Horticultural
Internships at River Farm
The
purpose of the River Farm Internship Program is to provide
experience working in a public garden and to expand existing
knowledge of gardening techniques and tools with hands-on
experience. River Farm Interns work with our professional
staff maintaining the gardens and the buildings. Gardening
tasks can include watering, weeding, planting, pruning,
deadheading, fertilizing, and mulching. In addition,
interns, through hands-on experience, are exposed to other
areas of the AHS including building maintenance, membership,
publications and educational programs.
Through working with the staff at River Farm to maintain the
25-acre property, we expose interns to the diversity of
careers in horticulture, with an emphasis on horticulture in
a public garden setting. Additionally, through projects, and
everyday work, the interns’ writing and research skills are
challenged and encouraged to develop. Each intern is also
required to participate in an ongoing plant-identification
program to become better acquainted with plants native to
the mid-Atlantic region as well as pursue a special research project
relating to the life and work of a great American gardener. The projects and garden work interns
complete are clearly valuable learning opportunities but are
also essential for the success of River Farm. College credit
may be arranged by the student and is encouraged.
Interns participate in regularly scheduled educational
programs and field trips, work on independent projects
related to River Farm, and interact with the AHS
professional staff.
The
Washington Metropolitan area is home to many notable
gardens, including the U.S.National Arboretum, the U.S.
Botanic Garden, Brookside Gardens, and Dumbarton Oaks.
Interns are encouraged to use their free time to discover
the many horticultural, historic and educational
destinations in the National Capitol Area.
The duration of AHS Internships is from three to six months.
Compensation is $9.00/hr. The
workweek is 37.5 hours and is Monday through Friday, 7:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with Saturday morning rotations required.
Housing is the responsibility of the intern. Assistance in
finding accommodations is provided with a listing of
potential rentals, affordable apartment office contacts and
a map of the area.
Requirements:
Applicants need to be college level students of horticulture
or related field. Applicants who have shown a demonstrated
interest in horticulture through specialized coursework or
practical experience are preferred. To be considered, the
student must submit all of the following:
-
A
completed application form;
-
A
statement of your personal objectives (200 words);
-
An
up-to-date resume;
-
The
name, address and phone number of three references;
-
A copy
of the college transcript (an official version is not
required).
-
The
student must be a United States citizen or legally eligible
to work in this country. We are unable to accept foreign
applicants.
Deadlines for Applications:
-
Winter/Spring (Jan-May) – November 1
-
Summer
(May-Sept) – March 1
-
Fall
(Sept-Dec) – August 1
If
you would like further information or would like to request
an application packet, please call (703) 768-5700 ext. 121
or e-mail
education@ahs.org
