Denver Botanic Gardens 2021
Summer Horticulture Internships
1007 York Street, Denver, CO 80206
The mission of Denver Botanic Gardens is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain Region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone. Internships at Denver Botanic Gardens provide students with hands-on experience working alongside world renowned researchers and horticulturists in a public garden.
At our York Street location, we have more than 50 gardens with 14,000 taxa represented on our relatively small 25-acre growing space. Interns participate in field trips exploring Colorado horticulture and the diverse native ecosystems of the Rocky Mountain region. Additionally, interns are offered professional development opportunities through seminars and conferences, staff-led workshops and industry networking.
This year we are offering four paid, full-time summer internships, 10 weeks in length within the Horticulture Department in the following areas:
Cacti and Succulent Collection Curation
Experience the hands-on daily care and long-term data management that goes into stewarding Denver Botanic Gardens’ Cacti and Succulent Collection. The cacti and succulent curation intern will work with horticulturists to perform a thorough inventory and re-labeling of the collection, including updating Denver Botanic Gardens’ databases and assisting with display renovations. This intern will also spend time working in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, Cacti and Succulent House and other indoor display spaces.
Greenhouse Production, Propagation and Seed Herbarium Curation
Learn the holistic operations of Denver Botanic Gardens greenhouses by taking part in all aspects of propagation, production and record keeping. Through collection, evaluation and maintenance this intern will also contribute significantly to the Gardens’ seed herbarium.
Rock Alpine Garden Collections Management
Work with the curator of alpine collections to update photographs of the Rock Alpine Garden’s extensive collection of over 3,000 species of plants in Gardens Navigator, Denver Botanic Gardens’ living collections database. The intern will also learn hands-on plant identification, cultivation and curation skills in a naturalistic rock garden setting.
Therapeutic Horticulture
Gain professional experience working with Denver Botanic Gardens’ therapeutic horticulture team, leading and supporting program activities and assisting in the daily maintenance of the Sensory Garden. The horticultural therapy intern will create and facilitate participant activities that both fulfill the needs of the Gardens’ horticultural therapy program and their personal interests. Note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, most contact hours in 2021 may take place in virtual settings.
These are hands-on internships providing students the opportunity to work alongside our professional horticulture staff and volunteers in the daily operation of maintaining botanic gardens. Work assignments may include such tasks as planting, pruning, weeding, mulching and watering garden areas.
During the summer each intern is expected to complete a project that will expand their horticultural knowledge while benefiting the Gardens.
About Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens strives to entertain and delight while spreading the collective wisdom of the Gardens through outreach, collaboration and education. Our conservation programs play a major role in saving species and protecting natural habitats for future generations.