Internship Chicago Botanic Gardens Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

About Denver Botanic Gardens: Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens was founded in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Gardens has a robust living plant collection, natural history collection and art collection along with temporary art exhibitions. The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family - as well as world-class exhibitions, education, and plant conservation research programs. 

For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org.

Along with the mission of bringing plants to people, our Core Values are a fundamental driver of the Gardens culture. They are:

Sustainability. We are devoted to an institutional, environmental and human sustainability.

Diversity. We champion inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for all we encounter, and also support programmatic, ecological and plant diversity.

Relevance. We make connections with all people using a lens of inclusion, equity and responsiveness.

Transformation. We believe ever-evolving public gardens change the world and lead to positive transformation of human spirit and knowledge. 

Denver Botanic Gardens is currently seeking a School Program Intern in our Education Department! Read below to see if the requirements might be a good fit for you:

Applications will be accepted through August 22, 2026 or until a candidate is found

Position Summary

This position assists the education staff in implementing school and other programming. Programs include but are not limited to onsite guided tours, drop-in activities, and family events. Additional programming responsibilities include material maintenance and accurate record keeping.

This opportunity is a 10-week Autumn paid Internship through the Gardens' Education department that offers a great way to gain experience in implementing youth education programs. 2-3 days per week, ~10 hours per week.

Requirements

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepares and delivers assigned programs, including but not limited to school programs, tours, scout programs, and family programs. 
• Maintains set up and take down program materials.
• Provides program introduction to groups of elementary-age students, teachers, and parent chaperones.
• Maintains a safe environment for visitors and address first aid issues.
• Assists in monitoring materials used by education and other departments.
• Assists with preparation for family programming.
• Assists with coordinating volunteers as needed and provide support for all volunteers.
• Revises or creates programs as needed, including but not limited to School Programs.
• Works to assure the highest quality experience for all Denver Botanic Gardens visitors.
• Maintains satisfactory working relationships with managers, co-workers, and others.
• Maintains a positive, helpful, and solution-oriented demeanor when responding to or serving members and visitors.
• Regular attendance at the worksite may be required. As with all positions at Denver Botanic Gardens, the incumbent must be in good performance standing to be eligible for remote work. Remote work is at the discretion of management at all times.
• All Gardens employees must be committed to the mission of connecting people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone.

Position Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of environmental sciences, agriculture, or horticulture is desirable.
• Ability to maintain education materials.
• Ability to keep accurate records of attendance, programs, confirmations, or other matters as needed.
• Must have proven excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills in dealing with the public.
• Ability to maintain stability under pressure and able to deal well with stressful situations.
• Ability to be flexible and willing to modify plans, when necessary, throughout the day.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite products, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook and Teams.  
• Ability to work overtime as necessary.
• Must be a positive representative of the Gardens both internally and externally at all times.
• Must work with respect and cooperation at all times with fellow employees and the public.
• Must be committed to working safely at all times.

Experience/Education:

• High school diploma / GED and/or combination of education and equivalent experience is required. 
• Undergraduate, graduate student, or recent graduate in the field of education, teacher preparation, museum studies, or environmental education.
• Coursework in education, child development, developmentally appropriate practice, and science education is desired.
• Previous experience working with children is desired, experience with grades PreK-6 is preferred.

Travel:

Up to 10% travel required. Requires the ability to travel to remote locations (or other Garden locations) where environment may vary significantly.  

Come work for a place that offers you SO much more than just a paycheck!