Two Internships available at Polly Hill Arboretum

Dec. 8, 2014

The Polly Hill Arboretum on the island of Martha’s Vineyard is seeking applicants who are students of horticulture or plant science at the college level to participate as horticulture interns.  The Arboretum, a Martha’s Vineyard horticultural and botanical landmark, was developed by the legendary horticulturist, Polly Hill (1907-2007). Here in 1958, Polly began an arboretum by sowing a seed, eventually bringing 20 acres under cultivation while preserving 40 additional acres as native woodland. Established in 1998 as a not-for-profit institution, the Arboretum is devoted to horticulture, plant-based education, conservation and research, and the preservation of the character of this tranquil landscape.

Summer Internship 2015

The Arboretum’s summer internship program offers two students a unique opportunity aimed at allowing interns to improve their horticultural knowledge and skills relevant to caring for and managing the Arboretum’s diverse living collection and grounds.  Working alongside and learning from professional horticulture staff, interns will have the opportunity to gain experience through participation in activities such as pruning, arboriculture, plant propagation, greenhouse and nursery management, IPM, plant records, as well as basic horticultural tasks. Interns are also expected to work with the public and help staff the Visitor Center. Interns also give occasional tours and assist with the education program in which they are encouraged to participate.

The ideal candidates will be hard-working individuals with a sincere interest in further developing their horticultural knowledge and skills in a public garden setting, and students who are motivated to take full advantage of the opportunities provided.

Internships are full time positions and interns work 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. five days per week.  Interns are encouraged to participate in special events and educational activities beyond this schedule, and are occasionally required to do so.

Internships are for 12 weeks.  The start date is flexible, although mid-late May is ideal.  Compensation is $10/hour for a 35 hour week, and housing is provided at The Nature Conservancy’s 90 acre Hoft Farm, which is about four miles from the Arboretum and served by public transportation. Other environmental science/ecology/horticultural interns associated with The Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups also live at the Farm.

We are unable at this time to accept applications from international students.

To apply for an internship for the summer of 2015 please send a cover letter, a résumé and a list of three references by February 15th, 2015 to:

The Polly Hill Arboretum
Attention: Tom Clark
P.O. Box 561
809 State Road
West Tisbury, MA, 02575

e-mail: tom@pollyhillarboretum.org
(508) 693-9426
 

Summer Internship 2015 Flyer

 

Collections Management Internship 

The Polly Hill Arboretum provides a unique 9-month collections management internship for an individual seeking to advance their career in public horticulture.  This internship will focus on all aspects of collections management.  Specific opportunities will include documentation of the living collection using BG-Base plant records software, plant labeling, plant verification, collection of herbarium specimens, mapping, hands-on maintenance of the living collection, plant propagation, greenhouse and nursery management as well as interacting and working with the public and volunteers.

The ideal candidate for this position will be a graduate of a four-year college horticulture program.  Priority will be given to applicants with a strong interest in public horticulture and in the management and curation of woody plant collections.

This internship is a nine-month, full time position and although the start date is flexible, March is ideal. Compensation is $15.00/hour for a 35 hour week.  Housing is provided at The Nature Conservancy’s 90 acre Hoft Farm. Polly Hill Arboretum summer interns live there as well as other environmental science/ecology/horticultural interns associated with The Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups.

To apply for this internship please send a cover letter, résumé and a list of three references by January 17th, 2015 to:
The Polly Hill Arboretum
Attention: Tom Clark
P.O. Box 561
809 State Road
West Tisbury, MA, 02575
e-mail: tom@pollyhillarboretum.org
(508) 693-9426
www.pollyhillarboretum.org

Collections Management Internship Flyer