There are many opportunities for interested individuals to volunteer in the Education Division. Except for the Weekend Garden Docents and Volunteer Interpreters, volunteers must be available to work during regular business hours which are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals wishing to apply to volunteer in the Education Division should contact: Jackie Juras in Human Resource Management at (314) 577-5187 or jackie.juras@mobot.org. The Garden is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Service opportunites for teens ages 14–18 are also available through the SAGE program.

Garden Docents lead thematic walking tours of the Garden for all ages, including tours for school groups and public tours. Docents participate in 20 six-hour training sessions spread out over two years, but begin guiding after the first five sessions. Garden Docents dedicate one day per week to the Garden, leading up to two back-to-back tours on their assigned day.

Volunteer Instructors teach students (grades Pre-K through 8th grade) topics such as introduction to plants, the water cycle, life in the rain forest, deserts, and temperate forests. They dedicate one day per week to the Garden and may teach up to two classes back-to-back during that day.

Training for Volunteer Instructors lasts for one year. One half of the training is spent co-teaching with experienced Instructors. Training occurs on an ongoing, as-needed basis.

Do you like nature and gardening? Become an Interpreter and share your interest with visitors. Volunteer Interpreters present hands-on activities to visitors in the Garden. Our topics range from pollination to fossils, and everything in between. Interpreters give eight hours of service each month, and come in any day or evening. They attend four hours of training quarterly and enjoy optional field trips.

Volunteer Interpreters report to the Education Division of the Missouri Botanical Garden. No experience necessary, but enthusiasm and an enjoyment of working with people are essential!

In addition, Tower Grove House Volunteer Interpreters lead tours of Tower Grove House and interact with visitors to this historic home.

The Samuel D. Soule Center for Older Adults began in the late Spring of 1984 as a result of the generous contributions of the family and friends of Dr. Soule in honor of his 80th birthday. The Center runs a host of senior-related activities.

A volunteer base of Master Gardeners and MBG Guides help provide the outreach programs of the Soule Center. These volunteers visit senior centers, nursing homes, and other locations bringing a bit of the Garden into the lives of others. Some of our recent programs include: Romance of Roses, Flowers Around the World, Missouri Wildflowers, Container Gardening, Healthy Houseplants, and Forcing Bulbs Indoors.

Are you interested in learning about ecology and the natural world? Do you want to share your enthusiasm and knowledge with students? Then the LREC Volunteer Educator Training Program is just right for you!

Volunteer Educators assist with educational programs at the Litzsinger Road Ecology Center in St. Louis County. They are dedicated individuals interested in helping children learn about the natural world. Volunteers receive training in ecology in exchange for their assistance with class studies. Trainees must complete the 12-week training session plus 50 hours of volunteer service at the LREC to qualify for certification.

Volunteer opportunities also exist at Litzsinger Road Ecology Center for those interested in Horticulture and/or Restoration.