Program Website and Application Information
Internship Opportunities
Internships are available in the Applied Ecology department at Norcross Wildlife Foundation (NWF) for the 2022 growing season. Interns will aid in plant identification and botanical inventories, propagation, landscape design and planting, maintenance, invasive removal, habitat restoration, and all other duties related to ecological horticulture. In addition to the work at NWF, interns will have the ability to attend lectures/programs, go on field trips, and design and complete an intern project. Interns are provided with housing on-site and a stipend paid bi-weekly.
Qualifications
The major qualification is a desire to learn more about building habitat using native plants. The following qualifications will all be considered when filling the positions:
- Ability to identify plants using a botanical key
- Experience with propagation, horticulture, gardening, or farming
- Experience with invasive species removal
- Preference will be given to those individuals enrolled in an environmental science degree
Additional Qualifications
- Ability to work in inclement weather including buggy conditions and hot, cold, or wet weather
- Ability to handle strenuous manual labor associated with outdoor work
The Public Area of Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS)
At the heart of the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary is a 75-acre parcel open to the public where a substantial proportion of the ecological horticulture interns’ work will occur. This area provides numerous examples of the value native plants offer to the field of horticulture. Ranging from high and dry sites, to swamps, and rich woodlands; the public area is welcoming, beautiful, and above all valuable wildlife habitat chock full of both common and rare native species. Most of those species planted at NWS are grown on-site in our greenhouse and stock beds before being moved to permanent places.
Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1939 by Arthur D. Norcross. Its present area includes thousands of acres of wooded hills, ponds, and streams. It is maintained by the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc. whose purpose is the conservation of wildlife and the active practice of conservation for the benefit of the public. This includes the propagation of native plants, the preservation of birds and wildlife, and the conservation of land and water.
Additional Duties
Interns will report to the ecological horticulturist with whom they will spend most of their time. Interns will be part of the NWF team and may on occasion work with other NWF staff members. Additional duties might include boundary identification and marking, trail maintenance, storm cleanup, and other duties as needed.
Application Details
- Application Deadline: March 1, 2022 or as soon as the positions are filled
- Compensation: $15.00/hour, maximum of 800 hours
- Housing is available, free of charge, on site. Subject to an occupancy agreement
- General housing availability is from May 18th through October 12th
- Hours of Work: 40 hours/week, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, with some weekend hours as needed.