The U.S. National Arboretum offers a limited number of internships to qualified individuals seeking on-the-job work experience and training in horticulture, botany, research, education, facilities management, and public garden administration. Selected individuals gain hands-on experience throughout the Arboretum's various plant collections, greenhouses, and research laboratories.
Horticulture Internships: 3-6 months, full-time & part-time
Description: Interns are assigned to a particular area within the arboretum. All participate in regularly scheduled educational programs and field trips, work on a group project that benefits the arboretum, and are supervised by the Arboretum's professional staff. Compensation for the 2012 internships is approx. $11.91/hr. The work week for most interns is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. College credit may be arranged by the student and is encouraged.
Qualifications: Applicants need to have either completed course work or have acquired practical experience in horticulture or a related field. Basic gardening or laboratory skills, interest in plants, and the ability to work independently are very important.
Duties & Working Conditions: Interns will be responsible for the standard duties of working in a public garden. Examples include assisting in all aspects of garden maintenance and development, including weeding, planting, watering, mowing greenhouse work, potted plant maintenance, propagation, and pest management. Interns will also assist with the accurate labeling of plants and answering visitors’ questions. Horticulture internships may involve heavy lifting and exposure to extreme heat and humidity.
Six Available Positions
Azalea & Asian Collections (6 months, full-time, April-October):
The intern in this position will split their time between the Azalea and Asian Collections. The Azalea Collection is one of the older collections at the National Arboretum. It includes 20 acres of cultivated azaleas and two formal gardens, the Frederic P. Lee Garden and the Morrison Azalea Garden. The Asian Collection’s dramatic landscape features plants collected from the rich floras of China, Japan, and Korea. In this internship, the intern will assist in the maintenance of both collections, including planting, weeding, watering and pruning.
Dogwood & Native Plant Collections (6 months, full-time, April-October):
The intern in this position will split their time between the Dogwood and Native Plant Collections. The Dogwood collection features more than 100 varieties and species of Cornus in a naturalistic setting. The Fern Valley Native Plant Collection features several habitats of the Eastern United States and comprises seven acres of natural woodland and meadow. In this internship, the intern will assist in the maintenance of both collections, including planting, weeding, watering, pruning, and propagation. Interest in North American native plants is useful.
Conifer Collection & Introduction Garden (6 months, full-time, April-October):
The intern in this position will split their time between the Conifer Collection and the Introduction Garden. The conifer collections, including the Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection, comprises approximately twenty acres of manicured gardens. The Introduction Garden consists of the plantings around the Administration Building include many cultivars that the US National Arboretum has introduced to the nursery trade. This area is also meant to serve as an area to display new plants to the public. This garden is intensely planted with annuals and tropicals, both in the ground and in containers. It also includes a water feature with a large collection of aquatic plants. In this internship, the intern will assist in the maintenance of both areas, including planting, weeding, watering, pruning, and propagation.
Friendship Garden (6 months, part-time, April-October):
Garden in an innovative landscape that includes woody plants, perennials, ornamental grasses, and bulbs designed for year-round interest. In this internship, you will assist with the maintenance of the garden, which simulates a residential setting. Actual schedule will be decided between the intern and supervisor.
Arboretum Propagation and Evaluation (3 months, full-time, May-August):
The intern in this position will work primarily in the greenhouse, polyhouse, and nursery areas. Plants are propagated by seed or cuttings for evaluation and are grown on for distribution to nurseries and other public gardens for further evaluation. Seeds and plants from collecting trips are also grown for incorporation in the holdings of the collections of the Arboretum. Plants growing in collections are propagated to provide duplication of holdings to improve security of germplasm.
National Herb Garden (3 months, full-time, May-August):
This garden is the largest designed herb garden in the country, containing over 800 taxa, including a collection of heritage roses. In this internship, you will assist in all aspects of garden maintenance, propagation, planting, watering, etc. An interest in herbs as 'useful' plants as well as in heritage roses is strongly recommended. Interest in garden interpretation and public education is highly desirable. The work schedule during the growing season is Tuesday-Saturday.
