Below, learn about the two different types of USBG volunteer opportunities. To learn about the USBG Volunteer Program, see frequently asked questions, and apply, click here.

 

Public Engagement Volunteers

Purpose: Connect visitors to plants through wayfinding, education, activities, and more!

Primary Site: USBG Conservatory

Buscamos voluntarios bilingües! We welcome English-Spanish bilingual public engagement volunteers! We have many Spanish-speaking visitors, and are excited to offer more Spanish-language engagement to our visitors. 

Example Activities

Greeters 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.

Garden Guides 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: hands-on gardening activities are available only on weekdays. We do not have any weekend or evening hands-on gardening opportunities.

 

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.)
  • Record-keeping (Excel & other database systems)
  • Assembling and placing plant labels

 

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

 

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