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Get Involved
The University Arboretum is supported by an incredible community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local volunteers. Whether you're interested in gardening, learning about plants, spending time outdoors, or giving back to your community, we'd love to have you.
Volunteers help care for the Arboretum in many ways including:
- Weeding and maintaining garden beds
- Pruning shrubs and small trees
- Raking leaves and clearing paths
- Building and maintaining garden borders
- Watering and caring for plants
- Helping establish and care for our native plant nursery through propagation, potting, repotting, watering, and general nursery care
Monthly Volunteer Workdays start this Fall!
The Arboretum hosts monthly volunteer workdays on the second Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 1 PM. The first five student volunteers at each workday receive a complimentary Peak Adventures gear rental coupon! No experience needed, all tools supplied.
Looking to volunteer at other times?
Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form and we'll get you started! Be sure to let us know if you're interested in working in the nursery, general Arboretum maintenance, or another aspect of caring for the collections. A member of our staff will then contact you with next steps. Community volunteers are eligible for a complimentary Parking Permit through UTAPS once registered.
Opportunities for Students
Sacramento State students can get involved with the University Arboretum in a variety of ways - whether you want to spend time in the garden weeding, help propagate native plants, inventory and map plants, or do research, we need your help! Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form to start volunteering or see below for other opportunities.
We're hiring for a Student Assistant!
Do you enjoy working outdoors, gardening, and sharing your enthusiasm for plants with others? Join the University Arboretum team! We are currently hiring for a part time Student Assistant to help with general maintenance, outreach, and tours. Log in to Handshake and search for "Arboretum" to apply or check out our job ad below for more information. Applications are due September 4th, 2026.
Apply to be an Arboretum Student Assistant
Earn course credit in our Native Plant Nursery!
The University Arboretum is partnering with the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Sacramento Valley Chapter to establish a native plant nursery at Sacramento State and we need your help! We are looking for a student interested in obtaining internship course credit (BIO 195 or ENVS 195) to help grow our nursery. This internship provides hands-on experience in native plant propagation, nursery management, and applied conservation while working alongside experienced nursery staff and volunteers. Applications are due September 4th, 2026.
Apply to be a Native Plant Nursery Intern
Interested in research or other projects?
The Arboretum is available for student projects and research!
Current research projects advised by the Arboretum include GIS mapping and inventorying of plants with students earning 199 credit. Priority for these projects goes to students in the Geography Department with GIS experience and/or students with botanical knowledge. To learn more, email arboretum@csus.edu.
Have another project in mind? We welcome new ideas for research, class projects, and other academic uses of the Arboretum. If you are planning to use the Arboretum for a course project or have questions about conducting work in the space, contact us to discuss your project and let us know. If your class has multiple students conducting projects in the Arboretum, encourage your instructor to fill out the Class Visit Notification Form.