Adopt a Youth Membership Program

The AOS needs more youth within our orchid family.  They are energetic, passionate about conservation and will carry the torch long after we have all faded away.  We need to invest in our youth and the future existence of the AOS by supporting youth programs, nurturing their eagerness to learn about orchids and ensuring the survival of the natural world of orchids.  We can accomplish this by Adopt a Youth, a new program designed to involve deserving youth.

AOS members or an Affiliated Society will have the opportunity to sponsor, mentor and nurture a young person (15-25 years old) by purchasing a membership of any type for your adoptee.  I am sure that most of you know someone that has a keen interest in orchids and is deserving of a membership in the AOS.  It can be a friend, relative, a student in a botanical or horticultural program, maybe someone in your local orchid society that is of high school to university age range.

As the Sponsor you will have the opportunity to mentor your Adoptee and have the gratification of witnessing their eagerness to learn and envision their potential in future AOS endeavors.  The goal is to introduce these young people to our orchid community and the three pillars of the AOS, Education, Conservation and Research, with the anticipation that they will contribute to the AOS at some point in their future.

The image to the left is Michael, our first adoptee.

Ready to Adopt?

• If your adoptee is a minor, you must complete the Consent Form, and email to TheAOS@aos.org prior to adoption. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CONSENT FORM.
• Permission must be obtained from parent/guardian to use youth name and information for membership registration or alternately use parent/guardian information. Permission is also being requested to use photographs or video of the minor in promoting the AOS and this program, in AOS publications and social media, including online. This use is only granted if you initial where indicated.
• Proceed to Gift A Membership https://secure.aos.org/store/register-renew?isgift=1 and fill in the information required.
• Please indicate in the ‘Sentiment for card’ box that this is an Adopt a Youth membership.
• Once Address and Payment process is completed you will receive an email indicating that you have gifted a membership. Please forward this to the office TheAOS@aos.org indicating that you have adopted a youth so that we can track our new youth members.