2008 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Public Horticulture Internships
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is offering three-month internships in Public Horticulture from mid May to late August 2008.
Student Internship Objectives: To provide students with an enriching professional growth experience in public horticulture; to encourage creative problem solving skills in public garden management issues; to give students practical career experience in public garden management.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Description: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is an international research center and cultural destination that contributes to the horticultural, economic, and intellectual lives of people all over the world. Named as one of the "10 great places to smell the flowers" by USA Today, the Arboretum boasts 19,000 members, 1,800 volunteers and 288,000 visitors annually. With 1,047 acres, 32 display and specialty gardens, 48 general plant collections and more than 5,000 plant species and varieties, the Arboretum is one of the premier horticultural field laboratories and public display gardens in the country. Founded in 1958, the Arboretum is a vibrant extension of the Department of Horticultural Science, in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota. From the interactive displays of Minnesota's natural environment, to scores of plant labels designed to enable visitors to replicate favorite gardens at home, the Arboretum is a wellspring of education, research, and inspiration. Located in Chaska, MN, a western suburb of the Minneapolis/St Paul metropolitan area, the Arboretum is approximately 9 miles west of Interstate 494.
Intern Position Descriptions: Horticultural interns will rotate through different garden areas gaining experience in maintenance of display gardens, research collections, and general grounds work. Research intern positions may also be available working with specific research projects involving data collection, plant propagation, and pest management with a specific area or group of plants. Extension or educational intern positions that involve horticultural writing, website work, or the development of educational information may also be available. Additional internship activities will include weekly meetings with arboretum staff and or Horticultural Science faculty to discuss collection maintenance, pest management, and other public garden issues not covered in daily work. Students will be assigned discussion topics or readings focusing on current issues facing public gardens. Topics and readings will reflect the interests and work assignments of the interns and will vary from year to year. Topics such as: invasive plant management, IPM or pesticide use in public areas, maintaining research collections in public areas, may be covered. Additional aspects of public horticulture including the Andersen Library, interpretation & exhibits, children's programs, orientation to specific research activities and projects, hands-on horticultural demonstration and experiences, including off-site field trips or lectures, and other relative experiences will be organized throughout the summer.
Intern stipend is $9/hour for a 40-hour work week. Applicants must have their own transportation. Housing assistance may be available. The Arboretum's extensive library and education classes are available to interns. Interns are expected to join in the activities of the Arboretum, including special events and visitor programs, in order to experience the full spectrum of a public garden.
Application Information: Applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in public horticulture. Qualifications for candidates include gardening or plant maintenance experience and enrollment in or completion of an A.A., B.S., or M.S. degree program in the Life Sciences area (Biology, Botany, Environmental Science, Forestry, Horticulture, or Life Science Ecology). For further information, and to download an internship application, please see the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum website (http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/). Interested candidates should forward a cover letter, application form, resume, official transcript to: Diane Malecha, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, Mn 55318. Applications for 2008 internships will be accepted until positions are filled.
The mission of the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is to be a resource for horticultural and environmental information, research, and public education. To inspire and delight visitors with quality plants in well designed and maintained displays, collections, model landscapes, and conservation areas.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska MN 55318 | 952.443.1400