We’re excited to recruit for the Nat Garden Corps! As a member of the NGC, you’ll help keep our garden thriving while sharing your passion for plants with visitors.
In partnership with Forever Balboa Park, we’ve created a four-week training course beginning mid-May, with sessions offered on Tuesdays or Saturdays to fit busy schedules. You’ll gain expert-led instruction, hands-on experience with native plants, practical garden maintenance skills, and tips for engaging with the public.
If this sounds like a good fit, you can sign up for an interview slot here.
Interested in becoming a Docent, Canyoneer, or Whaler?
While we are not currently onboarding for these programs, you are more than welcome to submit a volunteer application and select one (or more) of these as your Program(s) of interest. We’ll be in touch in the early summer as we begin the rounds of interviews and onboarding ahead of the fall training season!
Want to get started in the meantime?
Our NATuralist program is a great way to jump in right away. Volunteers engage with visitors using hands-on carts (“kits”) that spark curiosity about nature and science, both inside the museum and in the Nature Trail Garden.
It’s also a great starting point for those interested in getting more involved, offering a chance to build engagement skills that carry into other volunteer roles across the organization.
Naturalist trainings are held every fourth Sunday at the Nat. Reserve your spot here.
To learn more about all of the public engagement volunteer roles listed above, please click here.
Our volunteer application and onboarding process is simple and straightforward. All interested applicants must:
Selected applicants will undergo program-specific training that is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful volunteers for The Nat.
If you would like to submit an application, please click on the button below. For more information or questions, please email volunteers@sdnhm.org.