Conservation Intern

The Community Forestry & Conservation department is seeking a summer intern. The Conservation Intern candidate will assist with both natural resource management and conservation education and outreach. The Conservation Intern will work with other Holden Forests & Garden Departments with opportunities for cross-training. The Conservation Intern will work closely with other Holden Forests & Gardens’ departments for large project efforts in Urban Forestry, Conservation, and Research. The Conservation Intern will have the opportunity to work closely with other interns in the Community Forestry department. Additionally, all members of the Holden Forests & Gardens’ (HF&G) intern cohort will have the chance to participate in professional development, such as workshops, scientific lectures, networking, and field trip experiences. All interns will have the opportunity to develop and present their research at HF&G’s SEARCH symposium. This position is based at the Holden Arboretum campus in Kirtland, OH with occasional travel to the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland, OH. 

Position Details: 

• Position begins mid-May, flexibility in start date with academic scheduling needs ​
• 12-week internship 
• 40 hours per week 
• Pay $14/hour
• Low-cost housing may be available 
• Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents 
• Open to undergraduate or recent graduates 

Key Responsibilities: 

Key responsibilities of the Conservation Intern include, but are not limited to:  

• Support invasive species management, including the occasional use of herbicides and pesticides 
• Assistance with natural resource monitoring and research, including rare plants and forest health 
• Participate in Natural Areas and Field Ecology research, including garlic mustard aphid research 
• Help with education and outreach material for conservation education 
• Aid with wildlife management such as monitoring and data entry 
• Support outreach and education including leading or assisting with volunteers, summer camps, and classes 
• Creating and updating of informational materials and online content 
• Work with supervisor to develop and complete an independent project which will be presented at the SEARCH symposium at the end of the internship 
• Other relevant duties as assigned 

Qualifications and Skills: 

• Support Holden Forests & Gardens’ mission, vision, and values
• Demonstrate a passion for people and nature 
• Passion for connecting people with the wonder, beauty and values of trees and plants to inspire action for healthy communities along with a strong interest in natural resource management and conservation
• Pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree in Environmental Education, Biology, Conservation, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Plant Science or related field, preferred 
• Strong communication, organizational skills, adaptability, and critical thinking skills, highly desired 
• Able to work well in a diverse team 
• Able to work independently when needed 
• An interest in working outdoors performing manual labor in all weather conditions 
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 products, specifically Teams, Outlook (email and calendar), Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or the ability to learn 
• Native and invasive plant identification, a plus 
• Photography skills, a plus 
• Working with or managing volunteers, a plus 
• A valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving record, required 

Physical Requirements: 

Must be able to perform with or without reasonable accommodation: 

• Perform required tasks in all weather conditions  
• Ability to safely operate small-engine machinery e.g., brush cutter or weed-whip or a desire to learn 
• Effective vision and hearing 
• Hand and arm dexterity 
• Walking and working on wet, uneven, slippery terrain 
• Occasionally lifting and carrying of up to 50 lbs.  
• Kneeling, bending, stooping, grabbing, and reaching 
• Ability to hike up to 3-5 miles per day in variable terrain