Volunteers are the heart of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and they play a vital role in our mission of research, conservation, and horticultural display at both the Downtown Sarasota and Historic Spanish Point campuses. Numbering over seven times the size of our staff, volunteers add the equivalent of more than 25 full-time workers to the Selby Gardens workforce each year. Yet they consistently tell us they get back much more than they give: new friends, new interests, and opportunities to learn and grow in some of Sarasota’s most beautiful surroundings.
Volunteer Benefits
- Training and special educational opportunities
- Invitations to Selby Gardens volunteer events including the Annual Volunteer Recognition, lectures, and more
- Discounts at the Garden Shop at our Downtown Sarasota campus, The Selby House Café, and the Bayfront Cottage Café at the Historic Spanish Point campus.
Active Volunteers
To see your information on VOLGISTICS, please click the button below and sign in using your email address and password.
If you are interested in volunteering with Selby Gardens please fill out the following application:
Typical Volunteer Positions
Museum Docent: Volunteers share their knowledge of art, various exhibitions, and the history of Payne Mansion with visitors to the Museum of Botany & the Arts at our Downtown Sarasota campus.
Guptill House and Packing House Docent: share knowledge of the history of the Guptill House and the Packing House with visitors to our Historic Spanish Point campus.
Tropical Conservatory Docent: share knowledge of plants, various art exhibitions, horticultural displays, and Marie Selby’s legacy at our Downtown Sarasota campus.
Welcome Center: welcome guests and provide campus maps and other detailed information at our Downtown Sarasota campus.
“Ask Me” Cart Guide: spend time outdoors at our Downtown Sarasota campus, providing information about the gardens and answering visitor questions.
School Group Guide: help guide groups through the gardens at both campuses and assist with special programs formulated for groups of school-aged children.
Children’s Rainforest Garden Volunteer: help young visitors find books and puzzles, read stories, look through microscopes, and more at our Downtown Sarasota campus.
Walk & Talk Guide: lead half-hour mini-tours of the gardens of our Downtown Sarasota campus and/or lead 90-minute walking tours of the grounds of our Historic Spanish Point campus.
Horticulture Assistant: assist the staff Horticulture team with the cultivation of our grounds and the care of our plant collections at both campuses.
Special Events Volunteers: assist our Events team by guiding visitors, answering questions, assisting with event production, and much more during special events at both campuses.
Summer Camp Counselor: Teenage camp counselors assist with pre-camp preparation, day camp activities, and breakdown afterwards. There are two weeks of camp at our Downtown Sarasota campus and two weeks of camp at our Historic Spanish Point campus. Counselors must be 14 to 17 years old, enjoy children, be self-directed, and enjoy nature. Volunteering for all four weeks is preferred, but not required. Hours worked can be counted toward Florida Bright Futures volunteer service hours requirements.
Interested in Volunteering?
Thanks for your interest!
Please fill out a Volunteer Application here.
Volunteers must attend a virtual Volunteer Orientation before beginning any position, followed by an in-person meeting with our Volunteer Manager to determine the perfect volunteer position for you based on your skills and interests.
