Landscape Preservation Internship (Lyndhurst)
About The Position
This internship provides students with a comprehensive understanding of cultural landscape preservation at a 67-acre National Historic Landmark property. As an in-person program, it is an opportunity to work outdoors in the field and in collaboration with other interns, including via the French Heritage Society. Under supervision of the Curator of Historic Landscapes, the intern will contribute to the preservation and restoration of Lyndhurst via a combination of research, observation, and hands-on horticultural skills. The intern will gain valuable exposure to museum operations and preservation standards. National Trust internships are temporary experiential learning opportunities with no expectation of employment at the conclusion of the internship. For this internship, the National Trust is offering a stipend of $4,000 to help offset expenses. The period of the internship will be from approximately June 1 – July 24, for c. 28 hours per week (some flexibility of schedule available). This is an on-site internship. Lodging is provided. Locals may commute.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s level studies (or equivalent years of experience) required; current or rising juniors, seniors or graduate students preferred. Studies or demonstrated interest in Horticulture, Historic Preservation, Environmental Studies, and Landscape Design.
- Work on site four days per week with occasional field trips off site.
- Ability to work outdoors, including in inclement weather.
- Basic analytical and problem-solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization. Basic project-organization skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively, with supervision, and to interact professionally with key internal and external stakeholders. Public contact and ability to work well in close proximity to others required.
- Strong organizational skills required with ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently, and meet deadlines in a timely fashion.
- Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment, and to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills. Friendly and professional demeanor with ability to speak and write clearly in English.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products required, including Outlook, Word and Excel.
Nice To Haves
- Bi-lingual language skills are a plus.
- Familiarity with Auto CAD a plus.
Responsibilities
- Utilize archival materials to assess plants missing from historic gardens.
- Review 19th and 20th century garden design literature.
- Contribute to publication of book on Lyndhurst greenhouse history.
- Identify tree species as part of Lyndhurst Arboretum project.
- Implement tree planting/care program with climate adaptation strategies.
- Manage invasive plant species via identification and removal.
- Apply hands-on horticultural skills to support the care of historic gardens.
- Photograph plants for state-wide spring blooms tracking initiative.
- Observe pollinator activity in native gardens and assess bird habitats.
- Assess key leaf litter retention areas to support beneficial insects.
- Collect foliage samples for lab testing as part of heirloom apple ID project.
- Create plan for rose garden shrub border restoration.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
