Assistant Horticulturist, Butterflies & Blooms - Seasonal

Chicago Botanic Garden•Glencoe, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Work in the Butterflies & Blooms exhibition to maintain the plants, pupae, and live tropical butterflies, with opportunity to assist in the visitor experience during public hours. This is an approximately 18-week seasonal position part-time position, working 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., a few days during the weekdays and Saturdays (scheduled approximately 24 hours per week).

Requirements

The ability to lead a volunteer group in maintaining the garden.
Ability to maintain accurate records.
Completed a horticulture training program or taken classes in gardening with experience in landscape maintenance and installation.
Completed some undergraduate or graduate studies in biology or entomology, or have a degree in any of the life sciences, and have a desire to learn about the life cycle and handling of butterflies.
Candidate should be available to work from May through mid-September.
Available to work Thursday - Saturday.
A valid driver’s license and insurable by the Chicago Horticultural Society.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to and comfortable in responding to visitor questions.
A high energy level and passion for working with the public.
Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
An enthusiastic interest in working with volunteers.
The ideal candidate will be flexible, able to work in a fast-paced environment, and possess exceptional interpersonal skills. The ability to work both independently and as part of a team is essential.

Responsibilities

Perform general landscape installation (pre-exhibition opening) and ongoing maintenance tasks including watering, weeding, grooming, mulching, removing debris, path raking, fertilizing, and monitoring for plant health issues.
Care for the living butterfly collection by collecting and properly disposing of any caterpillars and dead butterflies, morning and afternoon releases of adult butterflies and daily monitoring for pupae diseases and health of the adults.
Collect and prepare supplemental diets and monitor level of natural nectar sources. Replace as needed.
Comply with all USDA containment requirements and assure that all workers follow proper procedures. Report all inconsistencies to the Plant Health Care supervisor.
Report all escaped butterflies/moths and plant, pupae, and butterfly disease and pest problems to the Plant Health Care supervisor.
Oversee and coordinate activities of plant and butterfly care volunteers.
Monitor the number and variety of species (adult butterflies, pupae, and plants) in the exhibition. Update exhibition signage and provide species identification for volunteers and visitors.
Interact daily with staff, volunteers, and the public. Be able to speak to a wide variety of visitors, and answer questions from volunteers and visitors about the exhibition and butterfly gardening.
Work with Visitor Events & Programs to staff interpretive positions and doors as needed to provide breaks and to cover for unexpected absences of scheduled staff and volunteers.
Maintain a high level of computer literacy for purposes of interdepartmental documentation and communication.
Assist with special exhibition programs, tours, or events as needed.
Assist with weekend watering responsibilities throughout the Chicago Botanic Garden Entrance Gardens.