Our volunteers are the heart and soul of Green Bay Botanical Garden, each sharing a common passion to grow the community while donating their time, talents, and testimony through a wide variety of opportunities.
Once your application is processed, our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you to discuss volunteer opportunities. We accept volunteers based on current Garden priorities and the information you provide in your Volunteer Application, including your areas of interest and skill set. This process may take 2-3 weeks.
Questions? Contact us at 920.593.5686 or volunteer@gbbg.org.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering! Our organization thrives because of amazing support from individuals like you. Currently, we are in our busy season at the Garden, and our interview process is on hold. We will begin contacting new volunteers in September 2024, but we encourage you to submit your application now.
Questions? Contact us at 920.593.5664 or volunteer@gbbg.org.
For more information on volunteering during WPS Garden of Lights, contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@gbbg.org or 920.593.5686.
Once your application is processed, our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you to discuss volunteer opportunities.
Questions? Contact Kate Martin, Volunteer Coordinator, at 920.593.5686 or volunteer@gbbg.org.
Opportunities vary by season.
Guest Experience Ambassador
Assist guests upon admission, answer and redirect incoming phone calls, provide sales assistance with WPS Trellis Gift Shop purchases, and promote Garden events and membership opportunities.
Wedding Guest Relations
Welcome wedding guests to the Garden and direct them to their wedding location.
Adult/Youth Garden Docent
Facilitate guided adult and/or youth group tours that inform and engage guests in meaningful ways. Training and shadow opportunities are provided. Educational experience working with youth is recommended for Youth Docents.
Classroom Assistant
Greet and welcome classroom participants and instructors with set up, supplies distribution, and cleanup. Engage with guests in a professional and friendly manner while serving as an ambassador of the Garden.
Story Time Volunteer
Greet, welcome, and help read stories to guests in the Garden throughout the year. Activity happens twice a week in summer, once a week in fall, and once a week in late winter through spring.
Outdoor Gardener
Work side-by-side with Horticulture staff to plant and maintain our beautiful and inspiring Garden. Flexible, outdoor weekday shifts are scheduled from May through mid-November, weather dependent.
Invasive Species Control
Focused opportunity to assist with stopping the spread of invasive species through various forms of removal. Flexible schedule with training provided.
Collections Management
Assist Horticulture staff with managing, maintaining and updating the living plant collection through database entry, label assembly and label placement throughout the Garden. Scheduling is flexible.
Citizen Scientist
Monitor plants and their responses throughout the seasons, collecting data to contribute to the BudBurst program, a project of Chicago Botanic Garden. On a weekly basis, visually monitor 15 plants and record what you see on each plant. Must be a quality and detail-oriented individual.
Admissions
Assist our Admissions Team in the Fischer Visitor Center during special events like concerts and WPS Garden of Lights. Scan tickets, memberships, and other entry forms and offer assistance to guests as needed.
Greeters/Line Directors
Help maintain the flow of guests into the Fischer Visitor center upon their arrival to ensure our Event Admissions Team can easily and readily attend to each guest. Answer guest questions as needed.
Ambassadors
Assist guests as needed in the Garden, specifically in the Schneider Family Grand Garden during summer concerts.
Concessions
Take orders from guests in the Concessions Building on the WPS Foundation Plaza. Should be comfortable handling credit card machines and cash money.
Parking Lot Attendants
Help control and direct traffic into Garden parking bays to ensure good flow and safety of Garden guests.
Facility Maintenance
Help with tree and brush cutting/removal, painting, etc.
Gift Shop Assistant
Help clean and organize seasonal retail displays in the WPS Trellis Gift Shop.
FAQs
Horticulture: Do you like to dig in the dirt or want to grow a green thumb? We’re looking for outdoor gardeners, invasive species control assistants, plant records volunteers, and Citizen Scientists.
Events: Looking to light up your evenings or fill your nights with music? We’re looking for concessions help, parking lot attendants, admissions check-in assistants, greeters, and directors for weddings and events. In June–September we are looking for volunteers to help at concerts and in November–December we need volunteers for Garden of Lights.
Education: Have a passion for education or teaching? We’re looking for story time readers, youth and adult tour guides, class assistants, and education event volunteers.
Guest Experience: Do you like to greet guests with a cheerful and informative hello? We’re looking for Guest Experience Ambassadors who can help welcome guests, answer phone calls, monitor the WPS Trellis Gift Shop, and more.
Typical volunteer shifts are between 2-4 hours. Certain roles require a weekly commitment (think of the Garden friends you’ll make!), and some roles are flexible and can be based on your schedule.
Yes! Please indicate in your application that you’re looking for service hours. The Garden can work with you to get them completed, and we’re happy to be a part of that.
Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years old or 12 if accompanied by an adult.
While the Volunteer Coordinator will try to place each applicant, it’s not always possible to find an assignment that is an appropriate match for both the applicant and the Garden. Please note that the Garden’s Volunteer Program is contingent on a background check and is required of all volunteers.
We utilize a system called VolunteerHub where you can view open volunteer opportunities and sign up based on your availability. Each volunteer opportunity includes a description of the role, available shift dates and times, and the number of volunteers the Garden will accept in those roles.
Being mindful of garden guests, we ask volunteers to use parking bay 5 and near the horticultural building.
Yes! Volunteer opportunities are available to serve as a Guest Experience Ambassador on Saturdays and Sundays. Most of the horticultural volunteer opportunities are available only Tuesday- Thursday during daylight hours. In the summer we do host monthly “Weed and Feed” events. Check with the Volunteer Coordinator for details.
Whether you’re hoping to bring your team for a nature-inspired team-building exercise, your school group for a sun-filled afternoon, or your nonprofit organization to give back to the local community, the Garden offers a variety of options for group volunteering.
Groups can assist our Garden Team from May through October.
Together, we’ll create a volunteer outing that works for our needs and yours! Experiences vary, and volunteers can work with staff inside and out in the Garden. Extra hands are always welcome.
For more information, complete our Group Volunteer Information Request Form or email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@gbbg.org.
After sharing 25 hours of service within a calendar year, volunteers will earn a permanent Garden nametag and receive a small gift provided at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event.
Additional benefits are provided based on number of hours of service.
The Garden’s growth is the result of the dedication of our founders, a group of volunteers who had a vision to bring a botanical garden to our area. Their living legacy, and the legacy of those who follow, will forever be a part of the Garden.
Because of our partnership with the hundreds of volunteers who have shared thousands of hours in the Garden since 1996, we’re able to live out our mission to connect plants with people and provide educational and recreational experiences for everyone. Their gift of time is invaluable. Only with the continued involvement of volunteers, are we able to welcome, educate, and inspire guests of all kinds.
For more information about volunteering at the Garden, contact Rachel Ambrosius, Volunteer Coordinator, at 920.593.5686 or volunteer@gbbg.org.
920.490.9457
info@gbbg.org
2600 Larsen Rd
Green Bay, WI 54303
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will be moved indoors with limited seating due to Friday’s weather forecast. Tickets are no longer available. We apologize for any inconvenience!
The Bell Children's Garden is now closed through mid-January during WPS Garden of Lights.
