| Volunteering at The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a wonderful way to enjoy this exceptional garden and contribute to its success. Become a volunteer and join our Propagation Crew, Event Team or Office Assistance group!
We welcome you to join our incredible team of Volunteers! Download our Volunteer Application, complete, and return it to The Garden. We accept applications year-round, and we have volunteers of all ages. We hope you will contribute to The Garden by giving your time, skills, and energy.
If you want to know more about our volunteer opportunities please see below. If you have other questions, contact our volunteer coordinator Freya van Dien.
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| Volunteers at the Annual Sculpture Show Register |
Work Party in the Nursery |
Without the enthusiasm and dedication of volunteers, The Ruth Bancroft Garden would not be here today. Since this garden was planted in 1972, and all the way through it’s development from a private into a public garden, volunteers have been instrumental in maintaining the garden and supporting the organization behind it.
Volunteering at the Ruth Bancroft Garden is a great opportunity to contribute to the success of this exceptional example of garden design, and care for its collection of water-conserving plants for the education and enjoyment of the public. As a volunteer at the garden you will have the opportunity to learn more about gardening with water conserving plants, be a member of an interesting community of volunteers, spend time in a relaxing environment, and be a part of this inspiring garden and the organization behind it.
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| 2009 Volunteer Party |
2009 Volunteer Party Buffet |
The Ruth Bancroft Garden has a variety of interesting volunteer opportunities.
Garden work
• Nursery: propagating, repotting and cleaning plants for plant sales and plantings in the garden.
• Garden Maintenance: weeding, deadheading, planting, pruning, composting, etc.
• Garden Construction: landscaping, irrigation, building, etc.
• Grown at Home Propagation. Grow RBG plants at home for plant sales and new plantings in the garden.
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Volunteer potting an Agave |
Plant Sale House during the Spring Plant Sale |
Event Assistance
• Event organization & production, Register assistance at Plant Sales, Member host and Membership • Sales, Traffic Control, Merchandise (buying, organizing and selling)
Office Assistance
• Front Desk: welcoming visitors, answering phones, filing, data entry, etc.
• Outreach & Development: mailings, soliciting donations, distributing printed materials.
• Computer work: graphic design, website maintenance.
Education
• Become a Docent! Our annual training between October and March will prepare you to lead tours in the garden.
• Children’s programs: assisting with special projects and classes.
• Adult Education: assisting with hands-on workshops, lectures, special trips, etc.
Docents
Interested in sharing your love for plants with others? Become a Docent at the Ruth Bancroft Garden! Sign up for our New Docent Training Program that takes place each year between October and March, and become a member of our much respected docent team!
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Docents Leading Tours in the Garden |
The docents at the Ruth Bancroft Garden play a vital role, interpreting the flora of the garden, to hundreds of visitors per year. The docent training provides you with knowledge about our collection of drought tolerant plants, the history of the garden, it’s geographic location, and trains you in interpretive skills and public speaking. As a trained docent you are certified to lead tours through the garden and share your knowledge with our visitors.
The benefits of becoming a docent, besides the satisfaction of working in a beautiful place, and contributing to your community, include a free garden membership, and ongoing Docent Enrichment educational opportunities.
Our Docent Training program is now accepting applications for the 2010-11 year!
To apply, please fill out the following application:
Word Document; PDF Version
Training dates will start on October 16th and will occur twice a month until March.
Enrollment is $75. Scholarships are available. No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds. |
