Share your experience
Help us keep things growing! We invite you to share in the ISU Horticulture Center’s success as a member of our dedicated team of volunteers. Our volunteers help in a myriad of ways, and their ideas, hard work, and commitment are an integral part of the living fabric that is the Center. Being a Horticulture Center volunteer is a wonderful and rewarding opportunity to give back to the community while making new friends and using your talents and skills for a great cause.
We believe that our gardens and plant collections should reflect the broad diversity of the field of horticulture, and we strive for a culture of diversity and inclusion among our staff, volunteers, and visitors.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Horticulture Center has a diverse and loyal group of volunteers who help in a myriad of ways. This includes:
- assisting staff in maintaining the gardens
- helping with activities such as making plant tags for the garden or decorations for special events
- assisting guests at events like the Autumnal Festival (taking admission, teaching children’s crafts, monitoring silent auction area, etc.)
- aiding in the creation and collection of educational materials for the Center
- giving tours to community members
- interacting with the public in a friendly manner with knowledge of the center and its current and future plans
- working with the prairie
- construction projects
- and more!
GROUP VOLUNTEERING:
We have group volunteer opportunities! Organizations, groups, and other parties interested in volunteering for service days should reach out to the Assistant Director, Joe Tulley, at 309-438-7076 or by email at jtulley@ilstu.edu.
Volunteer Forms
Meet Our Volunteers
Wanda
VOLUNTEER
“As a retiree, volunteering at the ISU Horticulture Center is a very rewarding use of my time and energy. The beauty of the various gardens in full bloom, as well as birds enjoying the prairie is both breathtaking and calming. Love the Center!”
Joanne
VOLUNTEER
I have volunteered at the Horticulture center for a few years, but I especially enjoy seeing the transformation from muted winter colors to vibrant hues of summer zinnias, marigolds and other annuals throughout the gardens. The popularity of the gardens is evident throughout the season and makes all the planning and hard work worthwhile. I look forward each year to the new theme of the center and how it unfolds.
Tina
VOLUNTEER
“I love being outdoors, getting my hands dirty planting/weeding, and learning. The Horticulture Center provides the perfect mix for all three things in a beautiful setting.”
Natalie
VOLUNTEER
“My daughter inspired me to volunteer. She always had a love for the Horticulture Center, spending hours exploring and taking in the beauty of nature, and one day as she watched volunteers help, she expressed she too wanted to help. Together, now, we are part of the community of volunteers.”
Johanna
VOLUNTEER
I love helping at the ISU Horticulture Center because the staff are all happy and so welcoming -- It takes only one work event to make you family. Every year the grounds become more beautiful. It has become my home away from home. Come visit us!
Marilyn
VOLUNTEER
"While nurturing the plants at the HC, I am nurturing my crafty self and my plant-loving self. At the same time, I am contributing to the larger community, making new friends, and always learning something new. What’s not to love about volunteering at the HC?"
Jaci
VOLUNTEER
"I have been involved with the Horticulture Center for several years. First as a student, then as an employee and now as a volunteer. It is a very special place that I love to visit and help to keep beautiful for others to enjoy and learn from the displays. I am a Master Gardener also so I appreciate the opportunity to educate others who visit the Center. The mix of styles from the flower beds to the Pinetum, the prairie and the rose and fruit garden presents such a diversity of plants for everyone to enjoy. A true hidden gem!"
Ray
VOLUNTEER
"Last year was my first full year volunteering at the Horticulture Center. Jessica approached me while I was visiting, photographing flowers. She expressed a need for the grounds to be photographed. I agreed and other than photographing, I inherited the care of the rose garden. It was fun learning from the Master Gardeners about roses and how to care for them. I have been able to document the life of the prairie throughout the year by taking pictures on a monthly basis."
Sue
VOLUNTEER
“I enjoy working at the ISU Horticulture Center due to the varied projects and the nice group of people. There is also a team spirit. It’s a beautiful setting and it makes me feel good making it a bit better than it was before I started the project."
Laura & Dave
VOLUNTEER
We have met so many interesting, creative and fun people while volunteering at the Center. The variety of things to do - planting, weeding, mulching, crafting, painting, creating and building things - makes it easy for the whole family to volunteer together.
Meet Our Volunteers
Wanda
VOLUNTEER
“As a retiree, volunteering at the ISU Horticulture Center is a very rewarding use of my time and energy. The beauty of the various gardens in full bloom, as well as birds enjoying the prairie is both breathtaking and calming. Love the Center!”
Joanne
VOLUNTEER
I have volunteered at the Horticulture center for a few years, but I especially enjoy seeing the transformation from muted winter colors to vibrant hues of summer zinnias, marigolds and other annuals throughout the gardens. The popularity of the gardens is evident throughout the season and makes all the planning and hard work worthwhile. I look forward each year to the new theme of the center and how it unfolds.
Tina
VOLUNTEER
“I love being outdoors, getting my hands dirty planting/weeding, and learning. The Horticulture Center provides the perfect mix for all three things in a beautiful setting.”
Natalie
VOLUNTEER
“My daughter inspired me to volunteer. She always had a love for the Horticulture Center, spending hours exploring and taking in the beauty of nature, and one day as she watched volunteers help, she expressed she too wanted to help. Together, now, we are part of the community of volunteers.”
Johanna
VOLUNTEER
I love helping at the ISU Horticulture Center because the staff are all happy and so welcoming -- It takes only one work event to make you family. Every year the grounds become more beautiful. It has become my home away from home. Come visit us!
Marilyn
VOLUNTEER
"While nurturing the plants at the HC, I am nurturing my crafty self and my plant-loving self. At the same time, I am contributing to the larger community, making new friends, and always learning something new. What’s not to love about volunteering at the HC?"
Jaci
VOLUNTEER
"I have been involved with the Horticulture Center for several years. First as a student, then as an employee and now as a volunteer. It is a very special place that I love to visit and help to keep beautiful for others to enjoy and learn from the displays. I am a Master Gardener also so I appreciate the opportunity to educate others who visit the Center. The mix of styles from the flower beds to the Pinetum, the prairie and the rose and fruit garden presents such a diversity of plants for everyone to enjoy. A true hidden gem!"
Sue
VOLUNTEER
“I enjoy working at the ISU Horticulture Center due to the varied projects and the nice group of people. There is also a team spirit. It’s a beautiful setting and it makes me feel good making it a bit better than it was before I started the project."
Ray
VOLUNTEER
"Last year was my first full year volunteering at the Horticulture Center. Jessica approached me while I was visiting, photographing flowers. She expressed a need for the grounds to be photographed. I agreed and other than photographing, I inherited the care of the rose garden. It was fun learning from the Master Gardeners about roses and how to care for them. I have been able to document the life of the prairie throughout the year by taking pictures on a monthly basis."
Laura & Dave
VOLUNTEER
We have met so many interesting, creative and fun people while volunteering at the Center. The variety of things to do - planting, weeding, mulching, crafting, painting, creating and building things - makes it easy for the whole family to volunteer together.