Volunteer
Volunteers are vital members of our team who share their time and talents to help us achieve our goals. Get your hands dirty outside with our horticulture team, scan tickets and greet visitors at the gate to help our visitor services staff, or assist with administrative tasks in our office — the possibilities are numerous.
We seek to make the Garden a safe and inviting place for all–guests, staff, and volunteers. With this in mind, individuals seeking to become approved volunteers — those who can sign up for a wide variety of volunteer opportunities on a regular basis, versus only participating in periodic horticulture “all call” days — must undergo a background check.
The Garden does not require volunteers to become members; instead, we ask you to cover the $12 cost of your background check in demonstration of your commitment to our mission.
For questions about volunteering at the Garden, email volunteers@hbg.org
Administrative Work at the Garden’s Office
Provide administrative support, with tasks such as data entry; filing; putting packets together; preparing mailings; proofing; trimming and cutting; stuffing envelopes and name tags; mail-outs; stamping and sealing; counting and taking inventory; maintaining and organizing office space and workroom; and other office duties, as assigned.
Special Skills: Detail-oriented, accurate, organized, able to follow directions/instructions, and experience with Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with mail-merging and InDesign is a plus.
Commitment: Weekly (desired).
Ambassadors & Greeters
Help promote the Garden’s mission – to enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment – through activities including exhibiting at community events, giving presentations to clubs and organizations, and/or by welcoming and assisting visitors at Garden.
Special Skills: Passionate and willing to interact with the public and knowledgeable to some extent about horticulture (preferably). Professional appearance and demeanor. Dependable, resourceful, relational, punctual, and able to carry up to 15 pounds. Being multilingual is a plus.
Ambassadors Special Skills: Able to set up and use a laptop and projector outside of the office. Need to have reliable transportation for getting to/from locations for exhibits and presentations.
Ambassador Commitment: As needed. Assignments may be on nights/weekends.
Greeter Commitment: Daily during operating hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Education Program Support
Facilitate educational connections between plants and people through hands-on assistance with programs. Programs areas include: children’s education and summer camp; adult education; and school programs and field trips. Assistance is needed with program set up and clean up; class management; community outreach; documenting programs through photography, video, and writing; and general office support.
Special Skills: Experience working in an educational setting. Interest and excitement in connecting with diverse people. Ability to follow directions/instructions for program processes. For certain programs, knowledge of gardening and/or arts will be beneficial. Being multilingual is a plus.
Commitment: As needed.
Docents
Share your interest in nature and plants by leading public and private tours of the Garden’s living collections for visitors, school groups, and other organizations. Greet tour groups and conduct walks for diverse audiences.
Special Skills: Passionate about and willing to interact with the public about the Garden and knowledgeable about horticulture. Comfortable speaking to small and large groups of people of all ages. Being multilingual is a plus.
Commitment: Will coincide with the Garden’s tour schedule.
Donor Site Visits and Tours
Help with donor visits, including administrative work and set up in preparation for the visit. Volunteers may also help during visits with greeting, providing comfort materials (i.e.: umbrella, blankets, hand sanitizer, etc.), maintaining crowd flow, and facilitating clean-up/wrap-up tasks.
Special Skills: Organized, able to follow directions/instructions. Experience driving golf carts/club cars a plus. May include lifting or carrying from time-to-time.
Commitment: As needed.
Fundraising Event Support
Assist throughout the year with event tasks and responsibilities, including administrative work and event logistics/coordination, such as mail-merging, proofing, mail-outs, filing, phone calls, creating giveaways, staffing letter-signing events, and name tags. Volunteers may also work the day of events, helping with set up, staffing check-in booth, cleaning up, etc. Willing to help with all general administrative tasks to produce a successful, well-run, well-attended event.
Special Skills: Detail-oriented, accurate, organized, able to follow directions/instructions for event processes. Also, let us know if you are have experience with videography, photography, or all things AV/technology.
Commitment: As needed. Assignments may be on nights/weekends.
Membership
Assist with member relations, with tasks such as general administrative work in the office or on-site, changing out temporary signage/posters/fliers with marketing membership announcements, greeting members on-site, helping hand out giveaways for members at various times, usually at the Welcome Pavilion/Café/Garden Shop, and fielding member issues and/or questions.
Special Skills: Detail-oriented, organized, friendly/personable, good communicator, quick learner.
Commitment: As needed.
Hands-On Work in the Garden
Assist the Garden’s horticulture staff through hands-on gardening and maintenance tasks, such as neighborhood beautification, wildflower seeding, bed maintenance, and plant propagation tasks.
Special Skills: Love of gardening. Enjoy working outside & getting your hands dirty.
Commitment: Preferably a minimum of one (1) shift – weekday or weekend – per month.
Lead Special Garden Projects
Assist the Garden’s horticulture staff by acting as a lead for volunteer projects. Help organize all aspects of projects (planning, gathering equipment, paperwork, picking up supplies, etc.).
Special Skills: Outgoing personality, attention to detail, good organizational skills, able to follow directions/instructions for event processes, and ability to work semi-autonomously. Being multilingual is a plus.
Commitment: Will coincide with volunteer projects calendar.
Community Garden Support
Assist in the development of the community garden through various tasks, such as recruiting and engaging participants; helping develop community garden rules and procedures; participating in garden construction; and, once the garden is established, providing hands-on training opportunities for entry-level gardening skills.
Special Skills: A passion for gardening and helping others.
Commitment: As needed.