College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

Horticulture Internships in 6 Different Garden Areas-3 months

Hiring Organization: Chicago Botanic Garden
Employment type: Internship
Job Location: Glencoe, IL
Application Due Date: February 28, 2024

Three-month Horticulture Internship opportunities

Intern (1) - English Walled Garden

Intern  (1) - Entrance Garden

Intern  (1) - Japanese Garden

Intern (1) - Rose and Heritage Gardens

Intern (1) - Welcome Projects Garden

Intern (2) - Plant Production Greenhouse and Nursery

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Horticulture Operations Administration

Reports to: Senior Horticulturists, Manager

Seasonal Full-time (three months) anticipated to start in May 2024 

 

Position Overview for English Walled Garden, Entrance Garden, Japanese Garden, Rose and Heritage Gardens, and Welcome Projects Garden interns:

Learn how to properly maintain a public display garden by working with a senior horticulturist and team of staff and volunteers. 

Attend regular staff meetings, field trips, and weekly intern meetings with guest speakers to learn about general Garden operations.

Assigned gardens may include the following: 

English Walled Garden, Circle Garden, Sensory Garden, Waterfall Garden, Dwarf Conifer Garden, and the Lakeside Gardens; Japanese Garden, Evening Island, Green Roof and the Evaluation Gardens; Rose and Heritage Gardens, Esplanade, Aquatic Garden, Farwell Landscape Garden, Crescent Garden, Fruit & Vegetable Garden, Bulb Garden, Model Railroad Garden, and Spider Island; Regenstein Learning Campus and Welcome Projects, Entrance Gardens, Parking Lots, and Welcome Plaza; Entrance Gardens, Parking Lots, and Regenstein Learning Campus. 

Work schedule typically 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m during the week day and Saturday.

Responsibilities:

In this role you will be responsible for the following:  

• Assist horticulturists with routine garden maintenance including weeding, watering, pruning, mowing, planting, deadheading, grooming perennials, mulching, labeling, fertilizing, and removing debris.
• Prepare and lead a 15 to 20-minute tour of your assigned garden areas highlighting your experiences throughout the season for other horticulture staff. 

 

Position Overview for Plant Production and Greenhouse Nursery interns:

Learn about plant production by rotating through and working with the growers in the five divisions of the Plant Production Department. These divisions include the nursery, indoor floriculture, outdoor floriculture, orchids, and plant propagation. Attend staff meetings, field trips, and weekly intern meetings with guest speakers during the summer to learn about general botanic garden operations. 

Work schedule typically 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m during the week day and Saturday.

Responsibilities:

In this role you will be responsible for the following:  

• Work with the nursery supervisor to produce a broad range of plants including trees, shrubs, perennials, native plants, and aquatics through potting, transplanting, fertilizing, weeding, spacing pots, setting up irrigation, watering, and pruning. 
• Work with the indoor floriculturist to produce crops for interior displays, education programs, and special events through potting, pruning, fertilizing, watering, grooming, and training.
• Work with the outdoor floriculturist to produce crops for spring, summer, and fall annual displays through potting, watering, pinching, fertilizing, and spacing.
• Work with the orchid floriculturist in the care and maintenance of the orchid collection and other tropical collection plants. 
• Work with the plant propagator to propagate plants through sowing seeds, taking cuttings, making divisions, stratifying and scarifying seeds, grafting, and budding.
• Assist with delivery of plants. 
• Prepare and lead a 15 to 20-minute tour around your assigned areas highlighting your experiences throughout the season for other horticulture staff.  

• Qualifications

  Our ideal candidate will: 

  • Be enrolled in a college horticulture program or related field with an interest in garden maintenance. Candidates within a year of their graduation will also be considered. 
  • Be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Have good communication and interpersonal skills.

  Physical Demands: 
   Some requirements for lifting, pushing, and pulling items up to 50 pounds. Work outside in all types of weather. Some work on stepladders. 

   

   

  Why Apply? Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

  We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

  Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

  In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.