internship opportunities

Working in the water gardens.

Documenting PlantAsia

Working in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory

Ah, the Rocky Mountains in summer - spectacular vistas, camping and hiking, fishing in sparkling water fresh from the melting snow. And Denver, the Mile High City, home to many pro sports teams, major museums, Red Rocks amphitheatre, a zoo and, of course, Denver Botanic Gardens.

The Gardens has a lot to offer both visitors and staff:

Twenty-three acres in the heart of Denver plus two satellite gardens, all devoted to connecting people with plants
Over 15,000 different plant taxa in our living collections to explore
A world-class tropical conservatory
One of the few rock gardens in the western U.S.
Acclaimed water gardens
Internationally renowned staff
Exceptional resource library

Our Summer Intern Program is open to college undergraduates, recent graduates and graduate students who are eager to put their classroom learning to work in real-world situations and who wish to obtain practical hands-on work experience.

Ten-week paid summer internships are typically 400 hours for the season. Additionally, unpaid internships are available in Horticulture and Plant Research & Conservation throughout the year. Our mentors provide:

Guidance and project oversight
Workspace and the tools needed to do the job
Inclusion of interns in day-to-day operations and meetings to the extent appropriate
A supportive, constructive, interactive learning and work environment, emphasizing open communication and personal growth

As part of the Gardens’ staff, interns are involved in a real-world work environment and develop the practical skills that are important to future employers. All applicants must be legally able to work in the United States and must have a valid driver’s license. If you love plants and want to explore a career in public horticulture, what better way than to come work with us at Denver Botanic Gardens!

Frequently asked questions about internships >>

Doing field research. Working on a beaver dam replica.

GENERAL INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

Please visit this page for a complete job description and application for any of these internships. All available internships are listed on that page--most of the internships listed below have already been filled for 2009.

Plant Research & Conservation Internship
The Research Department works to study and protect the rare flora of Colorado. Interns will gain knowledge of rare plant demographic monitoring and collecting methods for in- and ex-situ conservation through field work in conservation and restoration. Interns will conduct independent projects related to existing projects and will present their work at the end of the internship.

Plant Records/Curation Internship
The Plant Records Department tracks the living plant collections through accessioning, labeling and mapping. Interns have an opportunity to learn about plant species that thrive in the Rocky Mountain region. The intern will also learn the database and mapping systems, including AutoCAD, used by the Gardens. Past intern summer projects have involved:

Creating specialized plant tours for the visitors to view on an interactive kiosk
Mapping and photographing the iris and daylily collection
Mapping new garden areas

Horticulture Internship
These internships can be either project-based or involve working in a specialized garden. Interns are matched to a work assignment and work directly with a mentor from our experienced staff. Typically, one day per week is set aside for field trips, lectures, and discussions that explore various aspects of horticulture. Some past intern projects include:

Evaluation, documentation and preservation of wild collected species
Community gardening
Bed renovation in a tropical conservatory
Pond wetland habitat re-vegetation and interpretation
Green wall construction and green roof maintenance

Education – Teacher Internship
Interns work side-by-side with professional education staff and volunteers involved in the daily operation and implementation of youth education programs at a botanic garden.

Interpretation Internship
This internship provides rare and valuable experience in interpretation of living collections. The intern will work closely with the Interpretation Coordinator and our horticulture experts to create content for signs, tours, and/or the audio guide.

internship opportunities

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