Become a Volunteer
Volunteering at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens can be a rewarding and stimulating experience: learn new skills, make new friends, and become a valued member of the extended volunteer staff. The Morris could not accomplish all that it does without the help of its volunteers who play an integral role in the organization.
"Volunteering gives me the opportunity to get visitors excited about the Morris. Every turn of the path holds a different story or interesting nugget that I get to share.
I visited the Morris dozens of times before I became a volunteer—turns out I knew nothing. Volunteering has given me tons of knowledge and information that turn the Morris into a compelling story about people, stewardship, nature, and the beauty we are able to enjoy thanks to John and Lydia Morris."
Listed below are our current volunteer opportunities. For more information contact Intern and Volunteer Coordinator Jenny Rajotte at jrajotte@upenn.edu or 215.247.5777 ext. 236.
Garden Educators
Trained on a variety of topics, our Garden Educators engage visitors in the rich history and exciting future of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens, while sharing their enthusiasm for the environment and knowledge about our plants and gardens. Garden Educators volunteer for a regular weekly (M – F) or monthly (Sat/Sun) shift during high season, March through November.
Please note that Garden Educators work through multiple seasons, and need to be adaptable to providing services during various weather conditions ranging from hot to cold, drizzly to dry.
• Weekday volunteers lead group tours and need to complete a 13-session training course on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in March. Weekday volunteers commit to a regular weekly schedule.
• Weekend volunteers are a welcoming presence, providing orientation and general garden knowledge, and need to complete a four-session training course on Saturdays in March. Weekend Educators volunteer for one day a month.
Requirements to be a Garden Educator include:
• Ability to walk at least one mile over hilly terrain while talking and actively engaging visitors
• Comfort with presenting to a group, projecting your voice, and interacting with visitors from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds
• For weekday volunteers: a willingness to work with children, as the bulk of our weekday tours are with PK-12 school groups (relevant training provided)
• Ability to communicate comfortably using a computer: email, opening documents, using a shared calendar/scheduling process
• Attendance at all relevant training sessions in March (see below)
• Successfully complete a three-tier background check
2025 Training Dates:
Weekday Guides: 9:30am – 12:30 pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
March 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 (Rain date: March 29)
Weekend Only: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Saturdays
March 1, 8, 15, 22 (Rain date: March 29)
Garden Education Application →
Horticulture
Garden Volunteers
Wednesday Garden Volunteers gather March – November and are on hiatus for the Winter.
Sign up to receive an email when the 2025 application is open!
Natural Areas Volunteers
Volunteers in Natural Areas meet on Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings year-round (as safety permits). Working with the McCausland Natural Areas Manager, they help care for the approximately 35 acres of Natural Areas as well as areas of the Bloomfield Farm property of the Morris. Terrain encompasses forest, meadow, and wetlands, and tasks range in physicality and use a range of tools with a sensitivity to the multitude of ecosystems and their needs.
Previous gardening/land managing experience is helpful but not required, and you must be able to bend, stoop, and lift at least 15–20lbs. Before you begin volunteering you must submit an application, attend an orientation session, and sign a waiver.
Garden Railway
Volunteers play a key role by welcoming visitors to the display, answering questions and helping visitors experience everything there is to see and do at the Arboretum. If you enjoy interacting with both children and adults, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Shifts are three hours in length (10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.). Come spend a few hours at the Arboretum and experience the magic of the trains!
Download the Volunteer Application →
Springfield Mills
The Run-of-the-Mill volunteers are restoring Springfield Mills to water-powered operation. The structure dates to 1854 with elements from 1761 and sits along the Wissahickon on the Arboretum’s Bloomfield Farm. The mill stones and water-powered machinery are over a century old. Volunteers work on the mill on the second Saturday of every month and operate the mill during public events at Bloomfield. Activities include carpentry, masonry, equipment restoration and general clean up. Research, documentation and education volunteers are welcome. Learn more about Springfield Mills.
Download the Volunteer Application →
Physical Facilities
Physical Facilities volunteers play a vital role in helping to maintain some of the features at Morris Arboretum such as fountains and visitor center. Tasks range from helping paint interior walls to skimming leaves from fountains to keep the water flowing and the pumps from burning out. A background in a skilled trade such as mechanics or carpentry would be very helpful, but not required. No heavy lifting or expert knowledge is required for many jobs.