VOLUNTEER
WITH US

The Wildflower Center could not exist without the support of its volunteers. Our generous volunteers donate tens of thousands of hours a year serving the mission of the Center. Every day volunteers help tend the gardens, support researchers, assist visitors, and answer gardening questions online.

Benefits of Being a Volunteer

The value of volunteer service is truly immeasurable to us. As a thank you, the Wildflower Center extends the following benefits to volunteers:

  • Five percent discount at the Store
  • Invitations to exclusive events and sales
  • Advance notice of public events
  • Yearly awards and ongoing recognition
  • Access to staff knowledge

Plus, you may gain a few new skills, develop a friendship or two and of course have fun!

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Community Service

Volunteer Positions for Individuals

Click on the areas below to learn more.

Garden Volunteer
Are you interested in learning more about the native plants of the Texas Hill Country? Garden volunteers work in our gardens, greenhouses and other designated areas to assist with planting, weeding, mulching, watering, pruning and propagation.
Natural Areas Volunteer
For those with strong backs who like to get really dirty, these volunteers do heavy-duty brush clearing work, trail maintenance, construction and more.
Youth and Family Education Volunteer
Can you teach others the importance of environmental awareness? Much of what we do at the Wildflower Center revolves around education. Help develop curriculum for our children’s programs, greet visitors to the Little House, assist us in preparing educational materials or supervise learning stations. You may choose to volunteer occasionally when your schedule allows or schedule a placement as often as once a week.
Nature Play Leaders
Interact with kids and families in the Luci and Ian Family Garden as a Nature Play leader. We have weekly volunteer shifts set up to ensure that safety, respect and fun are top priorities in the Family Garden. Duties include ensuring guidelines are being followed, promoting unrestrictive and unstructured play, and supporting children during their work and play with minimal interference.
Gift Store Volunteer
Our nationally recognized store is a great place for volunteers who enjoy interacting with the public and being surrounded by beautiful things. Meet interesting people from around the world and support a great cause. Volunteers assist customers, unpack and stock merchandise and work the cash register. We provide technical and product training. Morning, midday and afternoon volunteer shifts are available Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sundays, noon – 4 p.m. (and Mondays in the spring). We are interviewing people who would enjoy working a weekly 3-hour shift during the week or on weekends.
Library Volunteer
Do you enjoy organizing? We need help in the Library with a variety of projects related to books, slides, pictures and Wildflower Center history. Tasks could include organizing photographs, labeling and sorting slides, prepping books for cataloging, inventorying a collection or finding information online. Training is currently available on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Events and Special Projects Volunteer
If you can’t commit to an ongoing placement at the Center but want to give your time when we need it most, consider volunteering at one of our festivals or seasonal seminars. Groups large and small are needed to help with every aspect of these events. See the events calendar for dates.
Fauna Survey Volunteer
Volunteers record weekly animal and insect sightings, discuss these creatures’ identification and watch their behaviors.
Click Here for Current Opportunities

Become a Docent

Docents are a special group of trained volunteers who represent the Center to the public. Docents complete a two-part learning program that combines classroom and field study. We offer docent training every other year.
Learn More

Teaming Building Opportunities for Groups

Service organizations, teams and corporate groups are often looking for one-day group volunteer opportunities. The Wildflower Center loves working with groups on special projects. Our grounds provide a great outdoor setting for team building and service. Sample opportunities are presented below.

Seed-banking for Conservation
Our conservation efforts include preparing collections of seeds for seed-banking and future repopulation efforts. Collections are made by our biologists, but we depend on the help of volunteers to literally separate the wheat from the chaff and prepare millions of seeds for storage. Best for groups of 10-15, and please let us know that you are coming in advance. We will process seeds Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. until noon and the second Saturday of each month (except April) from 8:30 a.m. – noon and 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. If your group enjoys volunteering at the Wildflower Center, there are further ways your organization can be recognized and make a difference here through sponsoring and working at our annual events.

Skills

No previous experience required for this indoor, light-duty work. Reading glasses are sometimes helpful. Volunteers should be age 16 or up and usually enjoy the camaraderie and conversation while doing this important, detail-oriented work.

Spring and Fall Plant Sales
The Wildflower Center has well-attended Native Plant Sales twice a year, generally on Fridays and Saturdays the second weekend in April and the second weekend in October. Groups of 8-10 work alongside the Wildflower Center’s regular volunteers and help with restocking plants and loading purchased plants into our customer’s vehicles. This is a fun opportunity for small groups that want to break away from the office to do physical, outdoor work during a high profile event. Flexible hours with morning or afternoon shifts either Friday or Saturday. If your group enjoys volunteering at the Wildflower Center, there are further ways your organization can be recognized and make a difference here through sponsoring and working at other annual events.

Skills

No previous experience required. Volunteers should be age 16 and up and be in good physical health. Volunteers will work alongside our staff and seasoned crew. Please note: position requires the ability to bend, lift and stoop. Please wear closed-toe shoes, long sleeves and pants.

Fall Wildflower Planting
Fall is the time to plant in Central Texas! The Wildflower Center is looking for large groups (20-40) who can help us prepare sites and sow seed in our high-profile meadows. This opportunity requires corporate sponsorship of $5,000 at the Leader level which will in part fund the purchase of seed in advance of the workday. Tasks include site preparation, planting seedlings and sowing seed; the need for maintenance, weeding and thinning offers potential follow-up work days. If your group enjoys volunteering at the Wildflower Center, there are further ways your organization can be recognized and make a difference here through sponsoring and working at our annual events.

Skills

No previous experience required. Volunteers should be age 16 and up and be in good physical health. Volunteers will work alongside our staff and seasoned crew. Please note: position requires the ability to bend, lift and stoop. Please wear closed-toe shoes, long sleeves and pants.

Event Set Up & Break Down
Luminations is our December holiday event for families. We invite visitors to enjoy gardens lighted with more than 3,000 luminarias and 5,000 twinkle lights and to listen to music of the season. Admission is free with two canned food items for the Capital Area Food Bank. This event usually takes place the second Saturday and Sunday in December. We need lots of help both setting up and taking down the luminarias, usually requiring 20-50 people for around 5 hours. Set up and break down dates could be fairly flexible, with set up beginning the week before Thanksgiving through the first week in December and breakdown the week following the event.

Skills

All work is physical in nature and will take place outdoors. This is a good match for volunteers who are able to bend, lift and stoop — and who can handle unpredictable temperatures. No experience necessary. The Center will provide tools and gloves. Volunteers are urged to dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection.

Volunteers help plant in the nursery

Contact our Volunteer Services Manager

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Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to conserve, restore and create healthy landscapes.

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