Urban Forester Intern

The Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission • Gaithersburg, MD

299d • $16 - $19

About The Position

Do you enjoy working in nature and passionate about trees? Are you looking to get hands on experience in the tree care profession in a safe and fun environment? We are currently seeking a dynamic, highly organized, undergraduate Urban Forestry Intern for our Arboriculture Program. The internship program runs between June 2nd - August 7, 2025, with the time commitment of 25 hours per week for 10 weeks. The work schedule for this internship will be Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The successful internship candidate will have the opportunity to collect and analyze tree inventory data for the recently planted landscape tree plantings. The selected candidate will gain experience and knowledge of a wide range of tree care knowledge that can be applied in a wide variety of careers in the green industry. This role requires both administrative work to be performed indoors and physical work to be performed outdoors.

Requirements

• Current enrollment in an undergraduate-level program focusing on Forestry, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Environmental Science, or any related field.
• Students must have at least a 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and at least Junior class standing.
• Students must be currently enrolled full-time at an accredited college, university, or trade school.
• Must possess a valid Driver's License and qualify to drive Commission vehicles to locations within Montgomery County and/or as directed.
• Must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in Microsoft and Adobe Suite.
• GIS experience or coursework.
• Passion for learning new and varied skills relevant to tree care operations.
• Ability to communicate in another language.

Responsibilities

• Becomes familiar with tree inventory data collection and analysis.
• Learns how to accurately locate individual trees using an advanced GNSS system.
• Learns to assess the condition of young trees.
• Gains experience in the field utilizing TreeKeeper8 Urban Forestry Management Software.
• Learns the techniques and procedures for identifying common landscape tree species in Montgomery Parks.
• Uses tree inventory software to verify and correct tree species information for the 2025 Survivorship Study.
• Learns to identify common tree defects and conditions that may impact a tree's long-term or short-term health.
• Learns how to identify potential hazards, from trees to park patrons or property.
• Learns how to use the International Society of Arboriculture's Tree Risk Inspection procedure.
• Learns how to provide care for young trees through mulching, watering, and structure pruning using hand tools.
• Learns how to analyze and present tree inventory data using GIS, Microsoft Excel, and PowerBi.
• Learns about the different work programs implemented by our Urban Forestry section.

Benefits

• Hands-on experience in the tree care profession.
• Opportunity to work in a safe and fun environment.
• Gain knowledge applicable in a variety of careers in the green industry.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Industry: Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree