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Teen Programs

 Hours/Location

Calling All Teens!#

Project Hort group picture

The Gardens are for learners of all ages! If you are a teen or the guardian of a teen looking for botanically-inspired educational opportunities, check out our available options and find the right fit for you:

Butterfly

Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities (Ages 14-17)

Each hyperlink below will give you more details about the specific volunteer opportunities at The Gardens.

Butterfly House: Volunteering in our Butterfly House is both educational and rewarding! Butterfly House volunteers are responsible for maintaining USDA containment standards, helping to ensure excellent guest experience, and enhancing guest takeaways through interpretation and education.

Horticulture: Horticulture volunteers assist horticulture staff on weekday mornings in our outdoor gardens and propagation in our greenhouse on different days of the week throughout the growing season. Gardening tasks include weeding, transplanting, seeding, mulching, turning soil, deadheading, and harvesting fruits and vegetables. Outdoor gardening opportunity requires a moderate activity level and a willingness to work outside under varying conditions. Some adaptations can be made.

Special Events: These opportunities occur throughout the year to assist with set-up and day of activities, including ticket scanning, greeting guests, crowd management, and wayfinding. Most opportunities require standing and walking around the event; however, seated opportunities are available.

Teen Volunteer Application

Two teens sorting seeds

School’s Out! Volunteer Days

School’s out! Volunteer Days are open to all teens in 6th–12th grades.

While connecting with other teens, you will learn more about The Gardens and additional teen volunteer opportunities available throughout the year. Come learn and grow!

Spring 2025 Dates and Themes:

  • Monday, Jan. 20 | 1 – 4 p.m.
    • Seasonal Clean Up - As we enter the New Year and our Garden of Lights celebration comes to an end, we need help cleaning up all of our holiday decor! Our afternoon will include light strand removal, breaking down displays, organizing supplies for next year, and any other clean-up that needs to be done.

  • Monday, Feb. 17 |  1 – 4 p.m.
    • Great Backyard Bird Count - This global community science project helps scientists better understand bird populations before one of their annual migrations, and we get to help! We will spend the afternoon learning about the birds in our area and going out to count as many as we can.

  • Friday, April 18 |  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • Earth Day - Help us make The Gardens beautiful to celebrate Earth Day! During this morning, we will be completing garden tasks that may include planting, weeding, mulching, and other spring cleaning tasks depending on horticulture needs.

  • Friday, May 16 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • Plant Sale - Each year, The Gardens hosts a Plant Sale of thousands of annuals and perennials that our horticulturists have been growing all year! This morning, we will assist with the event setup, including setting up tables, moving plants to their sale locations, and organizing signage.

Interested? Please fill out our online waiver to save your spot! The program is limited to 15 participants.

Register

About the Program#

Project Hort, short for horticulture, is a full summer stewardship, STEM and volunteer program for teens entering 7th through 12th grade who are passionate about gardening, plants, animals or the environment.

Over the course of the summer, with staff guidance and support, teens will:

  • Volunteer at The Gardens—gardening, teaching and helping guests
  • Have an impact on their community through conservation projects
  • Practice real world STEM skills
  • Make great friends with similar interests and participate in fun events

Scheduling Requirements#

This program is a full summer commitment. However, we understand that vacations are important and will work with your schedule.

Project Hort shifts are flexible depending on your schedule. You are welcome to sign up for morning shifts, afternoon shifts, or full-day shifts:

  • Morning Shift: 8:15 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
  • Afternoon Shift:12 – 4 p.m.
  • Full Day Shift: 8:15 a.m.– 4 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break

Teens are required to attend a minimum of 12 hours a week. Our Team Meeting time with all Project Hort participants is every Tuesday afternoon, 12–4 p.m.

Program Benefits#

While there are many incredible benefits to participating in Project Hort, here are a few of our favorites:

  • Two $100 gift cards for teens that meet volunteer hour benchmarks (~12 hours a week)
  • Logged volunteer hours (150–250 hours)
  • Learning and refining skills such as gardening, public speaking, customer service, grant writing, project management, teamwork and leadership
  • Skilled mentoring by staff
  • Gardens-themed swag
  • Great friendships
  • A summer outside in nature
  • Additional volunteer opportunities throughout the year
  • Free plants

Key Dates#

Please keep these dates in mind as you plan your application:

  • Applications Open: Feb. 1
  • Applications Due: Feb. 28
  • Parent Informational Meeting (watch 2023's meeting here)
  • Interview Window: March 25–29
  • Mandatory Training Day: June 6, 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. (Lunch Provided)
  • Program Runs: June 9 – Aug. 5 (week of July 4 is off)
  • Mid-Summer Celebration: July 8, 12:30 – 4 p.m.
  • Community Showcase: July 29, 3 – 3:30 p.m., with garden tours to follow
  • Teen Summit: July 31, 9 a.m.– 12 p.m.
  • End of Summer Celebration: Aug. 5, 12:30 – 4 p.m.

Applications for summer 2025 will open Feb. 1, 2025.

About the Program#

Junior Hort is a program designed for rising 6th and 7th graders interested in plants, animals and helping their community through volunteering. Students will meet once a week throughout the summer at the Gardens on Spring Creek with each week being a new focus of learning. This program also prepares students for the Project Hort program, which they can apply for in 7th through 12th grade.

Over the course of the summer, with staff guidance and support, incoming 6th graders will:

  • Learn about the Gardens on Spring Creek and all the programs we have to offer
  • Earn volunteer hours while helping the community
  • Participate in fun events and collaborate with Project Hort members
  • Receive an introduction to the Project Hort program and other teen volunteer opportunities through the City of Fort Collins

Scheduling Requirements#

This program is a once-per-week commitment throughout the summer. However, we understand that vacations are important and will work with your schedule. 

  • Junior Hort shifts are 9 a.m.–12 p.m. on Thursdays

  • The program will begin the second week of June and continue through the end of July (with the July 4th week off)

Program Benefits#

While there are many incredible benefits to participating in the Junior Hort program, here are some of our favorites:

  • Logged volunteer hours (approximately 21 hours with opportunities for more)
  • Learning and practicing skills such as professionalism, public speaking, independence, teamwork, communication and leadership
  • Skilled mentoring by staff
  • Insight into the Project Hort program
  • Great friendships
  • A summer outside in nature
  • Additional volunteer opportunities throughout the year
  • Free plants

Key Dates#

Please keep these dates in mind as you plan your summer:

  • Applications Open: Feb. 1
  • Applications Due: Feb. 28
  • Mandatory Training Day: June 12, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
  • Program Runs: June 12– July 31

Applications for summer 2025 will open Feb. 1, 2025.

Want to learn more? Contact Britt Mowen, Teen Programs Lead, at bmowen@fcgov.com.

Questions about teen programming? Contact Britt Mowen, Education Assistant, at bmowen@fcgov.com.