Horticulture Intern at Naples Botanical Garden Inc – Naples, Florida

Classification: Non-Exempt

The Horticulture summer internship is a full time, 12-week program, starting 5/11/2026 – 8/1/2026.

$15.00 hourly

Organization Description

Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre world-class paradise, featuring the flora and cultures of the tropics and sub-tropics including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Florida. The Garden’s mission is to connect people and plants through display, education, conservation, and applied science. The Garden has beautifully restored native habitats, cultivated gardens, walking trails, and public programming that offer education and enjoyment for people of all ages. Naples Botanical Garden is a 501(c)3 organization.

Position Summary: The Summer Internship in Horticulture offers current or recent students an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in horticulture. Depending on the candidate and the department’s needs, the majority of the work may be focused on a single aspect of our department’s activities, such as nursery and greenhouse maintenance, aquatic plant maintenance or orchid care. The internship is a paid full-time 12-week position that will provide students the opportunity to broaden their experience in the maintenance of plant collections in a public garden setting.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• General care and maintenance of plant collections, including but not limited to pruning, weeding, planting, propagating, irrigating, aquatic plant management and plant record keeping
• Assist Garden staff and volunteers in other horticultural activities as needed
• Participate in Garden-wide events, exhibitions and projects as required or needed
• Performs other duties as assigned and required
• Be highly motivated and organized with a strong work ethic and attention to detail

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Be pursuing a degree in environmental education, horticulture, botany, biology or have an equivalent level of education and experience
• Highly organized and motivated with a strong work ethic
• Excellent communication skills, enthusiasm, and a desire to learn
• Willingness and ability to work full days outdoors in a hot and humid environment and ability to lift and carry at least 35 pounds
• Possess a commitment to the Garden’s mission of connecting people with plants
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays
• Must possess a valid U.S. driver’s license and reliable transportation
• A pre-employment background check required

Naples Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Garden has a long-standing policy of employment and advancement based solely upon qualifications to perform the essential elements of a position without regard to age, creed, gender, national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, veteran status, pregnancy, marital status, HIV status, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or mental or physical disability.