Garden Interpreters

Smithsonian Gardens seeks energetic, courteous, and personable volunteers to engage visitors in our gardens. Volunteer interpreters will interact with visitors of all ages, encouraging them to explore plants, design, and horticulture through conversation, storytelling, and hands-on activities at discovery carts placed in three Smithsonian Gardens near the National Mall. Interpreters will offer visitors 3 to 6 minute immediate, informal, and interactive experience that may include artifacts, teaching objects, games, and directed activities. Volunteer interpreters will also answer general questions about Smithsonian Gardens.

The position requires volunteers to work outdoors and to complete two three-hour (weekend or weekday) shifts per month from April through October. A training session on content and interpretive techniques will be provided on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 from 9am to 12pm. All Garden Interpreter Volunteers must attend this training before contact with the public. Trainings will be held at Smithsonian Gardens’ office suite located at Capital Gallery, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 3300, located outside the L’Enfant Metro station (Smithsonian Museums exit).

Please send your name and contact information to gardens@si.edu if you are interested in becoming a Garden Interpreter for Smithsonian Gardens. Enhance the Smithsonian experience for so many visitors through your love of the Smithsonian gardens!

Other Opportunities

Garden Volunteers

We are not currently recruiting for Garden Volunteers. If you are interested in the Garden Volunteer program, you are encouraged to inform us of your interest at any time.  Names of interested volunteers are kept on file until the next recruitment.
Seasonal opportunities; duties would include assisting a horticulturist with the installation of plants and bulbs, weeding, pruning and the general tidying up of the gardens.

Greenhouse Volunteers

We are not currently recruiting for Greenhouse Volunteers. If you are interested in the Greenhouse Volunteer program, you are encouraged to inform us of your interest at any time.  Names of interested volunteers are kept on file until the next recruitment.
Working at the SG Greenhouses, where duties might include propagation of the annual plants or the care and maintenance of annuals, perennials, orchids, and tropical plants.

Landscape Architect

Working with the SG Landscape Architects in the design of the museum grounds and SG special exhibits.