Isabella Welles Hunnewell Internship Program
The Arnold Arboretum offers paid internships program that combine hands-on training in horticulture with educational classes. The internships offer the opportunity to work directly with an historic landscape and its world-renowned scientific collection of trees and shrubs. Intern trainees are accepted for 12- to 24-week appointments. Ten interns work with the grounds maintenance department; two are in the Dana Greenhouses, and one in curation.
As part of the training program, interns participate in instructional sessions and field trips in order to develop a broader sense of the Arboretum’s horticultural practices as well as those of other institutions. Interns are encouraged to share their experience and knowledge and to participate fully in the work of the institution. Each intern must complete a project and present this to peers and staff.
Internships are available in the following three departments:
Grounds Maintenance (10 summer interns): Our living collections include many mature shrubs and trees planted over large expanses of grass and meadow. Working with the permanent grounds maintenance staff, summer interns weed, mulch, mow, plant, prune, and perform other horticultural tasks. They also participate in landscape renovation and/or hardscape projects as needed. "Grounds" interns rotate through various collections and gardens within the landscape. In addition, all ten spend some time with the arborist crew focusing on pruning skills, bucket-truck operation, chainsaw use, and tree climbing.
Dana Greenhouses (2 summer interns): Staff members at the Dana Greenhouses propagate and grow the plant material that is eventually planted out onto the grounds of the Arnold Arboretum. They also raise a variety of plants for distribution. Greenhouse interns are introduced to thegreenhouse and nursery production cycle and assist in watering, weeding, mulching, potting, and other jobs as required. The work varies from physical labor to technical work, with emphasis on proper growing methods. This internship also gives an overview of our accessioning and plant inventory process, including an introduction to BG-BASE Collections Management Software. Applicants should have some experience in woody plant propagation and/or greenhouse operations.
Curation (1 winter intern): Curation of the living collections is a fundamental part of the Arnold Arboretum's mission; detailed plant records have been kept since 1872. Interns assist the curatorial staff in the daily tasks required to maintain these records. Activities include field-checking plants, labeling, mapping, collecting herbarium specimens, and data entry. Applicants should be familiar with woody plants, preferably through formal coursework, and have experience with computers.
Expectations and Qualifications
Interns selected for the Isabella Welles Hunnewell Internship Program are expected to participate fully in the work-life of the institution with maturity, punctuality, curiosity, and commitment to learning. Preference will be given to candidates who have at least some of the following qualifications.
- One or more years of education in horticulture, botany, landscape design, or other plant-related field at a college, university, or technical high school
- Work experience in a nursery, greenhouse, garden center, park, arboretum, or botanical garden
- Career aspirations in horticulture, botany, oranother plant-related field
- Excellent physical health and stamina--Interns are expected to work in all weather conditions (heat, humidity, and rain) and to maintain a high level of productivity
- Maturity and self-motivation