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Becoming a Volunteer
Portland Japanese Garden volunteers must: (1) be at least 16 years of age (2) be able to commit to a minimum of two volunteer shifts per month for a minimum period of six months. Volunteers who commit 40 hours or more of service to Portland Japanese Garden in a year will receive a voucher that they can apply to a Garden membership.
Our volunteer onboarding process consists of four steps:
- Apply – Our volunteer application is currently closed for the winter. Please check back in March to apply.
- Meet with Us– After your application has been reviewed, applicants will be invited to a virtual meeting with a member of our Volunteer Department. This short meeting gives us a chance to get to know your skills, interests, and availability.
- Attend a Volunteer Orientation– New volunteers are required to take part in a 90-minute virtual session before their first volunteer shift.
- Shadow an Experienced Volunteer – Work alongside one of the Garden’s wonderful volunteer mentors to prepare to volunteer on your own.
Our Volunteer Opportunities
Garden Ambassadors
Garden Ambassadors enhance the guest experience by providing information about the history, philosophy, and design principles of Portland Japanese Garden. They also support our Visitor Relations staff by answering questions and providing wayfinding assistance to guests. Clear, friendly, and welcoming communication skills are a requirement for this role. Volunteers must enjoy working outside and providing accurate information to visitors from all backgrounds. Garden Ambassadors must acquire a thorough knowledge of Portland Japanese Garden through self-study of provided resource materials. Shifts are two hours long and available weekdays and weekends between the hours of 10am-4pm.
Bonsai Docents
Bonsai Docents greet visitors at the Ellie M. Hill Bonsai Terrace and share knowledge about the art of bonsai. A background in horticulture is a benefit, but not as important as a friendly demeanor and excellent customer service skills. Shifts are two hours long and available weekdays and weekends between the hours of 10am-4pm from April to November. Bonsai volunteers receive a packet of training materials to prepare for their role.
Exhibition Docents
Art lovers with outgoing personalities will love our Exhibition Docent program. Exhibition Docents welcome the public to our Pavilion Gallery and educate visitors about artworks on display. Docent shifts are two hours long and available weekdays and weekends between the hours of 10am-4pm. An orientation with our Art Department (and sometimes with the visiting artists) is held before each exhibition to prepare volunteers. Our exhibition program in 2024 will focus on the wealth of Japanese culture collected by our community close to home as well as Portland’s sister-city relationship with Sapporo, Japan.
Horticulture Support Volunteers
Horticulture Support volunteers are a vital resource for the gardeners at Portland Japanese Garden. These volunteers assist with tasks such as weeding, raking, sweeping, moss and ivy removal, as well as general garden clean-up. Interested individuals should possess a strong work ethic and be able to handle all types of weather conditions. They must also be able to kneel (on provided pads) for extended periods. Horticulture Support shifts are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and are four hours long from 8am-12pm.
Cultural Village Hosts
Portland Japanese Garden’s Cultural Village is a lively courtyard space situated outside of our five Historic Gardens that is home to our Umami Café, Gift Shop, and Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center. As guests arrive in the Cultural Village from their stroll through the Entry Garden, they may have questions or need help getting oriented in the space. The Cultural Village Host serves as a friendly point of contact for them to make sure that they start their visit to the Garden on the right foot. The duties of the Cultural Village Host include welcoming guests, providing wayfinding assistance, and sharing information about programming at the Garden such as tours, cultural demonstrations, and art exhibitions. Cultural Village Hosts should possess strong communication skills and have an approachable and easygoing attitude. Shifts for this role are available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 10am-12pm and 12pm-2pm.
Welcome Center Greeters
Welcome Center Greeters work out of Portland Japanese Garden’s ticketing area and are tasked with managing the admissions queue, engaging with guests in line for tickets, and setting them up for the best experience possible. As the first point of contact for visitors to the Garden, Welcome Center Greeters should be outgoing, energetic, and comfortable working outside in a fast-paced environment. Welcome Center Greeters should also be passionate about expanding their knowledge of Portland Japanese Garden and sharing that knowledge with others. Shifts for this role are available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 10:30am-12:30pm and 1pm-3pm. This is a seasonal position from May through October.
Event Volunteers
The Garden holds many cultural festivals and receptions throughout the year and relies on volunteers to help us make our events a success. These shifts are typically 2-4 hours long and are available in the afternoon or evenings.
Office Volunteers
Office support is needed periodically throughout the year. When needed, office volunteers work alone or in groups to complete projects for the Executive, Development, and Membership Departments. The time commitment varies depending on the demands of the particular department and position (a typical shift is usually on a weekday for two to three hours). The work is usually done off-site in our administrative offices and includes tasks like assembling mailings, gift bags, and nametags.
Tour Guides
Tour Guides give public tours, private tours, and school tours of the Garden. Guide training includes 16 hours of classroom study, followed by a period of self-study and mentorship. The training takes approximately 3-4 months to complete. Our next Tour Guide Training Session will begin in January 2025. Please complete our tour guide application if you are interested.
Candidates must be available for training on the following dates:
- 1/18/25 from 9am-11am
- 1/25/25 from 8am-12pm
- 1/26/25 from 8am-12pm
- 2/16/25 from 9am-11am
Please email our Volunteer Programs Manager for more information at the email below.
Contact our Volunteer Department
If you have any questions about volunteering at Portland Japanese Garden, please contact the Volunteer Department by emailing volunteer@japanesegarden.org or by calling 503-542-9354.
Policy Against Discrimination
At Portland Japanese Garden we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and volunteers. We recruit, employ, train, encourage, and recognize our volunteers for their hard work without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. It is also the policy of Portland Japanese Garden that all employees and volunteers are entitled to work in an environment free from all forms of discrimination. Discrimination or harassment based upon any of these factors is inconsistent with the policy and philosophy of Portland Japanese Garden and will not be tolerated at any time.