From leading tours to tending the gardens to facilitating special events like Pumpkin Fest, community members and students provide critical support for everything we do at the Arboretum. No matter where your interests lie, we have a volunteer opportunity that is just right for you.
- Volunteers must submit an application.
- Volunteers must be 18+ years old.
- Minors age 16+ may volunteer if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Volunteers who will be working with minors (e.g., children’s garden volunteers) must complete a suite of publicly available clearances. The volunteer program manager will reach out to you with the next steps after you submit your application and is available to assist you with the clearance process.
Botanic Gardening
Accepts groups: No
The Arboretum at Penn State offers weekly Botanic Gardening sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (excluding holidays). These sessions primarily involve plant installation, care, and maintenance in the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens.
Natural Lands Maintenance
Accepts groups: Yes
The Arboretum at Penn State consists of over 350 acres of land, a portion of which is considered the “Natural Lands.” Volunteers assist the Arboretum in management of these areas (including Hartley Wood, the Prairie Restoration Site, and the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail) by providing trail maintenance, removal of invasive plants, and installation of beneficial species. Sessions take place on select weekends in spring and autumn.
Youth and Family Program Assistants*
*Childcare clearances required
Accepts groups: No
Throughout the year the Arboretum hosts numerous programs directed toward youth and families, including Discovery Drop-in Programs, Family Garden Club, school field trips, and more. Volunteers provide gentle guidance, helping hands, and educational assistance to Arboretum staff to ensure all participants feel welcome and engaged. Assistance for these programs is typically required April through October.
Adult Education Assistants
Accepts groups: No
The Arboretum hosts monthly adult education opportunities (e.g., garden and craft workshops, natural history “walk and talks”). These programs are intended for guests over the age of 18 and typically require paid pre-registration. Volunteers provide additional support in setup and teardown of activities and a pair of helping hands for guests during the program.
Tour Guides
Accepts groups: No
Volunteers provide guided tours of the Arboretum to pre-scheduled visiting groups on weekdays from March through October. Additionally, volunteer guides lead our monthly weekend “Tour du Jour,” where guests can drop in for a tour by themselves or with friends without needing a pre-reservation.
Event Support
Accepts groups: Yes
The Arboretum hosts public events and festivals throughout the year, including our ever-popular Pumpkin Fest. Volunteers provide vital support for setup and teardown of event elements and perform activity support and hospitality roles throughout the event. This is a great opportunity for committed student groups and folks who enjoy socializing with guests in our gardens.
Special Projects Support
Accepts groups: Yes (conditional by project)
From time to time, the Arboretum may have unique planned projects that require additional volunteer support. Typically, special projects consist of large-scale planting or revision efforts in the gardens, such as the 2021 effort to plant the Pollinator and Bird Garden and 2024’s installation of the Palmer Landscape.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Arboretum!
When you begin your volunteer application, you will be asked to create a My Impact Page account. After you have submitted your application, you will be contacted by our volunteer program manager about the next step in this process and automatically notified of volunteer opportunities that match your preferences. Email arbvolunteers@psu.edu if you have questions about the application process.
General Volunteers
If you are 18+ and would like to volunteer as an individual, please complete the General Volunteer Application.
Court-Mandated Volunteers
If you are 18+ and would like to volunteer to fulfill court-mandated service requirements, please complete the Court-Mandated Volunteer Application.
Group and Service Organization
If you are a member of a family or an organization (e.g., service chair for sorority or fraternity) who wishes to coordinate a group of volunteers at the Arboretum, please complete the Group and Service Org. Volunteer Application.
Groups with participants under the age of 18 are welcome, but must be coordinated by an adult over the age of 18.
Note for organizations: Please use your organization’s name as your username when creating an account.
