Naples Botanical Garden is where plants and people thrive together. In addition to being a leading showcase for tropical plants and a lively, indispensable community resource, the Garden is a world-class applied science and research institution.

We invite you to become a volunteer with Naples Botanical Garden! Your talent and skills can make a real difference in our community, and we welcome you to be part of our team.

To get started, simply fill out our online volunteer application form. It’s quick and easy, and it will be the first step in matching you with volunteer opportunities that best fit your interests and availability.

In a town as beautiful as Naples, there are so many ways to spend your time. We are delighted that our volunteers choose to dedicate their efforts and abilities to furthering the Garden’s mission of bringing together plants and people.

Ways to Get Involved

Special Events

Every year, the Garden is filled with special events, each one showcasing a different aspect of the Garden experience. There are so many opportunities during the week, evenings, and weekends for you to greet and guide our guests, and to help them create wonderful memories of all the Garden has to offer.

“Volunteering at Naples Botanical Garden is perhaps one of my most fun and rewarding things I have done in retirement. Every time presents a new and different experience, especially at the numerous special events that are held every season. Each is unique, from Hats in the Garden, to Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden, to Music in the Garden. Meeting people on vacation or full-time residents has really enriched my life. On one occasion I met a very special person who has now become my wife!”
— Bill, Volunteer since 2016

Horticulture & Conservation

If you enjoy getting your hands in the earth or would like to help us in our mission to document and conserve our spectacular collections, then this is the place for you! Whether it’s weeding, planting, collecting samples, or assisting with the tagging and documentation of our collection, your helping hands are an essential part of caring for our plants.

“Volunteering in conservation & natural areas has felt like walking amongst the gods. Every plant, leaf, vine, and tree has its place and contribution. So many creatures who crawl, hop, climb, and fly come to visit. Some stay and develop families only to make their way into the wider world in time. I vicariously identify with Henry Thoreau … peace is the blessing of the forest.”
— Mike, Volunteer since 2010 (with over 12,300 volunteer hours)

Education & Visitor Experience

Our guest-facing volunteers are the bridge that connects our guests with the Garden’s mission. There are opportunities at one of our Information Stations, as a Garden Guide, Exhibit Docent, or with one of the Garden’s special seasonal programs. Sharing your passion and knowledge of the Garden is a critical part of the guest experience; the emotional souvenirs you help to create impact everyone here in the Garden.

“I like being in the Garden feeling nature all around me, but I really enjoy my interactions with our smiling Members and our visitors. Interacting with and learning about the Garden from the staff is educational and fun.”
— Neil

Community Volunteer Opportunities

Community volunteering is the perfect way to give back as a group. Gather co-workers, family, friends, organization members, or other social or civic groups to discover how your team can join with our team!

*Naples Botanical Garden does not have any court-ordered community service opportunities available.

“It was a great experience. Ian from Naples Botanical Garden was aweseome! He taught us a lot about invasive species, and what is native to Florida. Thanks for allowing us this awesome opportunity.”
— Risa, Clinical Educator for NCH Center for Learning and Innovation

Questions? Please contact Karen Pattison, Volunteer Services Manager, kpattison@naplesgarden.org