Much of this event is held in the Conservatory, which houses the bulk of the Garden s tropical plants. The university s College of Veterinary Medicine , Institute of Ecology and private citizens provide displays and exotic animals. Co-sponsors are the Lund Club, the Museum of Natural History and Ecoreach, a student club in the Institute of Ecology whose volunteers help buy and preserve land in Ecuador through Fundacion Maquipucuna. Volunteers come from many sources. Many come directly from the local Athens community.
Retirees are common, but university students and working people volunteer as well.
Their interests in the Garden range from being garden enthusiasts to improving their resumes. One major source of volunteers is through the Master Gardener Program, sponsored by the Botanical Garden and the Cooperative Extension Service . The Master Gardener Program consists of 20 two-hour sessions of intensive horticultural training. At the end of the course, participants must pass a final exam and then complete 50 hours of community service to receive their certification. In subsequent years, they must donate 25 hours a year to stay certified.