Washington Park Arboretum

***Not currently recruiting***

Volunteers in this interest support a variety of events and special projects throughout the year. Tasks may include event set-up and breakdown, cashiering, silent auction support, and general event assistance. These roles are essential to creating welcoming, well-run experiences for our community and supporters.

This opportunity is ideal for volunteers who enjoy variety, working with others, and contributing to one-time or short-term projects. Event roles are a great way to get involved on a flexible basis while supporting the Arboretum in visible, meaningful ways.

Timing

• Opportunities are offered throughout the year

• Volunteers are notified as events arise through our volunteer communications

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old

• Ability to assist with light to moderate physical tasks, depending on the event

***Recruiting opens February 2027***

Volunteer Garden Stewards work alongside staff gardeners to help care for the Washington Park Arboretum through hands-on tasks such as weeding, mulching, planting, and seasonal garden maintenance. Along the way, Stewards build gardening skills, learn plant identification, and gain a deeper understanding of the Arboretum’s collections and landscapes.

Garden Stewards volunteer year-round on weekday mornings. From October through March, work sessions are offered on Mondays. During the main gardening season, March through October, opportunities expand to Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings from 9am to 11am.

This opportunity is ideal for people who enjoy physical outdoor work, collaborating with others, and learning more about gardening and plants.

Requirements

• Register for work sessions through the online calendar based on your availability.
• Arrive at the scheduled start time and plan to participate for the full two-hour session.
• There is no ongoing weekly commitment. Join work sessions as often as your schedule allows.
• We encourage participating at least twice a month to stay connected with the team and continue building gardening and plant identification skills.
• Bring your own work gloves.
• No gardening experience is necessary. Tools and training are provided.
• Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

The Mary Ellen Mulder Arboretum Gift Shop, located inside the Graham Visitors Center, has been volunteer-staffed since it opened in 1985. We offer a thoughtful selection of nature-themed gifts, books, jewelry, body products, and more, with all sales supporting core programs at the Arboretum.

As a Gift Shop Host, you’ll receive training and ongoing support, along with plenty of opportunities to connect with Arboretum staff and be part of a welcoming volunteer community. This role focuses on engaging with visitors, offering helpful information, and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the shop.

Shifts are available Tuesdays through Sundays at the following times:

• 10:00am–1:00pm

• 1:00pm–4:00pm

The Gift Shop is open to the public from 10:00am to 4:00pm daily, except for Mondays.

This opportunity is ideal for people who enjoy working independently, interacting with the public, and prefer a low-physical-demand role in an indoor setting.

Requirements: 

• We ask that volunteers commit to at least 2 shifts per month for a minimum of 6 months. (Weekend volunteers may commit to 1 shift per month.)

• Must be 18 years or older

• Should be comfortable in a guest-facing role, willing to learn a point-of-sale system (Square), able to work independently, and ready to ask for support when needed.

Responsibilities include opening and closing the shop, assisting visitors with purchases and questions, operating the Square register, handling payments, restocking merchandise, keeping the space tidy, and performing light administrative tasks.

***Recruiting opens February 2027***

Plant Program Volunteers grow, care for, and learn about plants that support the Arboretum and our community.  This volunteer-run program focuses on plant propagation and nursery care.

Plant Program Volunteers work across two primary spaces: the Pat Calvert Greenhouse and the Cloney-Harris Plant Nursery yard. Volunteers may work in one or both locations over time, depending on interests, seasonal needs, and availability.

In the Pat Calvert Greenhouse, volunteers support hands-on plant propagation, including growing young trees, shrubs, perennials, and other plants from seeds and cuttings. Work also includes general greenhouse care such as watering and organizing plants. No prior experience is required, though a general understanding of plant care is helpful. Many volunteers join specifically to learn propagation techniques and detailed plant care in a greenhouse setting.

In the Cloney-Harris Plant Nursery yard, volunteers support outdoor nursery operations by caring for donated plants and preparing them for sale to support the Arboretum. Tasks may include plant identification, grooming, potting, watering, and general nursery upkeep. Volunteers will interact with community members during plant drop-offs or sales. Some experience with plant identification is highly valued.

This opportunity is well-suited for people who enjoy hands-on plant work, learning through doing, and contributing to the care and preparation of plants for sale. Some roles are ideal for beginners, while others are a good fit for volunteers with prior plant knowledge seeking regular, ongoing engagement.

Commitment & Requirements:

• Ongoing participation is encouraged, with monthly expectations depending on placement
• Shifts take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays
• Occasional Saturday shifts may be scheduled for watering or special events
• Greenhouse roles welcome beginners eager to learn
• Outdoor nursery roles prefer some experience with plant care
• Volunteers must meet age requirements for independent work
• Tools, gloves, and aprons are provided
• Some bending, lifting, and standing are part of the work

Youth Photography Volunteer

Help us capture the Arboretum through the seasons! Youth Photography Volunteers help build a year-round photo library that shows the plants, landscapes, wildlife, and details that make the Washington Park Arboretum special.

Using a smartphone or camera, volunteers explore the Arboretum and photograph what catches their attention. That might be plants and collections in bloom, changing seasons, garden landscapes, paths and vistas, structures and signage, wildlife, or simply a view or detail that captures what it feels like to be in the Arboretum that day.

Photos are uploaded to our shared photo library and may be used to support Seattle Botanic Gardens communications, outreach, and promotional materials.

How it works

There are no scheduled shifts or assigned photography locations. Volunteers choose when to visit, what they would like to photograph, and how much time they spend exploring. Instructions for uploading photos and logging service hours are provided so the opportunity can be completed independently.

This is a year-round, flexible opportunity that can easily fit around school, transportation, and other commitments.

Who is this for?

This opportunity is designed for students seeking service hours who enjoy photography, being outdoors, exploring, and working independently. No photography experience is required.

Requirements

• Ability to independently navigate the Arboretum grounds
• Access to a smartphone or camera capable of taking clear photos
• Ability to follow instructions for uploading photographs and logging service hours
• Respect for garden spaces, visitors, plants, and wildlife

***Recruiting opens February 2027***

Friends of Arboretum Creek (FOAC) is a community-driven group working to restore and protect the health, water quality, and habitat of Arboretum Creek within Washington Park Arboretum by reconnecting historic headwaters and nurturing diverse native plant and animal life. Volunteers of all experience levels come together on the first Friday of each month, from 9 am to noon, to care for the creek and its riparian surroundings through hands-on work and stewardship.