Volunteer at San Diego Botanic Garden

Applications for Spring 2026 Volunteer Orientation are now open! Please see below for open positions and details on how to apply.

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Volunteer Program

Volunteering at SDBG is a great way to learn about plants and culture, meet people with similar interests, hone your horticultural skills, contribute to our mission, and share your knowledge with visitors. We have an enthusiastic and hard-working group of 250+ active volunteers who participate in a variety of assignments and events. We are looking for volunteers who are interested in making a positive impact at the Garden and in their own personal growth. Opportunities are available year-round, weekday mornings and weekends, in various areas throughout the Garden.

Requirements

All volunteers must successfully pass a background check. All volunteers are required to be Garden members and work at least 60 hours annually.  New volunteers are required to work at least 15 hours (5 shifts) and become a Garden member within the first three months. 

 

After completing initial requirements, interested volunteers may apply for Docent Training, a series of classes focusing on SDBG plant collections.

What to Expect After You Apply

You will receive an email within 3 weeks of submitting your application and background check authorization. If your interests align with current needs, we will invite you to attend our next New Volunteer Orientation to learn more about available assignments and Garden policies. We accept volunteers based on current Garden priorities and the information you provide in your Volunteer Application, including your areas of interest and skill set. We receive a high volume of applications and are not always able to place every applicant.

How to Apply

STEP ONE – Download and complete the Background Authorization form for background check.

STEP TWO – Save completed Background Authorization form to your computer desktop for easy access to submit digitally. Please save the file with your full name or initials. You will need to submit page 1 & 2 into the Volunteer Application. 

STEP THREE – Complete the Volunteer Application online

Please note: Background Authorization form will be required to submit your application.

Volunteer Positions

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