Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. We save native plants in the wild, grow them for gardens and restorations, and educate others on their value and use. From our base in Massachusetts, staff and trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. We welcome visitors from all over the world to Garden in the Woods, our renowned native plant botanic garden in Framingham. We also operate a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manage six sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Native Plant Trust is among the first organizations worldwide to receive Advanced Conservation Practitioner accreditation by London-based Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which included an endorsement by an International Advisory Council representing six continents. Please visit www.NativePlantTrust.org.

Two of Native Plant Trust’s core initiatives – the New England Plant Conservation Program (NEPCoP) and the Plant Conservation Volunteer (PCV) program – engage professional and community volunteers in rare species monitoring, habitat management, reintroduction and augmentation projects, and long-term conservation planning. We work closely with Natural Heritage programs and with conservation organizations in all six New England states.

Description

Native Plant Trust is offering two 25-week internships for the 2025 field season. The two conservation internships offer a range of learning opportunities in areas that are integral to NEPCoP and the PCV programs, from coordinating with landowners and volunteers to conducting botanical surveys and processing data. Interns will work with conservation staff to outline internship goals, have the opportunity to take Native Plant Trust’s educational programs and courses at no cost, and participate in seminars and an informal reading and discussion group in the conservation department.

In addition, the intern will complete an independent project on a topic of interest in botany, ecology, and/or conservation. Interns will also have the option of participating in botanically-interesting field trips and our seasonal field work, which may include the implementation of management activities, invasive species initiatives, and seed collection.

Desired Skills

Candidates should be passionate about plant conservation, have some familiarity with the flora of New England and associated ecological systems, excellent speaking and writing skills, a willingness to call landowners to secure access to their property, and a sense of humor. Experience with volunteers and data management is preferred. Interns must respect and maintain the confidentiality of rare species locations and sensitive data. Access to a personal vehicle is strongly recommended.

Details

Starting date: April 7, 2025, but can be flexible.

Location: Based at our headquarters in Wayland, MA (~15 min drive from Garden in the Woods in Framingham), but can be flexible. Interns may have the option of renting a room for the duration of the internship, in a house steps away from Garden in the Woods, both as needed and as available.

Hours and Compensation: 40 hours/week at $15.00/hour.

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