General Info

The President John H. Stroger, Jr. Internship Program:
Description for Summer 2009

The President John H. Stroger, Jr. Internship Program offers eight-week paid internships to 18- to 21-year-old residents of Cook County. Six internships are available in the summer of 2009. These internships are designed to introduce early career or college students to professional experiences in the not-for-profit sector. The size and complexity of the Chicago Botanic Garden affords opportunities in a wide variety of fields including education, visitor services, and horticulture. All internships will take place from June 8 through July 31, 2009.

Eligibility
Internship candidates must meet the following criteria:

•	They must be between 18 and 21 years of age during the period of the internship (June 8 through July 31, 2009)
•	They must be residents of Cook County, IL, for at least one year prior to the start of the internship
•	They must have received a high school diploma or GED prior to the start of the internship
•	They must have a clean criminal record, absent of convictions for felonies or misdemeanors
•	They must be legally eligible to work in the United States
•	For some internship positions, a valid driver's license is required

All internships will take place, at least in part, at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Reliable transportation therefore is essential. The Garden is accessible from many areas by public transportation.

Application Process

Applications may not be submitted, and will not be accepted, directly through the Chicago Botanic Garden. Application forms may be obtained from and must be submitted to each candidate's appropriate Forest Preserve District Commissioner, which is determined by residency.

All potential internship candidates must complete an application form. Applications may not be submitted, and will not be accepted, directly through the Chicago Botanic Garden. Application forms may be obtained from and must be submitted to each candidate's appropriate Forest Preserve District Commissioner, which is determined by residency. Candidates may obtain their Commissioner's name and contact information at: http://www.co.cook.il.us/commissioners.htm. Each Commissioner will nominate a single candidate from his or her respective district, and then send the nominated candidate's application to the Internship Coordinator at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Each nominated candidate is required to attend an interview with the selection committee, an unbiased collection of independent education professionals and others, at the Garden. The selection committee will then make its final internship decisions and the five selected candidates will be notified.

Download a PDF application form. (Submit to your local Forest Preserve District Commissioner.)

Program Timeline

•	Feb. 13: All applications due to each applicant's respective Commissioner's office
•	March 7 – 21: Interviews are conducted by an independent selection committee at the Chicago Botanic Garden
•	April 6 – 10: Selected interns are notified of their acceptance into the program
•	First week in June: Internship orientation at the Chicago Botanic Garden
•	June 8 – July 31: Internship period

Internship Experience

The largest component of this experience is a full time (37.5 hrs/week) eight-week hands-on service component during which each intern will participate in and support the activities of their assigned area (department or division) of the Chicago Botanic Garden. While interns are committed to spending their entire eight-week internship in the same area, the activities within these areas will likely vary. Each of the six interns will be assigned an Area Mentor, who will provide guidance and leadership throughout the internship experience. The internship experience also will include weekly check-ins with the Internship Coordinator and periodic lectures and other enrichment experiences. For detailed descriptions of available internship opportunities see "Internship Areas of Placement."

Internship Orientation

Interns will receive the Garden's new staff orientation, which includes a tram tour circumnavigating the 385-acre site. This orientation is an essential component of the internship program and all selected interns are required to participate during the first week of June.

Salary and Benefits

Interns are committed to work 37.5 hrs/week for the full eight-week internship period. The hourly pay for this internship will be $9/hr. Any time off (except national holidays e.g. July 4th) must be offset during the internship period. All time off must be cleared by the Area Mentor and Internship Coordinator.

Interns will enjoy many of the privileges and responsibilities of Garden staff including access to select conferences and lectures, discounts at the Garden Café and Garden Shop and reduced registration fees at the Joseph Regenstein Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Interns also will enjoy access to the Lenhardt Library, which is among the best horticultural libraries in the country.

Contact

Internship Coordinator: Nicole M. Patel
Center for Teaching and Learning
Chicago Botanic Garden
npatel@chicagobotanic.org
(847) 835.6871

Internship Areas of Placement
Internship opportunities are available for the following areas:

Aquatic Plant Evaluation & Maintenance
Hours: 7:30 a.m.– 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

The Aquatic Plant and Urban Lake Studies program manages the Chicago Botanic Garden's 60-acre system of lakes. Over the past six years, over three miles of lakeshore have been enhanced using environmentally progressive techniques that rely on plants to anchor shoreline soils and provide quality habitat. Nearly ¼-million native plants have been placed along our lakeshore. Interns will assist the Garden’s aquatic ecologists in a comprehensive evaluation of these aquatic plantings and learn to identify more than 100 species of native plants. The interns will also assist with maintenance of the plantings and installation of new plants as needed. Interns must have a high comfort level being in and around water, and an ability to swim should the need arise.

