Volunteering

Our Healthy Harvest program typically runs from June to October, and involves processing and occasionally helping to harvest the produce that is grown at the Garden. As a volunteer, you would assist with cleaning, weighing, and packaging the produce which is then delivered to food groups on campus. Volunteers assist once a week throughout the growing season, during which up to 1850 pounds of produce is harvested and processed!

As a Healthy Harvest Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to:

• Sort, clean, weigh and organize the produce harvested from the Food Garden
• Take some of the produce home with you!
• Engage with likeminded UBC students and volunteers who want to make impactful change around the issue of food insecurity on campus

The Garden hosts annual events that engage our community, particularly Tourism Challenge in April and May, and Biodiversity Days in May. As a volunteer, you would help with registration, set-up, directing guests, engaging them in hands-on learning opportunities and be a friendly go-to for our visitors.

As a Community Events Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to:

• Attend and engage with Garden guests at unique events
• Learn behind-the-scenes organizational skills
• Increase social interactions and enjoy satisfying work

Garden Media Support volunteers practice their photography and video skills to capture the beauty of the Garden. We need volunteers to photograph and record plant species, spaces, and other features in the Garden for use promotionally and to share publicly.

As a Garden Media Support volunteer you will have the opportunity to:

• Improve your nature photography aptitude
• Expand your portfolio

Held rain or shine each year on the Saturday and Sunday following the Thanksgiving weekend (October 18 and 19, 2025), the Apple Festival celebrates the variety and bounty of BC apples. The festival includes the sale of thousands of pounds of fresh BC apples, brought from the Okanagan growers directly to the UBC Botanical Garden. There are also apple trees for sale, apple pies and apple cider, food trucks, music, a children’s play area and lots more.

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to make the Apple Festival a success each year. We welcome individuals, groups, university and high school student volunteers.

As an Apple Festival Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to:

• Join the Apple Festival, be part of history, and enjoy free entry—explore before or after your shift.
• Meet others like you who love to volunteer in their community
• Learn some new skills
• Make a meaningful contribution to raising funds to support UBC Botanical Garden

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to help with various tasks such as admissions, Green waste management, greeting guests, facilitating workshops, education and flower sales. As a volunteer, you will also have the opportunity to explore the market for free before or after your shift. This is a fantastic chance to contribute to a vibrant community event and help us celebrate the year of the Dragon. Don’t miss out on this exciting volunteer opportunity! Learn more about registration and each volunteer position below.