VOLUNTEER

Volunteering at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill helps to support our mission of creating experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world. From greeting guests and caring for the gardens, to assisting with special events and youth education programs, New England Botanic Garden volunteers support the Garden in countless ways.

Whether you are new to New England Botanic Garden or are a long-time member you can become a volunteer – no experience necessary. As a volunteer you can expect to meet new friends who share your interests, help connect people with plants and learn new skills. All volunteers enjoy free Garden admission on the day they volunteer. Volunteers that provide at least 5 hours of service throughout the year are also eligible for our volunteer rewards and recognition program. Please note volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, or 16 years of age with consent from a legal guardian.

Volunteer sessions take place both indoors and outdoors. Assignments vary seasonally with regular opportunities to volunteer on weekdays and weekends. Learn more about our different volunteer opportunities below.

Get started by filling out the volunteer information form.

CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER

Garden Volunteers support our Horticulture staff by assisting with weeding, mulching, dead heading, pruning, planting, sweeping, and other garden maintenance. Volunteer sessions take place outdoors in the formal gardens and naturalistic areas on weekday mornings April through October, and indoors in our Conservatories November through March. No horticultural experience required. Garden Volunteers should have a passion for plants and gardening and enjoy working outdoors. An annual training is required in March.  

Garden Guides and Garden Explainers help interpret the Garden for small groups of up to 10 visitors. Garden Guides lead guided group garden tours on an as needed basis with opportunities that vary during regular business hours (Monday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm), and occasionally during evening hours.

Garden Explainers walk the gardens while answering visitor questions about plants in our collections, educational programs, seasonal art exhibits, garden spaces, and more. Garden Explainers are scheduled outdoors on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons April through October and indoors daily during our annual Orchid Exhibition throughout February and March.

Garden Guides and Garden Explainers must be knowledgeable about the Garden, be welcoming and outgoing, enjoy talking with visitors, and be comfortable speaking in front of groups. Guides and Explainers must participate in a four-part training session to begin and attend other training courses throughout the year. A time commitment of one guided tour or one explainer shift per month is required.

Garden Greeters welcome Garden visitors during evening and weekend events. Garden Greeters assist our Public Events and Visitor Services teams by answering questions, assisting with wayfinding, and directing visitors to ongoing activities during public events including Night Lights. Garden Greeters must be welcoming and outgoing, enjoy talking with visitors, and have a general knowledge of the Gardens. Occasional trainings are required for certain events.  

Youth Education Volunteers share their passion and excitement for the Garden with our youngest visitors. These volunteers assist our Youth Education team with the delivery of free drop-in programming for kids and families. Opportunities are available year-round during the week and on occasional weekends. Volunteers may assist with Nature Play Days in the Ramble, Monday through Friday, help at craft or scavenger hunt stations during events, or help run drop-in activities during school vacation week. Youth Education Volunteers must be welcoming and outgoing, enjoy working with children, and be comfortable facilitating play, crafts, and nature exploration.

Group volunteer sessions are available for businesses, organizations, teams, or clubs. Volunteers will spend time stewarding the environment and team building while learning new skills from our Horticulture Team and working together to impact the beauty of the gardens. Volunteer groups will assist with outdoor garden projects such as planting, weeding, sweeping, raking, deadheading, mulching, and pruning. Group volunteer sessions can be scheduled April through October on Wednesday mornings for 10-30 individuals. Larger groups can be accommodated over multiple sessions.

To schedule a group volunteer outing contact Marissa Gallant at mgallant@nebg.org or 508.869.6111 x137.

In addition to volunteering, the Garden also offers several other engagement opportunities for your organization. To learn more, contact Becca Darrouzet, Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations at bdarrouzet@nebg.org or 508-869-6111 x177.

For more information contact us at volunteer@nebg.org or 508.869.6111 x175.