Volunteer

Volunteer Opportunities

Garden Docent

South Shore Gardens – Allerton & McBryde

Share the beauty, abundant botanical resources, and rich cultural history of our gardens. After undertaking a comprehensive training, you will be able to share our Gardens with others by leading guided tours.

Docents must be able to attend training classes, commit to leading tours on a regular basis, enjoy interacting with the public, be physically able to walk up steep hills, and want to work in a breathtaking setting. Time commitment: any Tuesday – Saturday from 8:40 a.m.- 11:45 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., prefer weekly or bi-weekly commitment

Horticulture Assistant – South Shore

McBryde Garden

McBryde Garden is a botanical treasure house of tropical flora, containing collections of native Hawaiian species and many other plants that have been wild-collected from the tropical regions of the world. We are seeking volunteers to help us care for these plants by planting, weeding, watering, trimming, and raking.

This role would suit someone who is interested in learning more about plants and gaining skills in gardening. You will be working under the supervision of the Horticulture Team. No previous experience is necessary. This role will require bending and some light lifting. Time commitment: Open Volunteer Work Days take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. RSVP Required.

Regenerative Organic Breadfruit Agroforest (ROBA) Assistant – South Shore

McBryde Garden

Agroforestry is a method of farming that integrates trees, shrubs, and other plants with crops and/or animals in ways that provide economic, environmental, and social benefits. Our Regenerative Organic Breadfruit Agroforest is a model in sustainable and regenerative organic agriculture to promote food security and a healthy environment.

This role would suit someone who is interested in learning more about regenerative agroforestry and gaining horticulture skills. You will be working under the supervision of Neal Uno, the Breadfruit Agroforestry Technician. No previous experience is necessary to volunteer. Work is set outdoors and requires bending, use of basic gardening tools and some light lifting. Closed-toe shoes are required, sunscreen, water bottle and a hat are recommended.

Time commitment: Regular, weekly volunteers can be scheduled on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays are harvest days. Harvest includes different varieties of breadfruit and other crops from the Breadfruit Agroforest—which are donated to local food pantries that service the communities of Kaua‘i. Thursdays we will work on essential horticulture activities for improvement of soil health and agroforest productivity (including: weeding, mulching, chop and drop, and more).

Nursery Assistant

Conservation and Horticulture Center, McBryde Garden

We are looking for plant enthusiasts to help the Garden grow in our busy nursery facilities. Duties include: repotting plants, weeding, pot-washing, watering, inventory, and light maintenance. This is your chance to gain knowledge in plant care through hands-on training and supervision.

Volunteers must have plant experience, preferably nursery experience or native/rare plant experience, as well as a three-hour commitment on Tuesdays, and Thursdays (8:30am – 11:30am).

Horticulture Volunteer – North Shore

Limahuli Garden & Preserve

Limahuli Garden and Preserve is dedicated to the conservation of native Hawaiian species, striving to perpetuate modern Hawaiian culture by encouraging community involvement and education. We welcome our volunteers to be involved in our preservation efforts through planting, weeding, watering, and general maintenance of rare and endangered species in our Garden.

This work would suit someone in good physical condition looking to work outdoors in varying weather conditions. Some of the Garden is hilly and volunteers are expected to be able to perform activities normally associated with gardening. No expertise is required. Some knowledge of native Hawaiian plants is desirable, but a willingness and passion to learn about native ecosystems and Hawaiian culture is most important.

To make arrangements and for more information about needed gear and supplies, please contact the volunteer coordinator at Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Time commitment: Open volunteer days take place on Tuesday and Thursday from 8-11. RSVP Required.

Education Program Volunteers

Headquarters, McBryde, Allerton

Interested in teaching our island keiki about the basics of plant life, ethnobotany, or the mystery of seeds? Our ʻIke Māla volunteer leaders* follow set curriculum while guiding school groups on a morning of adventure through the southshore gardens. Time commitment: ʻIke Māla volunteers average a 3-4 hour commitment 1-4 weekday mornings a month during the active school year.

