Volunteer

Volunteer at San Francisco Botanical Garden! Contribute your time, skills, and enthusiasm to the Garden and help foster connections between people and plants. Volunteers support the Garden in countless ways- check out the following opportunities and sign up today!

Public Engagement

Docents

Docents engage with visitors during daily tours and weekend interpretation stations, offering interesting and inspiring information about the Garden and its history. Requirements: A desire to learn more about plants, the drive to share that knowledge with the public, and successful completion of training course. Next training starts September 8, 2018.

Click here for more information.

Children's Walk Guides

Connect children with nature by taking them on interactive walks exploring the Garden and helping them learn more about the wonders of the natural world. You must like children and complete one semester of 12-week walk training on consecutive Tuesdays. Next training starts February 2019.

Click here for more information.

Bookstore, Library, Plant Arbor

Help provide a friendly welcome to visitors by volunteering at the library, bookstore, or plant arbor. Volunteers in these locations greet visitors and provide general information about the Garden. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the location.

To volunteer at one of these locations, complete a volunteer application and indicate your preference. You'll receive notification when an opening is available.

Special Events

Volunteers provide essential support for Garden events, large and small. Roles include (but are not limited to) check-in, greeters, set-up and breakdown, and hospitality (food & beverage service). Major Garden events include the Annual Plant Sale and Flower Piano; other events and programs can be viewed on the Calendar of Events.

Team Leaders wanted! Email cwieland@sfbg.org to volunteer. For monthly updates about Garden events, subscribe to the e-newsletter, At the Garden.

Horticulture & Plant Collections

Green Team

The Green Team is a drop-in gardening group that supports maintenance of San Francisco Botanical Garden. Volunteers work with horticulturists to weed, mulch, plant, and otherwise maintain the Garden's collections. No experience required. Minimum age is 16. Volunteer sessions are 10am–1pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 9am–12pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Click here to sign up and receive information about upcoming orientations.

Children's Garden Green Team

Volunteers help care for the Children's Garden, a special area of the Garden designed for hands-on exploration of nature. Bring your enthusiasm, energy, and old blue jeans to the Children's Garden on Saturdays, 10am–1pm. Minimum age is 14. High school students welcome!

Click here to sign up!

Nursery Volunteer

Nursery volunteers raise plants for sale in the plant arbor and at plant sales. Tasks may include propagating, transplanting, and grooming. Volunteers are also asked to help at Monthly Plant Sales, and the Annual Plant Sale. Propagation experience and long term commitment preferred. Volunteer workdays are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 10am–2pm.

Apply here. Volunteers will be notified about openings by email.

Plant Arbor

Plants propagated by volunteers and staff in the Garden's nursery are available for sale in the Plant Arbor, located next to the Bookstore at the Main Gate. Plant Arbor volunteers care for both plants and people, helping visitors find the perfect souvenir to bring home from the Garden. We are seeking volunteers who enjoy talking to visitors about plants!

Sign up Here!

Plant Detective

Plant Detectives assist with documentation of the Garden's plant collections. Comfort with technology (tablets & smartphones provided) essential; plant identification skills helpful but not required. Should be comfortable with kneeling and maneuvering in small beds. Volunteers commit to 1 day/week, 10am–2pm.

Apply here. Volunteers will be notified about openings by email.

Gardener's Assistant

Gardener's Assistants work with professional horticulturists, assisting with maintenance of a specific collection. Volunteers must have horticulture experience or have participated with the Green Team at least 4 times. Gardener's Assistants should commit to volunteering at least 3 hours per week (weekdays preferred) for 3-4 months.

Apply here. Volunteers will be notified about openings by email.

Groups

We love having volunteer groups at the Garden! Most group projects involve working with horticulturalists to maintain the collections- be prepared to get your hands in the dirt! Bring your colleagues, classmates, family and friends and get to know the Garden in a whole new way.

Click here to learn more and request a date for your group.

Interns

The Garden offers paid internships students of horticulture throughout the year. Applicants must be currently enrolled as a student, with some gardening experience. Positions include year-round positions (1 day per week) and seasonal intensives (2-4 days per week).

Click here to see current openings.

Teens & Families

The minimum age for most volunteer roles is 16. Teens aged 14-18 are invited to participate with the Childrens Garden Green Team, Saturday mornings from 10am-1pm. Complete the volunteer application, bring a signed minor consent form, and join us on Saturday mornings!
We invite families to get involved with us through our Bean Sprouts Family Days program, Saturdays from 1-4pm, April through October. Opportunities for hands-on activities include maintaining parts of the garden and nature based crafts. No preregistration required.

Click here to learn about Bean Sprouts and other family programs!

About Volunteering

A majority of volunteer positions require no gardening experience or special knowledge. Through volunteering at the Garden, you will learn from working with professionals in horticulture and education, plus gain hands-on experience.

Whether you are a master gardener, a professional or a homemaker, retired or work full-time, a teacher or a student, the Botanical Garden needs your time, skills and talents. Through volunteering, you will meet others with similar interests and hobbies and experience the satisfaction of sharing in significant accomplishments.

Please come and volunteer, enjoy the beauty of the Garden and the rewards and camaraderie of being a part of our team of dedicated volunteers. We look forward to welcoming you!

Questions? Visit the Volunteer FAQ page, or contact the Volunteer Services Manager for more information: volunteer@sfbg.org or 415-661-1316 x 400.