Volunteer at Hoyt Arboretum

Volunteers play an essential role in keeping Hoyt Arboretum welcoming, well-maintained, and vibrant. They help care for trails and trees, welcome and assist visitors, lead hikes and educational programs, participate in community science projects, and so much more.

Whether you’re interested in trees, trails, education, science, or connecting with visitors, there is a place for you at Hoyt Arboretum. Hoyt Arboretum Friends offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for people with different interests, skills, and levels of experience.

Sign up for volunteer opportunities directly by clicking the links to scheduled volunteer events at the bottom of this page.

 

Have questions or want help finding the right opportunity for you?
Contact [email protected] or (503) 823-5453, or fill out the form below to receive information about volunteer opportunities as they arise.

Please note that volunteer news emails can end up in spam. If you do not receive a confirmation email from signing up here, check your spam and add [email protected] to your contacts to help them make it to your inbox.

 

Volunteer Programs

Stewardship

• Tuesday Crew volunteers work side-by-side with Hoyt Arboretum’s curator and horticulturist to care for trails, trees, and plant collections throughout the year.
  • Tuesdays, year-round, 8am-12pm
• Saturday Crew volunteers help maintain trails and trees during the growing season.
  • Saturdays, March-June and September-October, 9am-12pm
• Private Stewardship Crews give companies, community organizations, schools, and other groups an opportunity to work together while helping care for the Arboretum.
  • Submit a Private Stewardship Group Request.

Visitor Engagement

• Trail Rovers are Hoyt Arboretum’s ambassadors on the trails, welcoming visitors, answering questions, and providing maps and directions.
  • Flexible, year-round
• Visitor Center Representatives are often a guest’s first point of contact at the Arboretum. They help create a welcoming visitor experience by sharing their knowledge of the Arboretum’s trees and trails and providing recommendations for guests.
  • Scheduled weekdays and weekends, year-round
• Hike Leaders lead public hikes throughout Hoyt Arboretum and Washington Park, introducing visitors to the Arboretum’s 12 miles of trails and diverse tree and plant collections.
  • Wednesday and Saturday mornings, June-October

Education

• Nature Educators support youth and family programs and help connect participants with the plants, trees, and natural world around them.
  • Training provided in spring
• Tour Guides lead guided walks that introduce visitors to Hoyt Arboretum, its tree and plant collections, and its role in global conservation.
  • Sunday mornings, April-October

Community Science

• BudBurst is a nationwide effort to study plant responses to changes in climate, a field known as phenology. Volunteers make observations that help researchers understand the effects of climate change on plant life.
  • Flexible, March-November
• Early Detection of Invasive Pests volunteers survey for the presence of non-native tree pests to help protect the Arboretum and surrounding natural areas from potential damage.
  • Flexible, June-September
• Ozone Garden volunteers help monitor bioindicator plants for signs of atmospheric pollution.
  • Flexible, April-November
• Western Redcedar Dieback Project volunteers track dieback and mortality in western redcedars at Hoyt Arboretum and around Portland, helping researchers learn about this iconic tree species’ ability to cope with climate change.
  • Flexible, September-October

 

Other Ways to Volunteer

There are many ways to contribute beyond our regular volunteer programs. Depending on your interests, experience, and availability, you may be able to support Hoyt Arboretum Friends through board and committee service, special events, outreach, photography, social media, administration, database management, or other special skills and projects.

If you have a particular skill or interest you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. Contact [email protected] or (503) 823-5453.

 

Upcoming Volunteer Events