Volunteer
Volunteer with Seattle Botanic Gardens
There are many ways to get involved at Seattle Botanic Gardens! Whether you’re interested in caring for gardens and green spaces, connecting with visitors, supporting educational programs, or sharing your time with a group, there’s a place for you here.
Explore Opportunities by Location
Start by choosing one of our three locations below: Washington Park Arboretum, Center for Urban Horticulture, or Seattle Japanese Garden. Each location offers a unique setting and a variety of ways to contribute. Select a location to explore its volunteer opportunities and find the application that’s right for you.
Center for Urban Horticulture
The Center for Urban Horticulture brings together gardens, natural areas, conservation science, and spaces for learning. Volunteers can explore opportunities in horticulture, ecological restoration, education, and community engagement while contributing to this unique urban landscape.
Seattle Japanese Garden
Nestled within the Washington Park Arboretum, the Seattle Japanese Garden offers a setting shaped by Japanese garden traditions and seasonal beauty. Volunteers support garden care, cultural programs, and visitor experiences, helping connect people with the garden’s history, artistry, and natural surroundings.
Washington Park Arboretum
Spanning 230 acres along the shores of Lake Washington, the Arboretum is a place where plants, people, and place come together. Volunteers contribute through garden stewardship, horticulture, visitor experiences, and community events, helping care for and share this remarkable public landscape.
Looking for a Group or Youth & Family Experience?
Corporate & Community Groups: Bring your team together for a hands-on experience that makes a meaningful contribution to our gardens and green spaces. Explore group volunteering.
Youth and Family Programs: Seattle Botanic Gardens’ Youth and Family programs foster connections with nature through hands-on, place-based activities for youth and their families. Volunteers can support Fiddleheads Forest School, a year-round outdoor preschool in the Washington Park Arboretum, and elementary age students at our summer camps across multiple sites. Explore youth and family opportunities.
Volunteers working on plant propagations at the Pat Calvert Greenhouse in the Arboretum.
Why Volunteer With Us?
- Community and social benefits: meeting new people, sense of belonging, contributing to conservation and community heritage.
- Gain experience and learn new skills, such as plant propagation, plant ID, office/organizational work, customer service.
- 10% discount in the Arboretum Gift Shop.
- Free hot beverage during your shift.
- Opportunity to earn a First Aid/CPR certification.
- A membership to Outdoor Prolink.
- If needed, a letter of reference or documented professional volunteer experience—especially valuable for people building resumes (e.g. students, people changing careers).
Volunteer helping Seattle Botanic Gardens Youth and Family Education staff lead a hike in the Arboretum. (Photo by Holly Cuaresma)
Volunteers helping out at our annual Holiday Sale.