Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Brooklyn Botanic Garden! We are currently recruiting Discovery Docents. Other volunteer positions open periodically as needs arise.

Corporate Volunteers

Corporate Groups

Corporate groups have the opportunity to volunteer at the Garden through our Corporate Membership Program. Volunteering at BBG is a great team-building exercise for your employees and helps us keep the Garden beautiful. For inquiries related to corporate volunteer groups, email [email protected]. Not a Corporate Member? Visit Corporate Partnership.

Now Recruiting

Discovery Garden Docents

Discovery Docents lead activities for visitors in our Discovery Garden, a one-acre space for children to explore plants and ecosystems through hands-on play and scientific investigations. Commit to one three-hour shift each week for the duration of a season. This position requires a one-day training session.
(Tuesday–Sunday mornings, spring–fall)

Learn more about becoming a Discovery Docent ›

Typical Opportunities—No Current Openings

Children’s Garden Horticulture & Composting

Assist Education staff with garden tasks in the Children’s Garden once per week during the growing season. Volunteers can choose either horticulture or composting. Horticulture volunteers assist with weeding, pruning, watering, bed preparation, and other tasks. Compost volunteers assist with processing food scraps and other plant debris, sifting, and making compost for the Children’s Garden.
(Tuesday mornings, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m., March–November)

Garden Guides

Lead free public tours and registered adult tour groups Tuesdays–Sundays. This position requires extensive training and monthly continuing education sessions.

Horticulture

Assist the gardeners by pruning, planting, raking, mulching, watering, and weeding. Work with the gardeners to help maintain and further the Garden’s beauty.
(Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays only when openings available; 9 a.m.–12 p.m.)

Tour Support

Assist the Garden Guides who lead public and private tours of the Garden by preparing and distributing listening devices to tour participants. Accompany the tour to monitor the devices while learning about the Garden in all seasons from our knowledgeable guides; collect and sanitize the listening devices so they’re ready for use on the next tour. If you’re interested in becoming a Garden Guide when the next training is offered, tour support experience is a prerequisite.
(Tuesday–Sunday; shifts vary seasonally, late morning to early afternoon)

Visitor Center

Welcome our visitors to the Visitor Center and help by giving directions, answering questions about the Garden, selling Memberships, and stocking brochures and maps. This position requires one day of training.
(Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.)

Weekend Greeters & Special Event Support

Welcome visitors, answer questions, and staff information tables. During special events, assist in crowd movement, hand out programs and support materials, work behind the scenes with the performers, and fill in wherever needed.
(Saturdays or Sundays; 9 a.m.–6 p.m.)