2024 Volunteer Opportunities

Thanks to all our volunteers!

Would you like to make a difference in the community and connect with others who care for and maintain The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky? We have the following options for those interested in volunteering:

• The Kentucky Children’s Garden (KCG) – an orientation (for those new to the KCG) and a refresher (for those returning to volunteer in the KCG) session are required as well as a background check. The last training session of the season will take place on SATURDAY MAY 11, at 10 AM. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Send an email with your name to Arboretum@uky.edu
• Tuesday mornings in the Ornamental Horticulture Gardens – complete a volunteer agreement form (link below). Jesse Dahl (Jesse.dahl3@uky.edu) will contact you via email to let you know the time of his volunteer session.
• Wednesday mornings in the Demonstration Vegetable Garden - complete a volunteer agreement form (link below). Sumi McCarty (Sumi.McCarty@uky.edu) will contact you via email to let you know if the group is meeting.

We have reached capacity for our regularly occurring opportunities on Thursday mornings (working with Jess Slade in the Walk Across Kentucky Native Plant Collection).

Current Volunteer Training Schedule: 

• KCG: May 11, 10 a.m.

Please check back, as this schedule will be subject to change.

Registration is required to participate in Volunteer Training. Please email Ryan Adair at arboretum@uky.edu to register for participation. 

If none of our volunteer opportunities worked for you this year, we encourage you to check back with us in March 2025 for information on how to on-board and join one of our volunteer areas.

For more information on volunteering in the Kentucky Children's Garden, see Volunteers Needed in the Kentucky Children’s Garden.

If you have questions, please contact us at (859) 257-6955 or arboretum@uky.edu.

Volunteer Agreement Form