Summer Internship - Field Focus
Summer Internship - Field Focus
Refugia’s three month summer internship is a unique opportunity for those seeking to immerse themselves in real-world landscape design and stewardship with an award-winning, mission-driven firm. During this internship, candidates will experience multiple facets of ecological design-build, its methodology and best practices. This is a field focused internship with opportunities to shadow the Design, Nursery, Sales and Install teams plus involvement in company-wide field trips and educational events.
- Daily integration with Refugia’s Land Stewardship team on general landscape management at a diversity of properties ranging from small city yards to larger estates. Hands-on tasks to include cues of care and ecological driven stewardship practices, meadow establishment/remediation, invasive plant id/management on projects with a diversity of scale, complexity and setting.
- Weekly rotation through Design, Nursery, Sales & Install teams to experience how the different elements of the company collaborate throughout the design-build of a project. Opportunities will include shadowing the Design team at various phases of the design process including plant layout; assisting Nursery team with plant care and pick-ups; accompanying the Sales team on initial site visits; assisting the Install team with site prep and planting.
Objectives
- Provide experience and opportunities to learn about the landscape design-build business at all stages
- Deepen knowledge of native plants, habitats and their requirements in the mid-atlantic region with immersive application in-the-field
- Hands-on teaching that imparts keen practical knowledge and horticulture skills, with a focus on residential design-stewardship
- Grow and develop in a supportive, collaborative environment with real world experience and problem solving
- Offer mentorship and networking opportunities within a fast-growing, innovative ecological design-build firm
Requirements
- Current or recent BLA, BSLA, MLA, BS, BHort, MHort
- Academic background in forestry, ecology, arboriculture related field
- Must be physically comfortable heavy lifting and working in all weather
- Eagerness to learn about native plants and ecosystems
- A proficiency with plants and gardening tasks
- Drawing skills and familiarity with design software (AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar) a plus
- General hours 6:30-2:30pm Monday through Friday
- Ability to work independently and as part of the team
- Punctual, organized, motivated and diligent
- Car preferred for commute to Narberth facility.
- Must be available for 10-12 weeks during May - August
- Must have own housing within commuting distance
Compensation
Hourly compensation $16 for a 40 hour work week. Internship duration is 10-12 weeks with flexibility on start/end dates within May-August. Housing not included. Interns should be located within commuting distance of our Narberth PA facility, nearest public transportation located in downtown Narberth.
Application via email to admin@refugiadesign.com with the subject heading ‘intern2025’ including:
- Resume
- Contact details for 3 references
- Cover letter expressing your experience, what skills you can offer us and your interest in the work of Refugia. Also include what you hope to gain from this internship and the dates you are available.
Application deadline February 7th 2025.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences.