Rhododendron Garden Volunteer Intern at Hendricks Park

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Interns support all aspects of garden care throughout the year at a world-class Rhododendron garden. Tasks vary by season but always include hands-on-work meeting the daily needs of the garden. Interns can expect to gain experience in identifying, propagating and caring for ornamental and native plants in formal and natural garden settings. Opportunities for special areas of focus include garden mapping, botanical collections management, creating outreach and educational materials, and deepening community engagement.

Purpose:

Rhododendron Garden interns specialize in support of the Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden. This 15-acre botanical garden includes thousands of rhododendrons and other ornamental plants in a mixed Douglas fir and Oregon oak woodland setting. Visitors from across the city and world come to the park to enjoy the beauty, habitat and educational opportunities that abound in this beloved park.

Essential Duties:

• Assist with detail-oriented aspects of garden operations, including careful weeding, pruning, planting and garden tasks that vary by season.
• Assist with plant propagation including materials collection, seed cleaning, layering, and more.
• Assist with plant labeling, inventory, and other data collection.
• Assist with outreach/education efforts and support volunteer groups.
• Maintain good working relationships with City staff and other volunteers/interns.
• Perform additional tasks as requested.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Strong interest in or knowledge of botanical gardens, their ornamental and native plants and care.
• Ability to follow instructions and pay attention to detail, especially in a formal garden setting.
• Willingness to work in inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to be flexible, cooperative, and to work as part of a group or individually.
• Commitment to being respectful of others at all times.
• Capacity to provide their own transportation to Hendricks Park.
• Ability to perform gardening type work, including kneeling, bending, digging, hauling wheel barrows, and lifting.

Time Commitment: Time commitments can be geared to meet the needs of each intern to the degree that the days and times match the supporting staff’s work schedule. Two-quarter commitment strongly preferred.

Training Provided: On-the-job training will be provided in the areas of plant identification and propagation, plant care throughout changing seasons and life cycles, uses of plants in formal and informal gardens, creation of and record-keeping involved in plants collections. Special project opportunities abound.

Individuals interested in the Rhododendron Garden Internship should send a resume and cover letter describing how this internship fits with their educational/career goals to Christina Bentrup at christina.r.bentrup@ci.eugene.or.us. For more information email or call Christina at 541-510-4636.