Want to help in the Gardens? Please fill out a Volunteer Interest Form. We will contact you with the next steps in becoming a volunteer. 

Volunteer

Join Our Volunteers

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Spend more time in the Gardens – become a Descanso Gardens volunteer!

Our dedicated volunteers range in age from 16 to 80-plus. They provide vital support to many areas of operations, including Education, Horticulture, Visitor Services, the Gift Shop and more. Your involvement helps the Gardens grow!

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CURRENT VOLUNTEERS LOG-IN HERE


“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” — Luther Burbank

Volunteer Opportunities

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Education Programs

Education is a key component of the Descanso Gardens mission. Through rich and varied programming – horticulture classes, family-friendly festivals and concerts, and lifestyle and fitness courses – we invite the public to experience nature in its diversity and enjoy wide-ranging learning opportunities. Additionally, Descanso Gardens welcomes 6,000 school-age children annually who participate in docent-led field trips.

MORE ABOUT EDUCATION

Gardening

Whether they are seasoned green thumbs or gardening newbies, the Garden Volunteers share an enthusiasm for keeping Descanso beautiful. They assist Descanso Gardens horticultural staff with a variety of plant maintenance tasks as well as learning new gardening skills. Basic tasks include weeding, watering, deadheading and raking.

MORE ABOUT GARDENING

Visitor Services

Visitor Services Volunteers are often a visitor’s first point of contact and are critical to the guest experience. These volunteers provide friendly, informed service by staffing the Visitor Center, the Boddy House, Sturt Haaga Gallery and the Enchanted Railroad. People with an interest in customer service, horticulture, history or art will be successful in Visitor Services.

MORE ABOUT VISITOR SERVICES

STUDENT Volunteer Opportunities

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Summer Student Volunteer Program 
Students, ages 12+, are invited to join our Summer Student Volunteer Program and help Descanso by acting as Gallery Docents for our upcoming summer exhibitions. This is a great opportunity for students interested in art, science, or history to earn service hours while working in a natural environment and museum setting. Training will be provided. Learn more here. Please note that we are longer accepting applications for summer 2023.
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Student Community Service Days
Help care for Descanso Gardens and earn service hours for school during our Student Community Service Days. For ages 12–15. Please see our calendar for additional details.

GETTING STARTED

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Becoming a Descanso Gardens volunteer is easy!
  1. Complete a Volunteer Interest Form and RSVP for an upcoming Volunteer Information Session.
  2. Attend a Volunteer Information Session to learn about volunteer opportunities and next steps.

Adult volunteers must be members of Descanso Gardens.