Volunteer

Volunteers working in the tulip gardens
Volunteers working on the tulip gardens in the spring. Photo by Christopher Hall.

Help make a difference!

Volunteering at the Arboretum offers the opportunity for you to learn, engage and make a difference. Our 1,200+ acres are lovingly maintained by outdoor enthusiasts, expert societies, and those eager to put their passions to play. 

We offer many volunteer opportunities throughout the year, not just gardening! Whatever your interests, we have something for you and can't wait to meet you.

Individual Opportunities

Perfect for individuals looking to make a difference and get connected with visitors or on the grounds. 

Working with visitors

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Education

 This is the area in which we need the most dedicated, excited, and passionate volunteers! Our youth education programs serve over 40,000 children from the Metro area each year. Former teachers are encouraged to apply and additional training will be offered for each program. On-site adult education engages artists and experts on many different plant-related topics and volunteers often play a role. Classes and programs are offered throughout the Arboretum campus at the Learning Center, Red Barn Farm, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Center, and the Horticultural Research Center.

Learn more about our education programs!

Event Helpers

Our two largest summer events are the annual Gala in the Gardens and Taste and Toast. The rest of the year, we host 5K walks, holiday markets, art fairs, and more. For every event, we ask for help with registration, greeters, and behind the scenes preparation.

Membership

Customer service skills are an essential component to helping out at the Membership desk. You'll help guide interested people through the process of becoming a member and explaining all the benefits of membership, like our Reciprocal Gardens Program.

Art Department Helpers

 Wendy DePaolis, our Art Curator, does an excellent job of preparing her volunteers to hang art shows, clean sculptures, act as docents for incoming exhibits, and to assist with Adult Art Education. Often, volunteers on Wendy's team get an opportunity to meet the artists that show their work at the Arboretum.

Clerical

 As with most non-profits, we sell memberships and host events that help with our fundraising. Each year, several times a year, we send out large quantities of mail. This is perfect for anyone who prefers the indoors.

Development

Do you love numbers and spreadsheets? Or maybe you have beautiful penmanship and like to write thank-you notices. Whatever you enjoy, our Development team would like to get to know you.

Working on the grounds

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Conservation Research Assistants

Are you passionate about wild, native plants? Volunteer with the Plant Conservation Program where we maintain a long-term seed bank for imperiled plants of the upper Midwest, study the biology of Minnesota's terrestrial orchids, and conduct field studies in many amazing places throughout the region, including right here at the Arboretum. We need help cleaning seed collections, conducting germination and propagation research, potting up seedlings, and collecting data in the field.

Gardens and Grounds

Our horticulturists and grounds crew work with hundreds of volunteers each year to plant and maintain many types of gardens. Each of our gardens serves a purpose. Some are for ornamental display, others are for growing crops and education, and others have culturally relevant plants for particular types of gardening. Come find your passion!

Horticulture Research Assistants

We're the home of the Honeycrisp, Sweet Tango, and First Kiss. In addition to our apple breeding programs, we have a robust trial garden of cold-hardy grapes and grow nearly 300 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash annually. We need help maintaining these fields and sometimes collecting data.

Native Plant Restoration

The Lake Tamarack property is multi-purpose with an emphasis on sustainability. We are also home to the Bennett-Johnson Prairie, Grace B. Dayton Woodland Wildflower Garden, and the Spring Peeper Meadow Wetlands.

Group Opportunities

Perfect for corporate, school, or church groups. Do some team building, get to know each other better, or celebrate a milestone. Opportunities are limited, so planning ahead is a good idea.

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Gardens and Grounds

We don't look this fabulous without some help! For the last few years, we've been the premier northern garden in the U.S. Our horticulturists and grounds crew work with hundreds of volunteers each year to plant beautiful displays for all to enjoy.

Event Helpers

Our two largest summer events are the annual Gala in the Gardens and Taste and Toast. The rest of the year, we host 5K walks, holiday markets, art fairs, and more. For every event, we ask for help with registration, greeters, and behind the scenes preparation.

Group of people volunteering to plant tulip bulbs
Volunteer holding glass pumpkin in orange apron with volunteer text.
Man showing a book to a visitor