Would you like to spend a morning or afternoon helping out in the gardens at The Bloedel Reserve?  We would love to welcome new volunteer Horticultural Helpers.  You will gain skills in propagation, pruning, weeding, and invasive weed removal from our horticultural staff.  Four hours of volunteer time would be ideal as a Horticultural Helper, anywhere between 8:00am until 4:00pm on Wednesdays or Fridays.

Other volunteer opportunities include becoming a docent at the Visitor Center to welcome and explain the history of the house, furnishings, and art.  Visitor Center docents work for a three hour period from Tuesdays through Sundays, and on federal holidays.   

Guest Relations Assistants help admit guests through the main gate and provide a brief orientation for our visitors.  Tour Guides take groups through the Reserve and provide a narrative of the historical context and development of the gardens to our visitors.  While not necessary for all of our guides many of our tour guides are fluent in their knowledge of plant materials.   If you enjoy working with children you may enjoy becoming a tour guide for school groups.

When asking one of our volunteers, that has been with us for over twenty years, what keeps her motivated to be involved as a volunteer here at The Bloedel Reserve she replied that, “it brings such pleasure” to her life volunteering at “such a special place.  I gain as much as I give” as a volunteer.

Please let me know if you are interested in becoming a Bloedel Reserve volunteer by contacting me at tsamilson@bloedelreserve.org, calling me at 842-7631 or sending the Volunteer Application Forms to me at The Bloedel Reserve, 7571 NE Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110.

Thank you,
Terry Samilson, Volunteer Coordinator