Horticulturalist Intern

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is located in Woodstock, Vermont – an area of great natural beauty alongside the Ottauquechee River in the foothills of the Green Mountains. The park opened for the first time to visitors in 1998 and is the first unit of the National Park System to focus on the theme of conservation history and the changing nature of land stewardship in America. It manages and interprets the early 19th century Billings/Rockefeller mansion and grounds complex, as well as a 500-acre forest property on the slopes of Mount Tom where hiking, nature study, and cross-country skiing are popular with visitors.

The Horticulturalist Intern will assist the park's cultural landscape staff in all aspects of caring for the site's historic cultural landscape.  The intern will work with a highly skilled team of landscape maintenance staff and will perform various duties in the upkeep and preservation of the exceptional gardens and grounds at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP. The park includes 16 diverse historic structures with rich histories and unique architecture and a cultural landscape including formal flower gardens, cutting gardens, waterfall gardens, rock gardens, hemlock hedges, specimen trees, shrubs, walkways, and Class "A" turf.  The park also includes a 500-acre historic forest with twenty miles of hiking trails and carriage roads.

The intern will experience the full range of behind-the-scenes preservation and maintenance activities that are involved in managing a nationally significant historic landscape. The position will work with the park's professional staff, including the park's gardener and arborist, who will provide guidance, mentoring, training, and supervision. The position may also require the intern to work independently on basic projects and assignments.

The intern will become a valuable member of our dynamic, skilled and motivated landscape maintenance team. Together, we will harness the power of teamwork, innovation, and perseverance to care for this unique national park while demonstrating the best of sustainability practices and creating outstanding visitor experiences.

The intern’s primary duties will involve assisting the Park’s professional gardener in the performance of their work. Daily work is performed according to prescribed plans or specific directions including detailed methods and tools. Working with the park's gardener and grounds crew, you will assist with:

• The preservation of historically and/or botanically significant plants
• Flower garden maintenance, including planting, watering, deadheading, weeding, fertilizing, flower arranging, assisting with bedding plant selection and layout, and other summer and fall maintenance tasks.
• Hedge, shrub, turf, vine, and tree maintenance, including pruning, mulching, fertilizing, watering, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), etc.
• Waterfall garden maintenance
• Assist the gardener with the diagnosis of plant nutrition and pest control deeds, fertilization, and herbicides.
• Trail and gravel road maintenance
• Maintenance of small engine equipment

Housing is not provided for this position. 

Member Benefits:

• $300 - weekly living allowance
• $1,050 – monthly housing allowance (5 allotments)
• $1,100 – roundtrip travel allowance (personal vehicle REQUIRED)
• AmeriCorps eligible - education award of approximately $2,626 upon successful completion of position and service of 675 hours or more
• Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority

*All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes*

Member Qualifications:

• Driver’s license
• Personal vehicle required
• Coursework or experience in Biology, Forestry, Hand Tools, Landscaping, Plant Identification, and Resource Management.

Additional:
Must be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps Member. This includes:

• Being a citizen, permanent resident, or national of the United States;
• Being at least 18 years or older;
• Having a high school diploma or equivalent;
• Being willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks.

The intern may be able to attend professional development workshops, lectures, and other programs related to conservation and stewardship in the Park, including regional workshops in horticulture, pest management, arbor culture, etc.