Horticulture Internships: 3-6 months, full-time & part-time
Description: Interns are assigned to a particular area within the arboretum. All participate in regularly scheduled educational programs and field trips, work on a group project that benefits the arboretum, and are supervised by the Arboretum's professional staff. Compensation for the 2012 internships is approx. $11.91/hr. The work week for most interns is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. College credit may be arranged by the student and is encouraged.
Qualifications: Applicants need to have either completed course work or have acquired practical experience in horticulture or a related field. Basic gardening or laboratory skills, interest in plants, and the ability to work independently are very important.
Duties & Working Conditions: Interns will be responsible for the standard duties of working in a public garden. Examples include assisting in all aspects of garden maintenance and development, including weeding, planting, watering, mowing greenhouse work, potted plant maintenance, propagation, and pest management. Interns will also assist with the accurate labeling of plants and answering visitors’ questions. Horticulture internships may involve heavy lifting and exposure to extreme heat and humidity.
Six Available Positions
Azalea & Asian Collections (6 months, full-time, April-October):
The intern in this position will split their time between the Azalea and Asian Collections. The Azalea Collection is one of the older collections at the National Arboretum. It includes 20 acres of cultivated azaleas and two formal gardens, the Frederic P. Lee Garden and the Morrison Azalea Garden. The Asian Collection’s dramatic landscape features plants collected from the rich floras of China, Japan, and Korea. In this internship, the intern will assist in the maintenance of both collections, including planting, weeding, watering and pruning.
Dogwood & Native Plant Collections (6 months, full-time, April-October):
The intern in this position will split their time between the Dogwood and Native Plant Collections. The Dogwood collection features more than 100 varieties and species of Cornus in a naturalistic setting. The Fern Valley Native Plant Collection features several habitats of the Eastern United States and comprises seven acres of natural woodland and meadow. In this internship, the intern will assist in the maintenance of both collections, including planting, weeding, watering, pruning, and propagation. Interest in North American native plants is useful.
Conifer Collection & Introduction Garden (6 months, full-time, April-October):
The intern in this position will split their time between the Conifer Collection and the Introduction Garden. The conifer collections, including the Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection, comprises approximately twenty acres of manicured gardens. The Introduction Garden consists of the plantings around the Administration Building include many cultivars that the US National Arboretum has introduced to the nursery trade. This area is also meant to serve as an area to display new plants to the public. This garden is intensely planted with annuals and tropicals, both in the ground and in containers. It also includes a water feature with a large collection of aquatic plants. In this internship, the intern will assist in the maintenance of both areas, including planting, weeding, watering, pruning, and propagation.
Friendship Garden (6 months, part-time, April-October):
Garden in an innovative landscape that includes woody plants, perennials, ornamental grasses, and bulbs designed for year-round interest. In this internship, you will assist with the maintenance of the garden, which simulates a residential setting. Actual schedule will be decided between the intern and supervisor.
Arboretum Propagation and Evaluation (3 months, full-time, May-August):
The intern in this position will work primarily in the greenhouse, polyhouse, and nursery areas. Plants are propagated by seed or cuttings for evaluation and are grown on for distribution to nurseries and other public gardens for further evaluation. Seeds and plants from collecting trips are also grown for incorporation in the holdings of the collections of the Arboretum. Plants growing in collections are propagated to provide duplication of holdings to improve security of germplasm.
National Herb Garden (3 months, full-time, May-August):
This garden is the largest designed herb garden in the country, containing over 800 taxa, including a collection of heritage roses. In this internship, you will assist in all aspects of garden maintenance, propagation, planting, watering, etc. An interest in herbs as 'useful' plants as well as in heritage roses is strongly recommended. Interest in garden interpretation and public education is highly desirable. The work schedule during the growing season is Tuesday-Saturday.
To apply:
To apply for the summer internship, please send a cover letter, resume, transcripts,
and a completed Supplemental Questionnaire via email or postal mail to:
Internship Office
US National Arboretum
3501 New York Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov
Click here to download the supplemental questionnaire.
