Volunteer at Bernheim

Volunteer Opportunities

Our hundreds of volunteers are essential for Bernheim’s success in helping our visitors discover the wonder of Bernheim! From rugged trail work, gardening, and removing invasive species to helping in the café or gift shop, and assisting with youth programming —Bernheim has indoor or outdoor opportunities for everyone.

Ready to join us in being a voice for nature? All potential volunteers must attend a Volunteer Orientation prior to registering for volunteer opportunities. Orientations generally take place on the first Wednesday and third Saturday of each month. Check dates and register for an orientation here.

Individual volunteers should be at least 16 years old. Those younger than 16 are encouraged to volunteer accompanied by an adult.

Our volunteer opportunities include (but are not limited to):

Art Group

Work closely with our Arts in Nature team and join in on the weekly fun every Thursday. Tasks may include lending support to visiting artists in residence, general arts maintenance, assistance in building collaborative large-scale installations, and other arts-related projects that come up throughout the year. Each week is different, but always a good time! No art experience necessary.

Gardening Group

Join our Thursday morning gardening group to assist the Horticulture department in enhancing the overall appearance of Bernheim’s arboretum, as well as helping maintain Bernheim’s plant operations within the nursery and greenhouses. These volunteers will also be involved with our Living Roof Program and special events.

Edible Garden & Nursery Assistant

This seasonal volunteer opportunity supports both Bernheim’s Edible Garden and Nursery. Volunteers assist with a wide range of tasks, including potting plants, weeding, mulching, planting, watering, tending to seed starts, working compost, taking inventory, stepping up plants, and making minor repairs to greenhouse structures.

The Edible Garden, which provides thousands of pounds of fresh produce each year for Isaac’s Café, demonstrates how edible plants and landscapes can inspire visitors to grow food at home and in their communities. By working alongside Bernheim’s Edible Garden steward, volunteers help keep these spaces healthy, productive, and thriving. This opportunity takes place on Tuesday mornings.

Volunteer Naturalist

Bernheim’s award-winning Naturalist Program provides volunteers with an in-depth learning and service experience. The Naturalist Program begins each winter and creates a volunteer community through an inspired curriculum where volunteers will significantly increase their knowledge of Bernheim’s natural ecosystem.

These dedicated volunteers lead various Bernheim educational programs and hands-on discovery stations at events and programs. Note: Naturalists are required to volunteer at least 60 hours per year.

Naturalist Assistant

Want to be involved in the Naturalist Program, but don’t have 60 hours a year available to volunteer?

Become a Naturalist Assistant and provide support to our team of Volunteer Naturalists through direct involvement with our E.C.O. Kids programs and other special events.

Volunteer Play Facilitator

Volunteer play facilitators – ambassadors for outdoor free play, as we call them – help visitors maximize their play experience in Bernheim’s Playcosystem. They interact with families to help them understand the value of outdoor play, risk in play, self-directed free play, and other play topics.

Maintaining the ‘loose parts’, performing light landscape maintenance, and keeping the play space in a low-risk condition are also part of the fun. Play facilitators must be comfortable initiating conversations with Bernheim visitors of all ages. Minimum of four hours per month preferred.

Gift Shop Assistant

Volunteers work side by side with staff in all aspects of Visitor Services, such as greeting visitors, answering phones and questions, and labeling and selling merchandise. Our LEED Platinum Visitor Center is the hub for visitors looking for information, gifts, or just a place to relax and enjoy nature. Our visitors are our biggest asset (besides our volunteers!), and we need you to help us take care of them.

Isaac’s Cafe Assistant

Isaac’s Café is a local favorite for healthy, sustainable meals, featuring produce from Bernheim’s Edible Garden and ingredients sourced from regional small businesses. As a café volunteer, you will support staff in all areas of food service, including food preparation, making lunches, taking orders, and washing dishes. This role is an opportunity to contribute to Bernheim’s mission while helping share the story of fresh, local food with every meal.

Assistant Baker

Work alongside Isaac’s Café staff to help prepare desserts for the week. This volunteer role supports the café’s commitment to fresh, locally sourced ingredients and provides an opportunity to contribute to Bernheim’s mission in a hands-on way.

Information Desk Volunteer

These warm, friendly volunteers ensure every visitor feels welcome and a sense of belonging at Bernheim! Help answer phones, greet guests, and share information about all there is to do and see.

Beaver Brigade

Connect with nature and support Bernheim’s beavers by joining the Beaver Brigade. Beavers are natural dam builders, creating habitats that sustain a rich diversity of plants and wildlife. As a volunteer, you’ll help enhance and expand these vital ecosystems.

Beaver Scout

Those who want to go even further in supporting beaver activity at Bernheim can become Beaver Scouts. As a Beaver Scout you’ll provide early detection and vital information about beaver foraging activities, dam and lodge building, and tree protection measures. Beaver Scouts attend a Beaver Scout training hike with the Natural Areas team to learn how to monitor for beaver activity. After attending a training session, volunteers can independently scout habitats for beaver activity and help promote beaver habitat while simultaneously protecting arboretum collections and constructed infrastructure.

Beaver Scout Report

Forest Steward

Become a Forest Steward and take on a behind-the-scenes role in caring for Bernheim’s woodlands. Working alongside our Research Coordinator, you’ll learn about native plants, the forest’s woody ecosystem, and the invasive species that threaten its health. Forest Stewards meet on Wednesday mornings to help clear invasive plants and support a thriving, resilient forest.

Trail Ranger

This critical volunteer position ensures visitors’ safety throughout our 40+ miles of trails. Volunteer Trail Rangers attend a Training Hike with the Natural Areas staff, where they learn the basics of trail stewardship and maintenance. After attending training, Trail Rangers can volunteer independently to check the trails for hazardous conditions, pick up litter, and perform basic trail maintenance that keeps Bernheim’s trails a favorite destination for hikers!

Trail Inspection Report | Trail Ranger Log