The Arboretum at Penn State offers seasonal internships in horticulture, children’s education, avian education, plant records, and event management. All internships include multiple professional development opportunities, including both on- and off-campus field trips. Internships are currently available for the summer season and are typically 14 weeks in duration (May-August). Information about how to apply for the upcoming season is provided in November, December, and January, and interviews are scheduled for February and March.
Horticulture
Each summer, the Arboretum offers internships for undergraduate students and recent graduates interested in deepening their horticultural skills. Internships provide an immersive educational experience, combining hands-on garden training with field trips, discussion sessions, and the opportunity to interact with and lead groups of Arboretum volunteers. This position also introduces interns to the world of public gardens and visitor services.
For more information about these internships, you may contact:
Marek Pundzak
Director of Horticulture and Operations
126 Palmer Museum of Art
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-8080
marek@psu.edu
Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden
The Arboretum offers part-time and full-time academic internships in the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden. When funding permits, a paid internship is available. Internship announcements are made in December and January, and interviews are conducted in March.
Interns work under the guidance of our garden educator to develop outdoor learning programs for children and families related to our central Pennsylvania landscape, culture, and history as well as to investigate and explore native plants, birds, and animals. The program includes planning, facilitating, and evaluating outdoor learning experiences inspired by the design elements of the garden; connecting the garden landscape to educational programs for children ages 3 to 12; and helping children to understand their roles as stewards of their environment.
For more information about these internships, you may contact:
Jennifer Hooven
126 Palmer Museum of Art
University Park, PA 16802
814-867-4813
jtb149@psu.edu
Avian Education
The Arboretum offers a paid, part-time summer internship for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates interested in environmental education and related topics.
This internship provides a hands-on introduction to outdoor, place-based education focused on birds and their ecological interactions. Interns work with the Arboretum’s education staff to develop and facilitate nature-based programs and activities focused on central Pennsylvania birds. Interns will also be exposed to the world of public gardens, integrating event planning, volunteer management, public relations skills, and donor support.
For more information about these internships, you may contact:
Jennifer Hooven
Childhood Education Coordinator
126 Palmer Museum of Art
University Park, PA 16802-3604
814-867-4813
jtb149@psu.edu
Plant Records
Each summer, the Arboretum offers one paid, full-time internship in plant records for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates interested in career paths in horticulture, plant science, ecology, museum studies, GIS, data information systems, geography, library science, or related topics. This internship helps to develop skills relevant to a career in professional horticulture and collections management. Interns work under the guidance of the Arboretum’s curator of living collections to learn plant collections management techniques and record keeping utilizing IrisBG desktop, ArcGIS, and other technology, as well as mapping, labeling, and inventorying the living collections at the Arboretum. This position also introduces interns to the world of public gardens and visitor services.
For more information about this internship, you may contact:
Mandy DiBella
Curator of Living Collections
126 Palmer Museum of Art
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-8080
apd5734@psu.edu
Rental Events
The Arboretum will be offering one paid, part-time internship in event management for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates interested in career paths in hospitality; recreation, park, and tourism management; event management and staffing; public relations and guest services; or related topics. This internship helps to develop skills relevant to a career in professional event planning and execution. Interns work under the guidance of the Arboretum’s events and rentals manager to learn the ins and outs of departmental organization, timelines and diagrams, vendor agreements, client and attendee services, and on-site coordination at the various rental venues at the Arboretum. This position also introduces interns to the world of public gardens and visitor services.
For more information about this internship, you may contact:
Leanna Andreello
Events and Rentals Manager
126 Palmer Museum of Art
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8690
lmm5639@psu.edu