Wednesdays & Fridays, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

The extraordinary gardens of Alcatraz reflect a rich history of horticulture and gardening ideas spanning many different eras, including floriferous Victorian cottage gardens, terraced cutting beds, and environmentally sensitive attempts at erosion control. Since 2003, garden volunteer crews have been working each week to re-establish the historic gardens.

Volunteer activities include weeding, pruning, and planting. Through the project, volunteers will be introduced to the stories of the gardens and have the opportunity to visit some areas not accessible to the public. As an added bonus, garden volunteers arrive on Alcatraz before other visitors, so you can experience the island during the most tranquil time of day.

This is is not a drop-in program. An application is required, as well as a commitment to volunteering on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for 2-3 months.

Group programs are available. Schedule a private program for groups with 10-20 volunteers.

Contact Information
(415) 561-3044 or volunteer@parksconservancy.org

Age/Skills/What to Bring

• Volunteers ages 18 and up are welcome.
• No experience necessary. Training, tools, and transporation to and from Alcatraz will be provided. Application required for participation.
• Bring the appropriate waiver forms (see below). Please wear clothes that can get dirty, long pants, close-toed shoes, layers for changing weather, and rain gear if necessary. Also, bring a personal water bottle and sunscreen.

Waiver Forms
Please bring the completed forms to the project.
Youth/Adult/Groups: Complete the volunteer waiver. Any volunteer under the age of 18 must have the parent/guardian approval section signed.
Groups: Complete the above waiver and fill out the group list.
Waiver Work Description: For a general description of the volunteer work, download the work description.

Docent Opportunities
Alcatraz Historic Gardens docent: If you are interested in becoming an Alcatraz Historic Gardens docent, please fill out an application. Docents lead visitors through the gardens for up to an hour and/or engage visitors at a designated stop in the garden. Docents complete a training course and lead tours at least twice a month.
Alcatraz Waterbird docent: Waterbird docents assist visitors to Alcatraz in understanding the behavior, feeding, breeding, and ecology of nesting seabird species. To learn more about this opportunity, click here.


To learn more about the historic gardens, visit www.alcatrazgardens.org; download "The Gardens of Alcatraz", the Garden Conservancy's prospectus; or click here to view historical and current photos of the Alcatraz Gardens.


The Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program is a cooperative parkwide effort of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the Garden Conservancy, the National Park Service, and the Presidio Trust.