There are more opportunities to assist with NTBG’s other courses for students of various ages, with varied needs and time commitments. Simply ask our volunteer@ntbg.org

*children’s education volunteers will be background-checked.

Visitor Center Docent

South Shore Visitors Center

Want to share your aloha and love of the Garden by greeting and directing visitors when they arrive at the Visitors Center?

Docents get to spend their time in the lovely Visitors Center Garden, welcoming visitors, answering general questions, and directing them to the tour check-in area, gift shop, and other locales at the site. Time commitment: any Tuesday – Saturday from 8:40 a.m.- 11:45 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., prefer weekly or bi-weekly commitment

Limahuli Garden Docent – Public Tours

Limahuli Garden & Preserve

Share the beauty, abundant botanical resources, and rich cultural history of Limahuli Garden. After undertaking a comprehensive training, you will be able to share the Garden with others by leading guided tours of this incredible site.

Docents must be able to attend training classes, commit to leading tours on a regular basis, enjoy interacting with the public, be physically able to walk up steep hills, and want to work in a breathtaking setting.

Forest Restoration Volunteer

Limahuli Garden & Preserve

You will be working in the heart of Limahuli Valley at our restoration project site helping to preserve the ‘aina of Kaua’i. You will be involved in planting and maintaining native Hawaiian plant restoration sites, invasive species removal, and trail maintenance.

This work would suit someone in very good physical condition looking to work outdoors in varying weather conditions. All volunteers must be able to hike one-half hour or more on uneven terrain to the worksites in the Valley, often carrying plants and tools to and from the restoration project sites. Some knowledge of Hawai’i’s native plants would be advantageous, but passion and enthusiasm to learn more about the Hawaiian ecosystems and culture is most important.

To make arrangements and for more information about needed gear and supplies, please contact the volunteer coordinator at Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Time commitment: minimum of four (4) hours

Nursery Handypersons

Conservation and Horticulture Center, McBryde Garden

Do you have some skills as a handyperson? The NTBG Living Collections and Horticulture Department is looking for a few people to help maintain and construct infrastructure in our nursery (building tables for potting, basic assistance with irrigation systems, helping with general facility upkeep).

Some basic handyperson skills are preferred. You’ll need the ability to work with volunteers and other employees. The physical component varies; some work can be done while sitting down and other work is very strenuous (i.e., construction). Time commitment: Flexible on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Herbarium Volunteer

Headquarters

The NTBG Herbarium houses approximately tens of thousands preserved plant specimens which serve as a reference collection of tropical plant life, with an emphasis on Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian. We are looking for individuals interested in learning more about collection and plant conservation to prepare and mount specimens for future study.

This role would suit someone with steady hands, good vision for close-up work and ability to sit for long periods of time. Desired traits include: communication skills, enthusiasm for learning, capacity to work independently and as part of a team, willingness to follow specific guidelines and ability to be detail-oriented. Time commitment: Minimum 3 hours per week (opportunity exists for more hours).

Special Events Volunteers, on-call

Kaua’i

Interested in being involved with the implementation of exciting events and interacting with visitors in an upbeat and fun environment? We are actively looking for volunteers to join our special events roster.

You will assist at Garden and community events by staffing information tables, working behind the scenes, greeting visitors, handing out programs and support materials, and filling in wherever is most needed.

Some of the events we hold or participate in are the Kaua’i County Farm Fair, Taro Festival, Kōloa Plantation Days, Holiday Craft Fair at our Southshore Visitors Center, Arbor Day, Mother’s Day Open House, and more. Time Commitment: On-call.

Archival Photo Research Volunteers

The Kampong – Miami, Florida

Seeking volunteers to assist with researching archival photos. This project consists of working in the office using a computer, while sorting through photos that can be used for social media posts, slide show creations and general organizing.

Flexible hours Mondays through Thursdays between 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. For more details, please reach out to Valentina Fernandez at VFernandez@ntbg.org.