Garfield Park Conservatory is always looking for energetic, dedicated adults to lend a hand in our gardens and 
programs like beekeeping, composting and family programs. If you are someone who enjoys sharing your passion for plants with people or someone who just likes to get your hands dirty – we probably have a volunteer opportunity for you! Most of our opportunities have a minimum time commitment, but our volunteer positions are flexible and accessible by a variety of busy adults. Contact our Volunteer Program Coordinator with any questions via email at volunteering@garfieldpark.org.
Current volunteers can log-in to schedule a shift here.
volunteers help the Chicago Park District staff maintain the plant collection including the display houses, propagation greenhouses, and outdoor gardens. It is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience, for the novice to advanced gardener. Tasks may include bending, lifting heavy objects or strenuous activity for extended periods.
volunteers work in the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance’s propagation greenhouse and in the Giving Garden. In the greenhouse, volunteers help start plants from seeds, cuttings or division as well as help with greenhouse organization and plant care. Propagated plants are sold in the Gift Shop or at special events to help fund GPCA programs and events, or are donated to local community gardens. Volunteers also help to maintain GPCA’s Giving Garden, which supports several community organizations.
Walks for children and their guardians during our free public Family Programming. Wonder Walks focus on different gardens and plants depending on the season, and engage a child’s sense of discovery. Unlike a typical adult tour, Wonder Walks are not about getting facts across, but allowing children to become interested in plants and make their own observations.
Demonstration Garden is located outside near the Sensory Garden and Bluestone Terrace. This volunteer opportunity differs from the ‘General Horticulture’ since it is focused on one specific garden, mainly during the growing season. Volunteers help maintain the vegetables, annuals and surrounding garden area, as well as being a source of information to the public.
maintain the Conservatory’s honey producing beehives, assist in harvesting for honey sales, educate the public through weekly demonstrations and help with our special events that focus on bees.
maintain, harvest and troubleshoot our vermicompost and outdoor compost bins year-round as well as educate the public and school groups about the importance of composting. Experienced composters and inexperienced adults who want to learn are encouraged to join this program. Pre-requisite: Complete digital training to gain the basic knowledge to maintain compost bins and educate the public.
Conservatory Guides are trained tour guides that connect the public to our plant collection, architecture, and history. Guides can lead groups on full length tours throughout each of the display houses, provide mini tours of specific rooms, or serve as a wandering guide in the collection. Pre-requisite: Complete training, which is offered yearly, and comprised of 9 hours of in-person training in addition to information to red up on at home to prepare you for the different training sessions.
volunteers learn Conservatory history, general plant information, and interpretation in order to interact with and help visitors. Volunteers greet in the lobby, assist with questions and concerns, and engage with visitors within the Conservatory. Pre-requisite: Complete digital training to gain basic Conservatory knowledge and how to interact with the public OR complete tour guide training.
and on the front-line with special events. Meet and greet visitors, help facilitate hands-on activities and education stations, assist with traffic flow, and help with set-up, break-down, and behind the scenes preparations.
help with special projects that arise throughout the Conservatory. Descriptions for particular projects will be listed in the newsletter and/or on the volunteer scheduling site. These projects will typically take place on a Wednesday-Saturday in the morning-early afternoon.
