Below, learn about the two different types of USBG volunteer opportunities. To learn about the USBG Volunteer Program, see frequently ask questions, and apply, click here.
Public Engagement Volunteers
Purpose: Connect visitors to plants through wayfinding, education, activities, and more!
Primary Site: USBG Conservatory
Example Opportunities
Garden Ambassadors welcome Garden visitors, provide wayfinding assistance, and direct visitors to daily and seasonal happenings.
Discovery Cart Facilitators engage visitors with fun plant science topics in ways that spark curiosity and connect visitors to our collections.
Docents lead tours, answer questions, and provide interpretation for visitors.
Program Support Volunteers help with on-site programs or events with responsibilities such as wayfinding, hands-on activities, set up/tear down, etc. This includes Festival Support, Sensory Friendly Program Support, and other similar activities.
Qualifications
- Interest in visitor engagement and communication
- Ability to be courteous, respectful, and patient with visitors
- Comfort interacting with a variety of audiences
- Interest in developing skills; open to accepting instruction & correction
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
Hands-On Garden Volunteers
Purpose: Support the horticulture team to care for our extensive plant collection.
Sites: USBG Conservatory and USBG Production Facility
Garden volunteers help with a variety of activities at either or both of the sites listed above. Some opportunities are indoors, some outdoors. The application will give you a chance to share your preferences on site, location, and activities. Please note: most hands-on gardening activities are available only on week days.
Example Activities
- Watering
- Weeding
- Mulching
- Planting & pruning
- Repotting & grooming
- Propagating
- General grounds maintenance
- General cleaning & sweeping
- Scouting for pests & infestations
- Distributing & removing beneficial biologicals (insects, mites, etc.)
Qualifications
- Enthusiasm for care and maintenance of living plant collections
- Interest in developing skills; open to accepting instruction and correction
- Attention to detail
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
- For some activities there are additional qualifications such as:
- Comfort working in a humid, greenhouse environment
- Ability to bend and kneel
- Ability to dig and lift bags of mulch or soil