Isabella Welles Hunnewell Internship Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Arnold Arboretum located?
The Arboretum is located at 125 Arborway within the city of Boston, in the neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain and Roslindale. It can be reached by public transportation via the Orange Line train to Forest Hills Station or via the #39 bus to Jamaica Plain. Other local buses also stop nearby. See directions.
What are the hours of operation?
Interns work a forty-hour week, Monday through Friday. Hours of operation vary from department to department. The grounds maintenance department begins the day at 7:00am and ends at 3:30pm. Greenhouse operations begin at 7:30 am and end at 4:00pm. Occasionally, interns are required to start earlier or end later during the program.
Do all interns start and end their appointments at the same time?
No. Interns often start at staggered times. Interns can start as early as March 3rd and can remain for up to 24 weeks. Interns must arrive by May 27th and must remain in the program through the second week in August. Preference will be given to those who can start in the spring.
Is this a paid internship?
Interns will be paid a stipend of $9.00 per hour for the summer of 2008.
Does the Arboretum provide housing?
We do not provide housing or find housing for interns. We recommend visiting the website Craig’s List http://boston.craigslist.org and searching under the “housing” heading. Many interns have had success with this site. Major housing problems can be brought to the internship coordinator for possible assistance.
Can the Arnold Arboretum accept international candidates?
On a limited basis, we do accept qualified international candidates. However, we are greatly limited in our ability to acquire visas due to increased security and rising costs. International candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible.
When will I know if I’ve been accepted for the internship?
Interns will be notified in March or earlier if they have been accepted.
Are interns charged tuition for the classes offered during the program? Can credits be obtained from taking these classes?
Classes offered through the internship are not formal Harvard University courses. Classes are free and offer no credit. They are required instructional sessions teaching horticultural technique, landscape management, and especially the management of the Arnold Arboretum’s historic landscape and scientific collections. These classes are taught during the work day. Interns will be released from daily duties to attend these sessions and continue to be paid during them. Colleges or universities may offer credit or a grade for the entire internship experience. Interns should pursue this directly through their educational institutions.
Should interns bring their own tools to work with?
No. We provide interns with all of the tools needed to work here. Steel-toe work boots are required. We offer a $75 taxable boot reimbursement. Interns must provide us with an original receipt in order to receive boot reimbursement. We recommend that interns arrive with foul weather gear, a sturdy water bottle, and a field note book.
Further questions can be emailed to aaintern@arnarb.harvard.edu for quick answers.