We welcome the novice and expert alike to partner with staff in implementing our creative educational programs, horticultural and natural areas restoration projects. Choose from the many opportunities listed or tell us where you can contribute. You determine the project area and time commitment.
- Conservatory/Greenhouse Assistant
Work on the Bromeliad Collection
All levels of expertise and ability are welcome!
- Help with general maintenance tasks such as sweeping, pruning, planting and watering.
- Assist horticultural staff with plant propagation and seed production for University classes and public sales.
- Hone your horticultural skills or develop a new gardening interest.
Gateway Garden Volunteer
If working with plants is your pleasure, this is the spot for you!
- Help plant and maintain the formal gardens at either the Gardens or Arb. Enjoy the color and fragrant blooms while weeding, mulching or deadheading blossoms. Work can be fun!
- Be part of a team effort to showcase best horticultural practices.
- Restoration Ecology Stewards
U-M students help with seed collection
Help restore our woodlands, prairies and wetlands to healthy, native plant based ecosystems. This is a terrific activity for Corporate, University, Scout and community volunteers. Appropriate for ages 13 and above. Minors need to be accompanied by an adult. Choose to be a steward at either site.
- Attend regularly scheduled workdays on the 2nd Saturday of the month at Nichols Arboretum and/or the 4th Saturday of the month at the Botanical Gardens from 9 am - noon.
- Remove non-native invasive plant species from our natural areas under supervision. We provide the training, tools and snacks.
- Participate in burning of our natural areas as a management technique (adults only). Training provided.
- Sign up through our self-subscribe list serve to be sent reminders of our workdays and notified of projects. Simply send a blank message to the following address with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject: ecoworkdays-request@listserver.itd.umich.edu
- Outreach and Education - MBGNA Docent and Garden Ambassador
Docent explaining plant structure and function
Be a core part of our educational team and a major link between the U-M's facilities and the public. Share your enthusiasm and love of the natural world and plants with adults and youth to enrich their learning experience.
- Docents provide interpretation in the form of themed tours for the public and student groups during the academic year.
- Ambassadors serve as seasonal guides for our formal display gardens and Conservatory primarily on the weekends.
- Both levels of volunteers can assist with our weekly after-school, ninety minute Scout workshops.
- Comprehensive training is provided.
Selecting and selling botanical merchandise is fun!
Good customer service skills and a pleasant personality are essential for this job! We will train you on the basics of using the cash register and credit card machine.
- Help visitors find that unique gift from among our botanically themed merchandise.
- Help with inventory and pricing.
- Learn to display merchandise for customer appeal.
- Depending on your level of expertise, assist with merchandise and book selection.
- Set your own hours for this postion. A real plus!
Are you already a member and enjoying the many benefits of belonging to a dynamic organization? Great! Let's spread the word!
- Assist with renewal mailings and phonathons.
- Help with membership events, committee work and recruitment.
- Suggest membership benefits and perks.
This job is perfect for the person who pays attention to detail and loves to keep things organized.
- Help with mailings, filing, data entry, record keeping and phoning as needed.
You may have a hidden talent or career skill in cataloguing books and periodicals. Do you love to browse and finger through the pages of reference books?
- Be part of a small team that meets Wednesday afternoons to catalogue and reshelve books and periodicals.
If you interested, please complete this Volunteer Interest Form
Special Events
If time is of an essence; but you need hours for community service, Master Gardener certification, or enjoy the camaraderie and vitality of a large scale event, these one time opportunities are for you!
Volunteers setting up for Spring Plant Sale
Celebrating our 27th year, this major fund-raising and fun event is held the first weekend in May.
- Assist with set-up the week before the sale unloading, pricing and setting out plant material.
- During the sale, be a cashier; help in the check-out or plant pick-up area; share your plant knowledge at our information tables; or help with tear-down. Learn from your gardening peers what is the "hottest" new plant and garden technique! Enjoy sharing your best garden stories.
- If you are interested, please visit this website in the near future to complete an online application.
February 2007 will mark a major milestone in the history of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum - our 100th year as part of the University of Michigan community.
2006 production of Love's Labours Lost
A moving theater production of the LSA Residential College held the first three weekends in June. This event has become a tradition within the Ann Arbor community and commands sold-out performances! The Arb has proven to be a wonderful site for the bard's plays.
- Enjoy a unique theatrical experience!
- Volunteer to sell tickets before the performance.
- Volunteer to usher the audience throughout the Arb as actors move from scene to scene.
- Orientation to the script and venue provided. Neat T-shirt to wear an extra perk!
- If interested, please complete this Volunteer Interest Form
