The National Tropical Botanical Garden Accepting Applications for its 13-week Horticultural Internships

The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) is now accepting applications for its 13-week horticultural internships. The educational program runs from Sept. 19-Dec. 16, 2016.

NTBG has offered its Horticultural Internship Program (HIP) since the 1970s. Now an annual work-study program, HIP is aimed at college- and university-level students and other adults interested in expanding their knowledge of plants and horticulture for career purposes.

Interns work side-by-side with staff as they care for and learn about the living collections, primarily at NTBG South Shore Gardens (McBryde and Allerton) and also at Limahuli Garden and Preserve in Hā‘ena and Kahanu Garden and Preserve in Hāna. The schedule includes on-the-ground introductions and training, classroom lectures, and workshops by NTBG academic faculty and other Garden staff. The wide range of instruction includes such topics as airlayering and grafting, traditional plant uses, invasive species and pest control, seed banking, and watershed management.

Applicants who are college-level or have comparable relevant experience or education and show an aptitude and strong interest in relevant fields may apply online at ntbg.org/courses. Applications are being accepted through May 8 with successful applicants receiving notification on May 25.

Past students have come to the Garden from throughout Hawai‘i, the mainland U.S., and other spots from around the world. NTBG’s internship program has received high rankings in publications like the Wall Street Journal and enthusiastic reviews from graduates. “The diversity of staff involved and having so many different work projects and lectures about different topics. It almost felt more like a field course than an internship, which was AWESOME; I learned so much more than I have from other jobs. The level of care that everyone seemed to have was so awesome. Everyone seemed on board and invested in us having a good experience,” said one 2015 graduate.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (www.ntbg.org) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental institution with nearly 2,000 acres of gardens and preserves in Hawai‘i and Florida. The institution’s mission is to enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation, and education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, and cultural knowledge of tropical regions. NTBG is supported primarily through donations and grants.

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