Center for Teaching & Learning
Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a few possible weekends and/or evenings

The Center for Teaching and Learning coordinates the Garden’s youth and teacher education and outreach initiatives, including programs for youth, families, teachers and students. Interns should be prepared to work on a variety of different projects and with different age groups in a fast paced environment. Duties may include teaching, curriculum development and education program assistance as well as potential participation in off-site outreach events. Interns should be comfortable interacting with the public and enjoy working with children. This position is ideal for a responsible individual who wants to learn about environmental education and program management and enjoys working in a collaborative environment. Applicants should be comfortable using the Internet and word processing programs (Excel/Access database knowledge a plus).

Communications
Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

The Communications Department supports all areas of the Chicago Botanic Garden providing advertising, online marketing, public relations and design services. The Communications Department publishes Member Magazine and the Map and Garden Guide; develops all print materials and signage promoting events, activities, classes and programs; works with local, regional and national news media to tell the Garden’s story to the general public; produces print and radio advertising; and handles all web site and online marketing activities. This intern will work with the public relations group as well as the design group and will be responsible for supporting these two groups and helping with many of the day to day tasks such as project coordination, filing and processing media clips, help with events, along with many other office duties. Job skills include: ability to work well with other departments and all levels of staff, excellent organizational skills and eagerness to learn the basics of the department.

Continuing Education Program Assistant & Researcher
Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, some evening and weekend hours will be required

The School of the Botanic Garden provides classes and certificate programs for the novice to professional on ecology, horticulture, landscape design, etc. The primary duty of the intern in this department will be to research and report on a comparative analysis of other non-profit museums and botanical garden adult education departments. They will also assist in the implementation of continuing education courses, professional programs, tours and symposia including organizing facility set-up; schedule and monitor usage of audio-visual equipment. And some time may be spent maintaining records and performing clerical work to create customer contact lists and conduct mailings.

Facilities & Planning
Hours: 7 a.m.– 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

The Facilities and Planning Division is responsible for maintaining the Garden’s buildings, equipment and vehicles. Interns will work within several areas of the Garden. Work within building maintenance will allow the opportunity to learn and provide assistance with electrical and plumbing repairs throughout the Garden. Work within equipment maintenance will involve assisting Garden staff with the repair and maintenance of small equipment and motor vehicles.

Green Youth Farm
Hours: 7:30 a.m.– 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, hours may vary and some weekend work may be required

Green Youth Farm is a youth leadership program that builds confidence, teamwork, green entrepreneurship skills, and a sense of pride in students ages 15 - 18. Students grow fresh products to eat & sell at two locations: in North Lawndale in the city of Chicago & in North Chicago, IL. Students participate in cooking, teambuilding, and educational activities. Participants sell produce at local farmer’s markets, manage U-Pick days for community members at the farms, and are part of a motivated team dedicated to sustainable food systems and healthy eating. Interns will facilitate student participation in these activities at one or more farm sites as well as assist in administrative activities. This intern¹s experience will be split between the Chicago Botanic Garden and The Green Youth Farm sites, spending time in the Community Gardening office and doing farm tasks with Green Youth Farm students in North Chicago and/or North Lawndale. Transportation from the Chicago Botanic Garden to North Chicago, if necessary, will be provided.

Horticultural: Fruit & Vegetable Island
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

The Chicago Botanic Garden's first and only 100% organic display garden is home to multiple demonstration gardens where home gardeners and professionals alike can find inspiration. Join horticulturist Rick Belding, in maintaining this prominent visitor destination. Duties include sowing seeds/planting, transplanting, thinning crops, pruning, watering, mulching, weeding, deadheading, harvesting fruit and vegetables, and sweeping paved paths. This intern will be exposed to other horticultural staff as well as volunteers, will often work independently, and must be willing to work outdoors in all but the most inclement weather (must tolerate rain/heat).

Horticultural Therapy
Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

Gain valuable professional experiences with all aspects of a preeminent Horticultural Therapy program. The Horticultural Therapy Services program functions both at and away from the Garden. Activities include creating, delivering and evaluating therapeutic activities with diverse client groups, designing and maintaining indoor/outdoor plant displays, managing volunteers, teaching classes, consulting and supporting research initiatives. To learn more about the Garden’s Horticultural Therapy program visit www.chicagobotanic.org/therapy.

Horticulture Services
Hours: 6 a.m.– 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

The Horticulture Services department maintains general grounds and more intensively developed areas including the Berm Garden, Garden entrance, Administration Building, Nolan Garden and parking lots. Staff in this department also provides support for installing the horticultural elements of large public events, construction projects and large maintenance projects such as pruning the Linden Allee in the display Gardens. Interns will be involved in maintaining gardens and grounds as well as installing landscape construction projects planned for summer. Duties may include weeding, mulching, pruning, mowing, planting, removing plants, removing debris, edging beds and grooming annuals.

