Rutgers Gardens has a vibrant volunteer community. Volunteers are essential to help maintain the grounds, educate the public, interact with visitors, grow plants for sale, and assist with special events. We welcome volunteers in many different aspects of our day-to-day operations and programming. No matter what your particular interests—or even if you’d like to learn some new skills—there are many ways to get involved.
Some of the volunteer opportunities at Rutgers Gardens include:
Horticulture
Working under the direction of a Rutgers Gardens staff or a lead volunteer, duties vary and may include general cleanup, potting, propagation, moving plants, trimming and deadheading, and pest management.
Tour Guide Docent
Provide tours to groups, highlighting aspects of our history, special plants and plant collections. A general knowledge of botany and the requirements of specific plants, as well as a willingness to continue to learn about the plants in our collections, are essential. Training will be provided for beginning tour guide docents.
Youth Programs Docent
Assist with hands-on experiences for school groups that tour our grounds. We offer a variety of programs for student groups of all ages. Training will be provided.
Administrative Support
Help with clerical and organizational duties such as data entry, spreadsheets, mailings, photocopying, and other office tasks. Computer knowledge is a must.
Events
Rutgers Gardens holds a variety of events and classes throughout the year. Volunteers are needed to help greet and direct guests, staff information tables, work volunteer hospitality, set up and tear down, cashier at the gift shop, monitor classes, sell plants and merchandise at the weekly farmers market, and many other various needs.
Before becoming a volunteer, you’ll attend an orientation that includes a brief overview of Rutgers Gardens, our volunteering policies and procedures, and discussion of the various opportunities. Volunteers will also receive other relevant training later, relative to specific duties.
See our calendar of volunteer opportunities (PDF) for upcoming events, work days, and orientation sessions.
Volunteers must submit quarterly time sheets (PDF) in order to be eligible to receive volunteer benefits. Time sheets can be emailed directly to MaryAnne McMillan.
Please click here for further information regarding Corporate, Large Group, or Fraternal Volunteers.
