Teen Programs

three teens holding vegetables

Calling all teens!

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:

Year-Round Volunteering (Ages 14 to 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.

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.

School's Out! Volunteer Days (Ages 11 to 18)

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!

2026 Dates and Themes:

  • Monday Jan. 19 | 1 – 4 p.m.

    • Seasonal Clean Up: New year, new opportunities! Spend an afternoon with us for some seasonal clean up that may include Garden of Lights event breakdown, seed cleaning, and organizing supplies in preparation for the new year.

  • Monday, Feb. 16 | 1 to 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, March 13 | 9 a.m. to Noon

    • Spring Garden Prep: The Gardens are waking up! 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, April 24 | 9 a.m. to Noon

    • Plant Sale Prep: Each year, The Gardens hosts a Plant Sale of thousands of annuals and perennials that our horticulturists have been growing all year! Join us this morning to assist with the exciting event preparations.

  • Friday, May 15 | 9 a.m. to Noon

    • Summer Garden Prep: It’s almost summer! Join us for our last School’s Out! Volunteer Day session of the year to prepare for our busiest season of all. Tasks may include planting, weeding, mulching, and other gardening as needed.

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

 

Project Hort: Teen Summer Experience

Project Hort: Teen Summer Volunteer Experience
June 1–July 31 (applications open Feb. 1, 2026)

Project Hort, short for horticulture, is a full summer stewardship 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 8-12 hours per week at The Gardens—gardening, teaching, and helping guests

  • Learn about stewardship and philanthropy through weekly Project Heart lessons

  • Build community with teens who have similar interests and participate in fun events

  • Gain workplace skills by participating in professional development opportunities

Important Dates:

  • Feb. 1: 10 a.m. | Applications open

  • Feb. 27: 5 p.m. | Applications close

  • March 2026: Interviews

  • May 29: 10 a.m–1 p.m. | Orientation

  • June 1: Project Hort Begins

  • June 29–July 3 | No Project Hort (holiday week)

  • July 31 | Project Hort ends

Weekly Schedule:

  • All shifts are 8: a.m.–noon, Monday through Friday.

  • Participants can sign up for shifts based on their availability. We understand that vacations may be booked throughout the summer and can accommodate schedules if you need to skip a week.

  • We recommend that each participant volunteers 8–12 hours per week.

  • Thursdays = Teen Social Gardening and Learning Day (all participants are encouraged to attend this weekly).

Junior Hort: Middle School Half-Day Summer Camp

Age: Open to Rising 6th through 8th Graders
Dates: July 6–10 | 9 a.m.–noon each day 
Cost: $150
 
Do you want to make the world a better place? Come learn how to be a steward of the environment! During this week, we will learn all about how horticulture can help save the world through planting, harvesting, and caring for plants, the foundation of life on earth. This middle school-focused half-day camp will also explore what stewardship can look like in your community and prepare participants for volunteer opportunities throughout the City of Fort Collins. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from our teen Project Hort participants about their volunteer experience at The Gardens.

 

Sign-up opens Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. via our camp webpage.

 

Professional Learning

Find us on PSD Xello! We offer job shadows, summer teen programs, guest speakers, and service-learning opportunities.

 

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