Application Deadline: 1/31/2021
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. We are based at Garden in the Woods, a renowned native plant botanic garden that attracts visitors from all over the world.
From this flagship property in Framingham, Massachusetts, 25 staff and many of our 1,500 trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, manage sites for ecological balance, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. Native Plant
Trust also operates a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manages 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.
The three Conservation internships offer a range of learning opportunities in areas that are integral to these programs, from coordinating with landowners and volunteers to conducting botanical surveys and processing data. Interns will work with Conservation staff to create a personal education plan, have the opportunity to take Native Plant Trust’s educational programs and courses at no cost, and complete an independent project on a topic of interest in botany, ecology, and/or conservation. Native Plant Trust is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
Description
Native Plant Trust is offering three, virtual internships (two lasting six-months, one lasting three-months) for the 2021 season. Interns will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the organization’s conservation programs while assisting staff in obtaining landowner permission for rare plant surveys, sending out volunteer assignments, and retrieving and processing data. They will have access to Native Plant Trust courses as well as a continuing education program organized by conservation staff including seminars and an informal reading and discussion group. Interns will plan and execute an independent research project which will be presented at a symposium at the end of their internship.
Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, interns based in New England will also have the option of participating in botanically-interesting field trips and seasonal contract work which may include the planning and implementation of habitat restoration and 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.
Details
Starting date: April 12, 2021, but can be flexible
Location: Virtual with potential for optional field trips and site visits
Hours and Compensation: 40 hours/week at $13.50/hour.
For more information, please visit https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/about/jobs-internships/
To apply: please submit cover letter, resume, and list of three references by email to Botanical Coordinator, Micah Jasny, mjasny@NativePlantTrust.org by Sunday, January 31st, 2021.