The Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park’s stunning historic greenhouse full of rare and beautiful tropical flora, is currently recruiting volunteers to lead group tours and conduct school visits. Interested volunteers of all ages and experience levels are welcome to attend the Conservatory’s annual 7-week training session this winter — a non stop educational adventure that introduces new volunteers to the Conservatory’s expert horticultural staff and provides an in depth and engaging introduction to the fascinating collection of over 1700 species of tropical plants.
The Conservatory is in need of volunteers who can commit to two shifts per month for a minimum of a year in either of the following categories:
Jungle Guides: Lead tours for 3rd-5th grade classes weekday mornings from September through May. Tours are offered at no cost to schools, and cover the basics of plant evolution and tropical ecosystems.
Docents: Lead daily free tours as well as special guided tours for groups, educating adult visitors on the Conservatory’s extensive collection of tropical plants.
The 7-week training program will be held at the Conservatory every Wednesday from January 9 through February 20 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The $60 cost of the training program covers all mandatory training materials. Volunteers who complete the course have ongoing opportunities for education throughout the year including field trips to area gardens and enjoy insider perks like sneak previews of special exhibits, social activities, free passes, a gift store discount and more.
Bilingual Chinese and Spanish speakers are particularly encouraged.
Interested volunteers should contact Erika Frank, Director of Volunteer Services, at (415) 637-4326 or efrank@sfcof.org.
Conservatory of Flowers Background
The Conservatory of Flowers is a spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants under glass. From Borneo to Bolivia, the 1,700 species of plants at the Conservatory represent unusual flora from more than 50 countries around the world. Immersive displays in five galleries include the lowland tropics, highland tropics, aquatic plants, potted plants and special exhibits.
Opened in 1879, the wood and glass greenhouse is the oldest existing conservatory in North America and has attracted millions of visitors to Golden Gate Park since it first opened its doors. It is designated as a city, state and national historic landmark and was one of the 100 most endangered sites of the World Monuments Fund.
For general Conservatory information, visit www.conservatoryofflowers.org.
