Isabella Welles Hunnewell Internship Program
The Arnold Arboretum offers a spring-through-summer paid internship program that combines hands-on training in horticulture with educational classes. The program offers the opportunity to work directly with an historic landscape and its world-renowned scientific collection of trees and shrubs. Twelve intern trainees are accepted for 12- to 24-week appointments. Ten interns work with the grounds maintenance department, and two are in the Dana Greenhouses.
As part of the training program, interns participate in mandatory 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. Sessions and field trips are led by Arnold Arboretum staff members in an open, non-competitive style. 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 two departments:
Grounds Maintenance (10 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 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.
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
- Flexibility in starting dates. The latest acceptable start date is the end of May, and interns are expected to work through mid-August