Institutional Advancement
Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

The Membership, Development and Government Affairs Departments support the Garden’s mission through the creation and stewardship of strong relationships with individuals, organizations, corporations, foundations and government agencies. Through these relationships requests are made for gifts to match the financial needs of the institution. Interns will assist with all aspects of the planning and preparation of special Garden events, help with mailings, research potential funding sources and provide administrative support to the entire Division.

Interpretive Programs – Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Hours: 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday

The Interpretive Programs Department provides a variety of information and programs for visitors in several areas throughout the Garden. At the Fruit & Vegetable Garden, daily programs include the plant giveaway, Garden Chef Series, family drop-in activities and a number of carts that have props, books and handouts that cover topics such as bees, tools, herbs, composting and more. This intern will work as part of an energetic team to assist staff setting up carts for the volunteers and helping with the plant giveaway, chef demonstrations and other special programs such as Barilla’s Italian Cooking Weekend. A candidate with an interest in Education or Public Service who has strong people skills, is a self-starter and can perform a variety of tasks indoors and outdoors should consider this position.

Lenhardt Library & Plant Information
Hours: Monday through Friday mornings (start at 8:30 a.m.)
Plant Information Hours: Monday through Friday afternoons (end at 4:30 p.m.)

This shared position between the Lenhardt Library and Plant Information will allow the intern to learn and work with many aspects of the literature of gardening and horticulture.

The Lenhardt Library sets the standard for libraries within a botanic garden setting. It is unique for its focus on botanical and horticulture content with a significant rare books collection, as well as its importance to the Garden’s research, education, and public outreach. All training will be provided for the intern. Duties may include inventory of magazines, research projects and repairing of books. Interns must have basic computer skills. This job also requires interns to be able to lift books and journals (5 lbs) and climb a ladder. The Chicago Botanic Garden's plant information service provides free research and educational information at the public's request. As part of this experience, the intern will assist staff and Master Gardener volunteers in researching various horticulture topics. Interns should have basic computer skills and some customer service experience is preferred.

Living Plant Documentation
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Living Plant Documentation offers interns an introduction to the skills and techniques used to support research and educational uses of the 2.4 million plants in the permanent collections at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Interns will rotate between the Plant Records Supervisor, the Mapping Technician and the Labeling Technician. In addition to permanent staff, they also have an opportunity to assist volunteers on one or more of the 17 different ongoing projects supported by the department.

Skill sets they will be expected to develop are: identification of plants, data entry and update of records in the Access 97 databases; use of Total Station laser surveying equipment to map plants and use of ArcGIS to publish the maps; creation and placement of plant labels and accession tags; inventory and inventory updates. The volunteer led teams work in the following areas: What's In Bloom (collection of phenology (when plants bloom in response to climate change) data), Bloom Cart (Visitor Experience Enhancement), Digital photography, slide scanning, DNA collection, and collection/pressing of herbarium vouchers.

Private & Corporate Events & Group Visits
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, possible evening and weekend hours on occasion

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a wonderful site for holding private and corporate events as well as for organized groups to visit and experience a pre-planned day. The intern in this department will assist with the planning, coordinating, and managing of events to meet contractual obligations & quality customer service standards. They will learn more about the planning and production of a special event from working with in-house caterers, designing and producing room set-ups and set-up memos, creating invoices and then processing deposits and final payments, managing vendor relations including emails/phone calls, submitting insurance paperwork, ensuring clients follow all garden policies and procedures, providing client services such as audio-visual/security or other requested needs, and assisting with arrival/setup/departure of group visits or tours.

Visitor Events & Programs
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, some evening and weekend hours will be required

The Visitor Events & Programs department of the Chicago Botanic Garden provides a variety of events and exhibitions for the visitors throughout the year – including musical evenings, flower shows, a Farmers’ Market, and much, much more. As part of this department’s staff, the intern will have the opportunity to plan, implement and work events that are attended by Garden members and visitors. The intern should have strong communication and organization skills as well as being able to maintain a professional and friendly demeanor with staff, outside vendors and Garden public. Training will be provided.

Visitor Services
Hours: 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sat. (TBD)

The Visitor Services department of the Chicago Botanic Garden provides outstanding service to Garden Members & Visitors, Staff and Volunteers. Our mission is to constantly and consistently exceed our Visitors expectations. As part of our Front Line Staff, Interns have an opportunity to serve in a variety of roles and locations. This internship will focus on our Model Railroad Garden Exhibition acting as both Greeter and Cashier. Other Visitor Services assignments may be included as needed or for Intern development. Interns must have exceptional communication skills, enjoy working outdoors with the public in a fast paced environment, have the ability to multi-task and be able to maintain a professional demeanor. Training will be provided. Interns must adhere to schedule requirements.

Internship Programs

General Info