Volunteer

We invite you to join San Francisco Botanical Garden's Volunteer Team! Give your time, gain new skills, and make new friends. The volunteer team is one of the greatest strengths of our organization, making numerous programs possible. Volunteers work in many areas – they guide visitors and school children through the garden, staff special events, maintain the gardens, work in our Bookstore, Plant Arbor and Library, help with graphic design and assist in our offices.

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 September 26, 2017.
Click here for more information.

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. The next opportunity to participate will be March 2018.
Click here for more information.

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 SF Recreation & Parks gardeners, helping weed, mulch, plant, and otherwise maintain our rare and unique collections. Green Team volunteers meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am–1pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 9am–12pm.

Get started by attending a monthly Orientation and Workday, 8:30am–12pm on 2nd Saturdays.. Email volunteer@sfbg.org to RSVP.

Children's Garden Green Team

Get down in the dirt with the Children's Garden Green Team! Volunteers help care for the Children's Garden, a special section of the Garden where thousands of children and their families enjoy hands on opportunities to learn about nature. Bring your enthusiasm, energy, and old blue jeans to the Children's Garden on Saturdays from 10am–1pm.

High school students welcome! Volunteers 14 and below must be accompanied by an adult.

Gardener's Assistant

Gardener's Assistants have the opportunity to work closely with a specific gardener or in a specific collection. Shifts are scheduled on weekdays between 8am and 2pm; position availability may vary seasonally. Some gardening experience desired but onsite training is provided.
Required: Attend 2 Green Team gardening sessions, and commit to a minimum of 4 months of volunteer service.

Nursery Volunteer

Nursery volunteers propagate plants for the Botanical Garden to sell in our plant arbor, both to raise funds for the Garden and to increase biodiversity. Tasks may include weeding, transplanting, and propagating. Volunteers may also help at the Plant Arbor, Monthly Plant Sales, and the Annual Plant Sale.
Required: Weekly commitment on Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays from 10–2pm.

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!
Required: Weekly or biweekly commitment to a 10am-1pm or 1-3pm shift, for a minimum of 6 months

Plant Detective

Become a Plant Detective and help map and document the Garden's collections using the SFBG Collector App on a Smartphone or tablet (provided). A great opportunity to develop your plant ID skills and work with a fun team of plant lovers!
Required: Commitment to 1 day/week from 10am–2pm; comfort with technology (a must!); ability to kneel, stand, and maneuver in small beds.

Four Easy Steps to Volunteer

Apply online
You will be invited to attend a one-hour tour and orientation
During the orientation you will explore the volunteer opportunities available
Start volunteering in one or more positions

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!


              San Francisco Botanical Garden's beauty and value as a major cultural resource are the result of a successful public/private partnership between San Francisco Botanical Garden Society and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.



            ADMISSION  FREE for Members, SF Residents (with proof of residency) & School Groups | $8 Non-residents | Discounts for Seniors, Families & Children



            LOCATED In Golden Gate Park, with entrances at the corner of Ninth Ave. at Lincoln Way (Main Gate) & at MLK Jr. Drive off the Music Concourse (Friend/North Gate) | Phone: (415) 661-1316   |  Mail: 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122-2370



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