So many ways to volunteer in Golden Gate Park

Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to Golden Gate Park, plus connect with people who share your love for it. 

There’s a wide range of volunteer opportunities in the park, from just a few hours to long-term positions, both indoors and outside. 

Want to make the park a thriving habitat for local wildlife and pollinators, plus get your hands dirty? 

Help out for a few hours at ongoing volunteer projects at the Oak Woodlands, Bison Paddock, North Lake, Alvord Lake, Conservatory Valley, or on Strawberry Hill.

Find an upcoming volunteer opportunity at Rec and Park’s volunteer page; search in ‘District 1’ and you’ll see sign-ups. 

Love Golden Gate Park’s museums and attractions? 

Consider becoming an ongoing volunteer at the California Academy of Sciences or the de Young Museum. 

The Gardens of Golden Gate Park (which includes the Botanical Garden, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the Conservatory of Flowers) offer opportunities to help with everything from plant sales and Flower Piano to being an interpretive guide. You need to complete an online orientation and get a background check before accessing opportunities, so this has a few more hoops. 

The National AIDS Memorial Grove has monthly community workdays; nearly 2,000 volunteers provide an incredible ~7,000 hours of annual volunteer labor here!

There are also occasional and fun short-term projects on the Golden Mile (aka JFK Promenade) like fixing the yellow Adirondack chairs or painting murals, so sign up for their volunteer list. 

Small ways to keep the park golden

Every time you’re in the park, leave it more beautiful if you can and pick up trash if you see some. If you’re on trails and come upon something bigger to address (lots of trash, vandalism, etc.), call 311 or go to the 311 website or app to report it. This will help park staff easily locate and address the problem.   

Did I miss an ongoing volunteer opportunity in Golden Gate Park? Email secretgoldengatepark@gmail.com.