Volunteer Program

"Gardens, scholars say,

are the first sign

 of commitment to a community.

When people plant corn they

are saying, let's stay here.

And by their connection to the land,

they are connected to one another."
      — Anne Raver 

Volunteers are very important as they provide over 90% of the physical labor at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens!

Our volunteer workforce is primarily composed of seniors, youth at risk, youth working on special programs (merit badges or awards programs) and people with disabilities. We also have opportunities for people of any age and training, especially if they have special skills needed at the Gardens.

While there are many volunteer opportunities at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, there are seasonal periods when applicants must be placed on a waiting list.

Volunteers tasks are matched to abilities. Some people prefer hosting the front desk, some like to weed and take care of the roses, while others prefer to work in the greenhouse grooming plants. There is always something needing to be done. The rewards are learning about gardening, solar energy while making new friends and taking home fresh harvests.

If you require information about our volunteer program, please contact Mr. ClausJohnson at 307-637-6458. or e-mail him at claus@botanic.org.

Therapy in Action - Everyday, Everybody

The award-winning Cheyenne Botanic Gardens volunteer program is horticultural therapy in action and includes senior, youth and handicapped individuals. As volunteer Adele Beedie explained in January on a warm, beautiful day in the conservatory, "Being here refreshes my soul. You can actually see the spirits of our volunteers rise once they start working with plants and enjoying the camaraderie of other volunteers.”

Volunteers also receive the benefits of horticultural therapy and the self-esteem building knowledge that they are adding to the quality of life in their community.

Volunteers make friends across generations and differing backgrounds. As CBG volunteer, Pauline McCabe (97 years young), often said, "The people are so friendly here." 

One of the younger volunteers, 17-year-old Katie Schroeder comments, "Plants are like music, they just make you feel good."

You will also see disabled individuals working with plants often in concert with a senior volunteer reaping the benefits of a harvest, transplanting or grooming plants.

Because labor is one of the costliest factors in maintaining a botanic garden, this offsets a major portion of labor costs that enables the project to survive on a proportionately smaller budget.