Help Us Plant the Future!

Our active volunteers play a large role in the ongoing success at South Coast Botanic Garden. As a volunteer, you represent our institution and forward our mission by connecting all to the wonders of nature. Through outreach and horticulture, you help create wonderful experiences for our visitors that inspire stewardship and sustainability. Per Los Angeles County guidelines, all volunteers must be at least 15 years old to participate. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please follow the steps below:

  • STEP 1: Create a VolunteerHub account HERE:

    1. You will use VolunteerHub to sign up for volunteer training, volunteer shifts and special events. Using your VolunteerHub account, you will find all of our current opportunities listed in one place, you will be able to sign up for and cancel your own shifts, and you will be able to keep track of your volunteer hours. Please click HERE if you would like to watch a video tutorial on how to create your own VolunteerHub account.

  • STEP 2: Complete Basic Training:

    1. Basic Training is required of all new volunteers to get acquainted with the history of the Garden, our policies, volunteer program and our informal education techniques. You can use your VolunteerHub account to sign up for upcoming Basic Training sessions.
    2. Click HERE to find available training sessions.

  • STEP 3: Sign up for volunteer shifts!

    1. Once you complete Basic Training, you are eligible to sign up for volunteer opportunities such as our Hort Support, Green Team, Discovery Station or Dog Walking Hours. 

  • STEP 4: Take more training!

    1. Other volunteer opportunities, such as SOAR Guide in our butterfly pavilion, require additional training that you can sign up for through VolunteerHub HERE.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

  • Hort Support: Looking for some hands-on gardening experience? Volunteer for our Hort Support team and assist the Garden’s Horticulture Specialists with planting and maintaining special sections of the Garden curated especially for exhibits and programming.

  • Green Team: Want to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty? Volunteer with the Green Team and assist our gardening staff with watering, weeding, pruning and planting in various locations throughout the Garden. Great for new and experienced gardeners alike!

  • Discovery Station Volunteer: Our Discovery Stations are volunteer-run mobile carts used to help engage Garden guests and provide meaningful information about the Garden and various educational topics. Volunteers will greet incoming guests, provide information on must-see plants that are currently in bloom, assist with wayfinding and answer general guest questions.

  • Dog Walking Hours Volunteer: Join our Pup Patrol on the last Sunday of each month and assist the Garden in running our monthly dog walking hours. Help guests through wayfinding, answering questions and making sure dogs stay out of our “Dog-Free Zones.”

  • Special Event Volunteer Opportunities: The Garden occasionally hosts special events where event volunteers are needed to help with guest relations and event operations. We do not require volunteers to have completed Basic Training before signing up for special event volunteer shifts.

    1. You can click HERE to see if there are currently any special event volunteer opportunities available.

Questions? Contact us at volunteer@southcoastbotanicgarden.org.