School Escorts

Time Requirement: shifts are 4 hours long, there is a 1-hr training session held the week before the festival

Perks: free parking, a t-shirt, a free ticket to a Festival Ticketed event of your choosing

Sign up: https://www.yallwest.com/get-involved/#volunteers

Questions: email Volunteer Coordinator, Gretchen Schreiber, at gretchen@yallwest.com

May
27
Sat
Garden Night Photography @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
May 27 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Don’t miss the Arboretum’s on-going series “Garden Night Photography Group Session”!  Night offers unique photographic opportunities in the garden so come and discover your own creative images!  Share your night photography techniques with other photographers. Specific emphasis will be placed on the ‘Painting with Light’ technique, so bring your ‘big gun’ flashlights.
                             
*PLEASE NOTE: Be sure you have a DSLR or camera that has manual control capabilities.  AND, please bring camera’s paper manual or pdf on your phone.
 
Where:     
Meet outside the Main Entrance – then visit the Arboretum gardens near the Entrance/Rotunda, Peacock Cafe, Bauer Lawn & Fountain areas, Cactus and Succulent Garden and Madagascar Exhibit area.

Who:          
Frank McDonough, session leader, botanist and photographer

Fee:              
Per Class – $30 Arboretum members/$40 non-members
 
LIMIT 12 Photographers – Please call the Class Registration line at 626-821-4623
 
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION:
HEADLAMPS: You need to bring your own headlamp.  For safety reasons, if you do not have a flashlight, you will not be permitted to attend. You may purchase inexpensive headlamps at Harbor Freight and Home Depot.  
TRIPOD
DSLR CAMERA capable of long exposure time.
LIGHTS: Battery powered high illumination lights/flashlights, laser pointers.
COMFORTABLE SHOES: you will walk and maybe get dirty!
 
About the Session Leader: Besides doling out plant advice at the Arboretum, Arboretum Botanical Information Consultant Frank McDonough photographs the Arboretum on a regular basis. His work can be seen on the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens Facebook pagethe Arboretum tumblr site, and throughout the Arboretum’s web site  (www.arboretum.org).

How it Works

You can SEARCH by scrolling through the Months or by selecting different Categories or Tag functions. For a totally different view, try the Posterboard or Stream options! Feel free to submit an item for the calendar by clicking the “Submit Your Event / Opportunity” button above at the right-hand side of the page. Questions? Email calendar@bigsunday.org.