Horticulture Internship

Employer Allen Centennial Garden
Location Madison, WI
Type Internship
Apply by January 19, 2025
More details https://allencentennialgarden.wisc.edu/students/internships/
Posted on December 19, 2024

Description

The Allen Centennial Garden at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public garden, outdoor classroom, and artful living laboratory showcasing exceptional and sustainable ornamental horticulture. The Garden is seeking a highly motivated UW-Madison undergraduate student with strong leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills to fill the position of Horticulture Intern.

These interns report to the horticulturist, and are part of a team responsible for the maintenance and care of planting beds (consisting of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and tropical/seasonal displays) and decorative containers around the Garden. The intern will also support effective leadership of volunteer and student staff, update seasonal interpretive displays, and provide support for special events.

Compensation and Schedule:
● Duration: May 12, 2025–August 8, 2025
● Compensation: $15/hour
● Schedule: Summer 2025: 30 hours/week with occasional weekend and evening hours; Part-time, March–May and August–October

Responsibilities:
● Maintains existing planting beds, outdoor spaces around buildings and walkways through weeding, pruning, hedging, deadheading, fertilizing, mulching, etc.
● Assists with equipment maintenance and general “back of house” cleaning and organization, including proper use and maintenance of garden tools including disinfecting, cleaning, and sharpening.
● Assists in integrated pest management and disease prevention
● Maintains and conveys an intermediate working level knowledge of ornamental plants, including trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous perennials, annual bedding plants, aquatics, and tropicals.
● Assist with managing soil quality, composting, and bed preparations for all seasons.
● Intern will be expected to fulfill the “Crew Leader” role at least twice during the summer.

Preferred Experience:
● Coursework and/or practical experience in horticulture, plant pathology, agronomy, botany, or related field

Expectations:
● Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
● Support a welcoming environment for all garden stakeholders including staff, volunteers, and visitors, demonstrated through a welcoming demeanor and willingness to greet guests and answer questions
● High attention to detail in all work demonstrated through completing tasks efficiently and promptly and cleaning up after tasks.
● Ability to lift at least 30 pounds
● Flexible and willing to work select weekends/evenings for special events
● Perceived by staff and others as a team player; willingness to offer to assist others.
● May develop special expertise in a garden area through completion of an independent project approved by the Executive Director and Horticulturalist

This list is not meant to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties, responsibilities and expectations that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Click here to apply online.

Application Deadline – January 19, 2025.