Group Tours Intern

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts. Meijer Gardens is ranked among the 100 most visited art institutions in the world. The organization embraces the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture & sculpture. Meijer Gardens' commitment is to create a legacy of lifelong learning, enjoyment, and a rich cultural experience for generations to come. 

Department: Group Tours                                   

Supervisor: Group Tours Manager

This is a paid internship, paid bi-weekly.

Schedule and Duration: This position is approximately 25 hours per week, primarily during weekdays, with some weekend and evening availability required.

All interns must be available for a minimum of 10 weeks between June and August and participate in the required internship program sessions. These sessions are held every Wednesday for 3 hours and are included as part of your weekly schedule.

Position Summary: The Group Tours Intern will explore daily operations, guest engagement strategies, and program development initiatives while collaborating with key team members to help deliver seamless visitor experiences. This internship provides meaningful exposure to cultural programming, event coordination, and customer experience strategy within a world-class cultural institution. The intern will analyze tour operations, contribute ideas for program enhancement, and engage in hands-on learning that connects hospitality, education, and event logistics.

Essential Functions

Explore the planning and facilitation of adult group tours by analyzing visitor engagement strategies and identifying elements that create high-quality experiences.

Collaborate with staff and volunteers to observe team dynamics, evaluate workflow processes, and contribute to a positive, solutions-oriented environment.

Examine event planning and hospitality practices to understand how cultural education programs are structured and delivered.

Develop communication and organizational skills by analyzing guest service interactions and evaluating administrative workflows.

Assess on-site coordination and logistical planning for adult group tours to better understand event flow and operational efficiency.

Serve as a professional point of contact for visiting groups, observing guest needs and reflecting on service delivery strategies.

Analyze tour data, assist with record-keeping, and review post-tour evaluations to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

Contribute thoughtful ideas to enhance tour content and participate in the design of new programs for adult audiences.

Learning Outcomes: 

Develop skills in greeting and assisting tour groups, including field trips and adult audiences.

Gain experience working with the general public through ticketing, credentialing, and guest service interactions.

Learn professional and nonprofessional tourism practices within a leading cultural institution, including standards for visitor engagement and hospitality at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Requirements:

Enrolled in a trade, degree, or certificate program at an accredited institution.

Available for a minimum of 10 weeks of in-person intern programming in Grand Rapids, MI

Ability to commit to scheduled work hours and program requirements.

Strong interest in learning and professional development.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with diverse audiences.

Customer service or hospitality experience (retail, events, tourism, museums, education, or related fields) preferred.

Coursework or interest in tourism, hospitality, event management, arts administration, museum studies, education, or a related field.

Organizational Expectations

• Welcoming: Fostering joy and an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.
• Excellence: Approaching all we do with world-class intentionalism.
• Innovation: Embracing the future to create unique and engaging experiences in art, culture and nature with a commitment to creativity.
• Integrity: Operating with honesty, transparency and accountability throughout the organization.
• Stewardship: Preserving and enhancing our community, physical, cultural, and financial resources for current and future generations.

Working Conditions: Basic mobility is expected in offices, grounds, and exhibition areas. Ability to observe details at close range and communicate information accurately with others. Engage in occasional object manipulation with or without assistance, and efficiently navigate the workspace to access essential resources. Ability to regularly move up to 20 pounds and frequently up to 50 pounds (i.e., load, unload, and move supplies, medium to heavy weight tools, and equipment). Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder. This job operates in a professional indoor office environment, across grounds, and exhibition areas. Occasionally, may be required to work outdoors under inclement weather conditions.

As part of our onboarding process, all new hires are required to complete our background check.Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer.We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.