Get involved · Volunteer
Volunteer at HBS
Care for the native plant gardens, adopt a bed of your own, or bring a team for a workday. All skill levels are welcome.
Garden days on WednesdaysFlexible schedulesGroups by arrangement
01 · Opportunities
Ways to help
Whether you’re drawn to native plants, conservation or simply time outdoors, there’s a rewarding place for you here.
Botanical Gardens
Garden volunteers
Help care for the native plant gardens, improve our landscapes and contribute to conservation work. All skill levels welcome.
Wednesdays · flexible schedules availableAdopt-a-Garden
A garden of your own
Take on a special space, such as the Bog Garden, the Moss Garden, the Pollinator Garden or a stretch of trail, and tend it each week with guidance from our Horticultural Specialist.
WeeklyGroup workdays
Bring your team
Bring friends, coworkers or your organization for a meaningful team day in the gardens.
By arrangement: email usThe Station and its Botanical Gardens have been an important part of my life for several decades. I have enjoyed numerous workshops, lectures, and tours and learned so much about our native plants.
02 · Getting started
Three steps to start
Tell us about you
Fill out the HBS volunteer application with your interests and availability.
TK: swap this download for an online application form
Sign the agreement
Every volunteer completes a Western Carolina University Volunteer Agreement before their first workday.
Send them in
Drop your completed forms at the HBS Main Office, or email them to hbs@wcu.edu.
Questions first?
Talk with our volunteer coordinator
Don’t see an opportunity that fits? Reach out and we’ll explore other ways to get involved.
03 · Two volunteer programs
Station or Foundation?
HBS and the Highlands Biological Foundation, a separate nonprofit, each run their own volunteer program. Garden and grounds work happens with the Station; the Foundation signs up its volunteers online.
Highlands Biological Station
Gardens & grounds
Garden volunteers, Adopt-a-Garden and group workdays, coordinated by HBS staff with our Horticultural Specialist.
Highlands Biological Foundation · separate nonprofit
Foundation volunteers
The Foundation runs its own volunteer program, with its own sign-up. Its team can tell you what help it needs this season.
04 · More ways