Conservation Intern

Classification: Non-Exempt, Hourly

The Conservation summer internship is a full time, 12-week program, starting 5/11/2026 – 8/1/2026.

$15.00 hourly

Organization Description

Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre world-class botanical garden, featuring the flora and cultures of the tropics and sub-tropics including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Florida. The Garden’s mission is to connect people and plants through display, education, conservation, and applied science. The Garden has beautifully restored native habitats, cultivated gardens, walking trails, and public programming that offer education and enjoyment for people of all ages. Naples Botanical Garden is a 501(c)3 organization.

Position Summary: The Summer Internship in the Conservation department at Naples Botanical Garden offers students an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience working with plants. The intern will work closely with Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as assisting with Regional Conservation and GIS teams across a wide range of in-situ and ex-situ projects focusing on the flora of South Florida and the Caribbean region. The internship opportunity is a paid full-time 12-week position that will provide students the opportunity to broaden their experience in plant conservation practices in a public garden setting.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Conservation and Natural Resources teams on in-situ and ex-situ plant conservation projects, including seed collection and processing, plant surveys, monitoring, plant propagation, and working with rare plant collections in the nursery and garden.
• Assist and support Garden staff in record-keeping and data management, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Collaborate with the Natural Resources teams in the management of 90-acres of conservation land and native plantings.
• Assist with eradication of invasive plant species in conservation lands.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, enthusiasm, and a desire to learn.
• Possess a commitment to the Garden’s mission of connecting people with plants.
• Ability to function effectively as a member of a team that includes staff and volunteers, as well as work independently to complete projects.
• Be highly motivated and organized with a strong work ethic and attention to detail.
• Be willing and able to work full days outdoors in a hot and humid environment, able to lift and carry at least 35 pounds.
• Possess experience working with plants.
• Possess a working knowledge of MS Office software.
• A pre-employment background check required.

Naples Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Garden has a long-standing policy of employment and advancement based solely upon qualifications to perform the essential elements of a position without regard to age, creed, gender, national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, veteran status, pregnancy, marital status, HIV status, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or mental or physical disability.