The Heart of Our Community
Service at Giac Tam is an extension of our meditation practice. By offering your time to tend our practice center and gardens, organize events, or support visitors, you cultivate mindfulness in action and sustain a peaceful refuge for all seekers.
Teen Volunteer Opportunities
Teens have a wide range of volunteer opportunities at Giac Tam Zen Monastery, designed to foster community involvement, personal growth, and meaningful connections. Volunteers can participate in activities such as assisting with charity events, helping organize educational workshops, supporting fundraising initiatives for local and international causes, working in the Zen garden, and directly engaging with children through mentorship and recreational programs. These opportunities not only allow teens to make a positive difference in the lives of others but also help develop valuable skills in teamwork, leadership, and mindfulness.
Volunteer Benefits
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Earn community service hours (certificate provided!)
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Boost your resume for college and job applications
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Gain hands-on gardening experience
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Enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature
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Develop new friendships and meaningful connections
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Practice mindfulness and enrich your life skills
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Volunteer Expectations
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Be responsible, respectful, and supportive
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Work as a team and follow directions
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Show kindness and patience with children
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Embrace mindfulness and a positive attitude
*We welcome all local teens—no experience needed! Join us for a rewarding journey in community service, friendship, and personal growth.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up at the Center or email us at:
giactamcommunity@gmail.com
Upcoming Teen Volunteering Opportunities:
Join the Children's Zen Garden Workshop!
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Date: Saturday, 05/23/2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Giac Tam Meditation Center (3729 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122)
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Teens will be paired with children for fun mindfulness and gardening activities in the Children's Zen Garden Workshop. Help kids discover nature, practice mindfulness, and create beautiful garden spaces together!
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How to Apply
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Ready to make a difference?
Fill out the Volunteer Registration Form to apply!
      https://forms.gle/szYnxKgKWCAr5aue9
Deadline is Friday, May 22nd.
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Garden Volunteering
We invite individuals (including teens) who appreciate working outdoors to volunteer in our gardens and yard. During warm weather, volunteers are welcome to join weekly sessions focused on light yard maintenance, including watering, weeding, and trimming. Prior experience is not required. Participation does not require registration or a regular commitment, and there are no minimum time requirements. All necessary tools will be provided.
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If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up at the Center or email us at:
giactamcommunity@gmail.com
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Thank you for helping us keep GTMC vibrant and inviting for our entire community!
We have regular brief work practice period after each meditation session or a specific volunteering organized work practice event posted on the Calendar. The Work Leader assigns tasks, so little planning is needed—just join in, help out, and everyone is welcome, including children.
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For more information or to get involved, contact:
giactamcommunity@gmail.com
​Thank you!Â
Cultivating Collective Presence Through Work Practice
We envision a community where every breath and every action is an act of mindfulness. At Giac Tam, we foster a shared sanctuary dedicated to the practice of stillness and the journey toward deep, collective awakening.
In Zen, work practice is central to spiritual life, encouraging mindfulness and awareness of our connection with all things. Everyday activities like mopping or returning a chair become meditative when approached with attention, softening our rough edges and enhancing our sense of aliveness. It is also a chance to support our community by caring for our shared space. Balancing meditative work and sitting practices helps integrate Zen into daily living and embodies the unity of giver, receiver, and gift.
Work practice Gatha:
May this work be done in a spirit of generosity,
Not driven by ego, greed, or delusion.
May kindness sustains us and prevail in conflict.
And compassion guide us and lead us to understanding.
May we rejoice in the successes of others.
And remain unmoved by praise or blame.
Sanctuary Service
Serving the practice center or serving others is a form of "Work Practice", or Samu, which is the Zen Buddhist tradition of bringing complete presence to physical activities. At Giac Tam, we invite you to help nurture our community in the rhythmic care of our space, finding meditation in the movement of a broom or the touch of the garden soil. Your presence in these roles creates a welcoming home for all who seek inner peace.
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Welcome Greeter
Welcome visitors with kindness and guide them as they enter our practice center. Assist with orientations, handouts, and logistical support during our larger community retreats, workshops, or events.
Meditation Hall Steward
Support the quiet beauty of our center by preparing the cushions, cleaning the space, and ensuring a serene environment for daily meditation sits.
Tea Ceremony Steward
Help facilitate our weekly Sunday tea time or when we have tea ceremony. This roles involves mindful preparation of the ritual space and welcoming guests into the circle.
Nature Tender
Cultivate stillness while tending to our outdoor sanctuary. Help sweep the grounds, prune the shrubs and trees, care for the vegetable garden, and maintain the natural harmony of our gardens.
*If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like to know more information, please contact us at: giactamcommunity@gmail.com