Course Description
Students assist in the operation of the botanical garden's programs in horticultural design and maintenance, native plant nursery production, plant conservation, and public education under the direction of the faculty instructor and garden staff. Students receive frequent instruction, but often work independently or in small groups.
Athena Title
Botanical Garden Internship
Non-Traditional Format
Course includes a service-learning project during the semester that either employs skills or knowledge learned in the course or teaches new skills or knowledge related to course objectives. The course uses service-learning as the primary pedagogical tool for teaching course objectives. Students will work on a comprehensive project(s) and may be required to spend considerable time outside the classroom. Students will be engaged in the service-learning component for approximately 75-100% of overall instructional time.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Course Objectives
Specific learning objectives will vary depending on which department students are assigned to (horticulture, conservation, or education), but in general all students will learn about the tools and techniques required to implement the programs of a University-affiliated botanical garden. Students will develop an understanding of professional best practices in maintaining a living museum with curated collections and fulfilling a well defined educational mission. They will demonstrate their understanding through effective completion of assigned tasks, interactions with garden staff who will act as mentors, discussions with the faculty instructor, and a written reflection at the end of the course.
Topical Outline
Topics will vary depending on a student’s assigned department: Propagating, planting, and maintaining curated ornamental plant collections Mapping collections and maintaining accession records Safely operating mechanized garden equipment and hand tools Identifying and removing invasive plant species Propagating native plants; Collecting and processing seed of native plants In situ and ex situ management of imperiled plant species Collecting data on insect visitors to native plants Trail maintenance Preparing interpretive materials for classes and informal visitors Developing curriculum materials Assisting in educational events and visits by public school groups