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Greensboro Science Center

Horticulture Volunteer

About the Program

Do you like science, plants, and biology? If so, consider applying for our horticulture volunteer program. Our horticulture staff maintains the grounds on our campus and would love help planting, weeding, and mulching. Horticulture volunteers make a positive, immediate, and restorative contribution to the GSC campus each day as they roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. By grooming, transplanting, and all their dedicated tending efforts, they find they have cultivated more than a beautiful garden. Volunteers also share their enthusiasm, enjoy easy camaraderie, and graciously inspire Science Center guests – helping everyone connect to nature. In this role, you will be supervised and mentored by our talented horticulture staff.

Applications are open!

We open applications based on volunteer openings and staff availability to facilitate the onboarding process.

Click here to apply!

Who can apply?

  • Applicants must be age 18 by the date of the submitted application. 
  • Applicants must pass a background check after application acceptance.
  • Applicants must be available to volunteer at least 6 hours a month.
  • Applicants must commit to volunteering for at least 6 months after training.

What are the steps of becoming a horticulture volunteer?

  1. Submit an application. Our staff will review all applications and will contact selected candidates to schedule interviews. We will likely be unable to interview every candidate, so please provide thoughtful responses to your application questions.
  2. Schedule and successfully complete an interview.
  3. All candidates who were interviewed for the program will be notified to let them know if they have been chosen for the program.
  4. Successfully pass a background check.
  5. Complete one scavenger hunt to learn more about the Greensboro Science Center.
  6. Attend training with horticulture staff.

FAQs

Working side by side with horticulture staff, you might help plant, weed, or mulch an area of our campus. Horticulture volunteers will be authorized to use GSC hand tools, but no power tools.

Yes, but not in the way you might think. Horticulture volunteers do not have direct contact with animals but may have the opportunity to help with projects inside animal enclosures. In those instances, animals would be off exhibit and you would be supervised by horticulture staff.

Horticulture volunteers are expected to volunteer a minimum of six hours per month. Shifts are available from 8:00-11:00am on Tuesdays Wednesdays, and Thursdays only. There are currently no weekend or afternoon shifts.

For the most part, we will have everything our volunteers need! We do, however, recommend volunteers bring their own gardening gloves and pruners.

The fee for our docent program is $10.00. This includes the cost of your name tag and your volunteer t-shirt which you will wear during your shifts as well as your background check. That fee is due when you come for your scavenger hunt, NOT when you submit your application. This is a one-time docent fee. Once someone becomes a docent at our facility, they are eligible to complete docent training in other areas when it is offered.

Yes. Upon successful completion of an interview and an offer to join the volunteer program, we would train both the individual and the support staff member. The support staff member would go through the same onboarding process as the volunteer (background check, forms, fee, training, etc) and would receive a volunteer shirt and name tag to wear on site. Should that support staff member change at any point, the new staff member would have to complete those same steps before the individual resumed volunteering.

Once you complete the form, click the continue button at the bottom. You will receive a confirmation email immediately letting you know that we have received your application. Within 48 hours, we will review your application and email you to set up an interview. We communicate with applicants solely via the email address you provide on your application. Please make sure to check your SPAM folder since our emails occasionally go to SPAM.

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Email volunteers@greensboroscience.org.