Volunteers Needed!

Smithsonian Gardens is seeking creative, energetic, outgoing interpretive volunteers to engage visitors in conversations about gardening, plants and landscape history  and encourage guests to share their perspectives and personal connections with the Smithsonian gardens. Garden Interpreters will interact with visitors of all ages, encouraging them to explore plants, design and horticulture through conversation, storytelling, and hands-on activities. Garden Interpreters will also answer general questions about Smithsonian Gardens and assist with interpretive programs and tours. Garden Interpreters will work outside from April till late October in the various Smithsonian gardens.

We need people who are patient, compassionate, interested in gardening, and who are enthusiastic about learning and teaching. Garden Interpreters must be effective communicators who enjoy listening to and talking with people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Flexibility, good judgment, and the ability to work independently as well as within groups are additional skills for successful candidates. Garden Interpreters will be asked to take initiative and work with other garden volunteers and staff to provide excellent visitor experiences. They must be collegial and creative problem-solvers. A background in teaching, storytelling, acting/performance, and/or public speaking is beneficial, as is an interest in gardening and landscape history.

Applicants must be available on weekdays and/or weekends. Training will be provided to Interpreters before contact with the public. Training sessions will be held Thursdays mornings in late February from 10 am till noon. After the initial 6-week orientation training, additional content trainings will be available once a month for Interpreters. Trainings will be held at Smithsonian Gardens’ office suite located at Capital Gallery, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 3300, located outside the L’Enfant Metro station (Smithsonian Museums exit).

Please send your name and contact information to gardens@si.edu if you are interested in becoming a Garden Interpreter for Smithsonian Gardens.  Enhance the Smithsonian experience for so many visitors through your love of the Smithsonian gardens!   

Garden Volunteers: Seasonal opportunities; duties would include assisting a horticulturist with the installation of plants and bulbs, weeding, pruning and the general tidying up of the gardens.

Greenhouse Volunteers: working at the SG Greenhouses, where duties might include propagation of the annual plants or the care and maintenance of annuals, perennials, orchids, and tropical plants.