Duke Gardens Adult Volunteer Opportunities

Education Volunteer Opportunities:

• Garden Guides for School & Youth Programs

Garden Guides are passionate about sharing their love of nature and educating thousands of youth through outdoor programs in the Gardens. You don’t need to be an expert or have a background in gardening, science or teaching! All you need is an interest in nature and outdoor learning, and a willingness to grow and learn with a flexible and friendly attitude.***Training: Garden Guide training will begin in early September 2026.

Location: Garden-wide, outdoors

Days & Times needed: weekdays, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., seasonally from September through November and March through May.  ***Training: Garden Guide training will begin in early September 2026.

Qualifications & Skills:  Garden Guides must possess an interest in nature and outdoor learning, a willingness to grow and learn with a flexible and friendly attitude, and enjoy spending time with children, especially ages 4 to 13.

• Knowledge of the Gardens or willingness to learn
• Ability to work on a team of volunteers along with Education staff to lead and assist with children's field trip programs, primarily for elementary schools, periodically for middle and high school groups
• Ability to be creative, communicate with children and educate them according to program objectives, aligned with state standards 
• Willingness to learn specifics of each program and to be able to implement or assist lead guide in execution is necessary.
• Ability to be outdoors in all weather and have the ability to move throughout the Gardens during a two-hour program
• Participate in Garden Guide trainings that require observing, shadowing and practice to become proficient in program preparation and presentations to students.
• Special Requirement: Background check required upon completion of training. 

Horticulture & Gardening Volunteer Opportunities: 

• Blomquist Garden of Native Plants Gardening Asst. 

Day & Time Needed: Tuesday mornings (8/8:30am-noon)

Qualifications and Skills: Gardening Assistants support horticulture staff by performing gardening tasks by primarily weeding, watering, mulching and other general garden tasks throughout the Garden areas. 

• Available to commit to volunteering for at least 6 months
• Interest and or experience in gardening and gardening tasks 
• Ability to frequently bend, kneel, stoop, bend and reach while performing gardening tasks.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. 
• Ability to operate a golf cart to transport tools, plant debris and weeding buckets.
• Ability to perform garden tasks outdoors in varying weather conditions, amongst mosquitoes/other insects
• Once comfortable with gardening tasks, you must be able to work as part of a team of volunteers and independently of horticulture staff.  
• Willing to take direction from staff as needed. 

Marketing & Communications Volunteer Opportunities:

• Photographer

Days & Times needed: flexible days and times 

Qualifications & Skills: Photographers share photos they have taken of Duke Gardens plants and landscapes as well as at Gardens events with our Communications staff to be utilized for social media, publication and marketing purposes by the Gardens.

• Must possess your own digital camera to take photographs. Gardens cannot provide a digital camera. 
• Ability to be outdoors and traverse various terrain while taking photographs 
• Ability to take direction from Marketing & Communications staff
• Ability to adhere to volunteer photographer policies and follow instructions from Marketing staff on how to submit photos via our chosen platform.