What are the responsibilities and job description for the Landscape Preservation Internship (Lyndhurst) position at National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States?
PROJECT SUMMARY
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.
DUTIES
Research:
- 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.
Field work:
- 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.
Design: Create plan for rose garden shrub border restoration.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE TO THE INTERN
The intern will gain experience under the mentorship of respected preservation and museum professionals in immersive, educational environment where history, horticulture, and visitor experience meet. The intern will have the opportunity to participate in educational programming, offered via the Trust’s organization-wide internship program, and Lyndhurst events. Students may be eligible for college or graduate school academic credit at the discretion of their institution.
Specifically, the intern will gain knowledge in the following areas:
- Historic landscape preservation
- Horticulture
- Sustainable landscape management
- Landscape design
- Non-profit work
By the end of the program, the intern will have produced a research document or design plan for their professional portfolio to support future career pursuits.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 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. Bi-lingual language skills are a plus.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products required, including Outlook, Word and Excel. Familiarity with Auto CAD a plus.