Therapeutic Horticulture Intern

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

30d

About The Position

The Therapeutic Horticulture Intern position will help support our expanding direct service offerings and advance our long-term program goals. This position is ideal for a graduate of a horticultural therapy certificate program seeking to complete the American Horticultural Therapy Association ( AHTA ) requirement of 480 supervised internship hours.

Requirements

• Completion of a certificate program in Horticultural Therapy from an American Horticultural Therapy Association ( AHTA ) accredited institution.
• Demonstrated foundational knowledge of therapeutic horticulture principles, client-centered practice, and professional ethics.
• Experience (classroom, practicum, or field-based) assisting with planning and facilitating therapeutic horticulture activities.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to support program preparation, documentation, and basic evaluation processes.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, community partners, and participants in a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and inclusive manner.
• Commitment to reflective practice, professional development, and contributing to a positive learning environment.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage time effectively within a part-time schedule.
• Experience working respectfully, effectively, and without judgment with diverse populations

Nice To Haves

• Previous hands-on experience delivering therapeutic horticulture, horticultural therapy, or nature-based wellness programming in a community or healthcare setting.
• Experience working directly with adults with mental health challenges, developmental or intellectual disabilities, chronic illness, or other specialized populations.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care principles and their application in group or nature-based program settings.
• Knowledge of accessible garden design, including strategies for adapting activities to support client participation and independence.
• Experience conducting basic program evaluation, needs assessments, or outcomes tracking.
• Strong interest in community engagement, partnership development, or nonprofit program advancement.
• Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking and creative problem-solving in program design and implementation.
• Experience with grant writing, donor reporting, or identifying funding opportunities to support programs or community initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, or similar platforms for documentation and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning and facilitation of ongoing therapeutic horticulture sessions and related program activities.
• Participate in program setup, documentation, and evaluation.
• Develop a comprehensive plan to implement a therapeutic horticulture program group at the garden and conduct an associated community needs assessment.
• Identify potential funding sources or partnerships to support programming.
• This position requires driving; a driving record check will be required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees