Volunteering at the Garden

Volunteers are a valued and important part of our organization. Santa Fe Botanical Garden volunteers are dedicated to sharing and celebrating this beautiful place we call home with our friends, neighbors, and visitors.

Join more than 150 SFBG volunteers to share your time and talents to serve the community, have some fun, and find new friends with common goals and interests – all while gaining valuable knowledge and experience.

Orientations are offered monthly for new volunteers. The first step is filling out this application! More information about current opportunities below.

Current Volunteers

You can find a link to Volgistics here.

SFBG Volunteer Qualifications

  • Must submit to and cover the cost of a background check at $21
  • Professional, kind, and polite
  • Flexible, patient, and understanding
  • Computer and email literate
  • Some opportunities may require:
    • Ability to withstand outdoor hot/cold temperatures
    • Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time
    • Bending and kneeling

Volunteer Opportunities (ages 18+)

  • Public & School Programming Volunteers help with the myriad of student field trips and educational programming we conduct with both the youth and general public in our community.
  • Garden Greeters & Docents help staff the Garden entrance kiosk, educate the public outside in the Garden, and are trained to meet and greet visitors, orient them to the site, offer tours, and more.
  • Volunteer Gardeners are the primary caretakers of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, working under the direction of our horticultural staff on Wednesday mornings, getting their hands dirty, planting, weeding, and maintaining the garden beds. Orientations for Volunteer Gardening are generally held on the first Wednesday of the month, March through September.
  • Grounds & Site Maintenance & Snow Team work directly with horticultural staff to help maintain and improve infrastructure at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, and clear our paths when snowy weather hits.
  • Special Event Volunteers help with major events such as our annual events, weddings, and other bigger events. Volunteers help with check-in, greeting, parking, and generally help in ensuring our events run smoothly.
  • Bird Duty Volunteers help maintain our bird feeders and bird baths at the Garden.
  • Membership Volunteers work with our Membership Department to solicit visitors and non-members to become members of the Garden. There are monthly incentives (with prizes!) for selling memberships!

Youth Volunteer Opportunities (ages 16+)

Youth Garden Host

  • Welcome visitors and be an outdoor ambassador for the Garden
  • Represent, embody, and communicate the mission of the Botanical Garden
  • Answer questions as they arise and provide information and general orientation

Youth Public & School Programs Helper

  • Help set-up and clean-up after classes/programs
  • Help check-in registered guests and facilitate groups of 5-20 general public or school children in an outdoor classroom environment

Youth Special Events Helper

  • Provide support in a variety of ways for special events, including but not limited to: check-in, parking lot attendants, decorating, setup and cleanup, food & drink, and other tasks as needed

Bird Duty

  • Winter: Fill bird seed feeders and clean and fill bird baths
  • Summer: Clean and fill hummingbird feeders and clean and fill bird baths

Snow Team

  • Help shovel and clear the Garden paths during big snow events

SFBG Volunteer Benefits

  • Community involvement
  • Meet people and make new friends who share your interests
  • Annual volunteer recognition event
  • Annual volunteer potluck
  • Specialized garden training in your area of interest
  • Continuing education program for active volunteers
  • Library borrowing privileges

Ready to Start?

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, the first step is to complete this application! You will then be contacted to schedule a phone interview.

Have More Questions?

Current Volunteers

You can find a link to Volgistics here.

SFBG Volunteer Qualifications

  • Must submit to and cover the cost of a background check at $21
  • Professional, kind, and polite
  • Flexible, patient, and understanding
  • Computer and email literate
  • Some opportunities may require:
    • Ability to withstand outdoor hot/cold temperatures
    • Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time
    • Bending and kneeling

Volunteer Opportunities (18+) – fill out this application to get started!

  • Public & School Programming Volunteers help with the myriad of student field trips and educational programming we conduct with both the youth and general public in our community.
  • Garden Greeters & Docents help staff the Garden entrance kiosk, educate the public outside in the Garden, and are trained to meet and greet visitors, orient them to the site, offer tours, and more.
  • Volunteer Gardeners are the primary caretakers of The Botanical Garden at Museum Hill, working under the direction of our horticultural staff on Wednesday mornings, getting their hands dirty, planting, weeding, and maintaining the garden beds. PLEASE NOTE: no Gardening volunteer opportunities available until Spring 2024.
  • Grounds & Site Maintenance & Snow Team work directly with horticultural staff to help maintain and improve infrastructure at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, and clear our paths when snowy weather hits.
  • Special Event Volunteers help with major events such as our annual events, weddings, and other bigger events. Volunteers help with check-in, greeting, parking, and generally help in ensuring our events run smoothly.
  • Bird Duty Volunteers help maintain our bird feeders and bird baths at the Garden.
  • Membership Volunteers work with our Membership Department to solicit visitors and non-members to become members of the Garden. There are monthly incentives (with prizes!) for selling memberships!

Youth Volunteer Opportunities (16+) – fill out this application to get started!

Youth Garden Host

  • Welcome visitors and be an outdoor ambassador for the Garden
  • Represent, embody, and communicate the mission of the Botanical Garden
  • Answer questions as they arise and provide information and general orientation

Youth Public & School Programs Helper

  • Help set-up and clean-up after classes/programs
  • Help check-in registered guests and facilitate groups of 5-20 general public or school children in an outdoor classroom environment

Youth Special Events Helper

  • Provide support in a variety of ways for special events, including but not limited to: check-in, parking lot attendants, decorating, setup and cleanup, food & drink, and other tasks as needed

Bird Duty

  • Winter: Fill bird seed feeders and clean and fill bird baths
  • Summer: Clean and fill hummingbird feeders and clean and fill bird baths

Snow Team

  • Help shovel and clear the Garden paths during big snow events

SFBG Volunteer Benefits

  • Community involvement
  • Meet people and make new friends who share your interests
  • Annual volunteer recognition event
  • Annual volunteer potluck
  • Specialized garden training in your area of interest
  • Continuing education program for active volunteers
  • Library borrowing privileges

Ready to Start?

Orientations are offered monthly for new volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, please complete this application! You will then be contacted to schedule a phone interview. Thank you!

Have More Questions?