Every year on the television, we see those elaborate floats of the Rose Bowl Parade in downtown Pasadena, California come across the screen on January 1. These floats don't actually decorate themselves. In fact thousands of volunteers donate time to put together each little piece to make a spectacular piece of flower art.

If you want to participate and it isn't too close to the actual day of the parade, go to the Tournament of Roses website and click on the Parade information. Here you will find a list of volunteer positions that are available for 4 to 6 hour slots to work on the floats.

Additionally, you will find help is needed on individual floats. For example the Rotary Float has a schedule that has volunteers working on the float starting several weeks prior to the parade. These are found by googling the organization and the words 'float+volunteer.'

If you are in town the week before and just want to help, there are still opportunities for you. The Tournament of Roses has a hot line to call and point you in the direction of the warehouses hold the floats to decorate.

Once you find a volunteer position, expect to work a little and appreciate the experience! Last year I placed thousands of pumpkin seeds on a float only hours before it was placed on the parade route. The folks I volunteered with are people I am meeting up with this year to help again.