Therapeutic Horticulture Intern - Butterfly Pavilion

Therapeutic Horticulture Intern Spring 2025

Title: Therapeutic Horticulture Intern

Supervisor: Community Habitats Manager

Internship Timeframe: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 - Saturday, June 7, 2025

About Butterfly Pavilion:

At Butterfly Pavilion, we transform the way people think about invertebrates. These small but mighty animals that surround us are so much more than people think. They are everywhere because everything depends on them. They are the hidden heroes of the animal kingdom. As the leader in invertebrate research, education, and conservation, Butterfly Pavilion works to foster an appreciation of these critical animals by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation. Whether it is providing unique, hands-on learning experiences in our exhibits and educational programs, conducting new research that sets the standard for zoos across the country or building innovative solutions for species and habitat conservation in countries around the world, Butterfly Pavilion is leading the way in ensuring invertebrates are protected for the future.   

Looking forward, we are committed to providing the most enriching experience for our audience, being recognized as a scientific authority, and being a leading educational resource on invertebrates.

Our Core Values are a large part of who we are as an organization:

• Make Science Cool

• Love What You Do

• Go Above and Beyond

• Lead Change

• Know Your Stuff

• Be Positive

• Welcome All

These aren't just words, but words to live by here at Butterfly Pavilion.

Commitment:

• Up to 16 hours per week for the duration of the internship.

• Must be available for orientation on January 7th, 2025

• Must be available for final presentation of project on May 21st, 2025

Compensation: $16.00 per hour

Position Summary: 

Butterfly Pavilion is seeking a creative and passionate individual to support and expand horticulture focused programs in the Colorado community. Butterfly Pavilion utilizes horticulture as a way to expand habitat for invertebrates but also seeks to prioritize its applications in community and human health.

As part of a team of talented and experienced staff and volunteers at Butterfly Pavilion, the Therapeutic Horticulture Intern will be fully integrated into programs based in community science, invertebrate habitat development, and therapeutic horticulture. These programs include but are not limited to: Healthy Habitats Gardening (a hands-on program for individuals residing in memory care, assisted living, or rehabilitative facilities), Urban Prairies Project (a volunteer-powered greenspace restoration program), Habitat Gardening Bootcamp (a year-long educational course focused on transformation of traditional lawn space), and horticulturally-focused Project-Based-Learning (PBL) programs in partnership with the education team. This position aims to provide ample opportunities for cultivating knowledge, relationships, and community building through hands on training and real-world experiences.

Upon orientation completion, the intern will work with their supervisor to develop a work plan and project outline. Interns are required to develop a term project and presentation. Additional information for this project will be provided upon starting.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Work with Community Habitats team to improve existing and create new educational materials and workshops for horticulture programs.

• Support planning and implementation of habitat gardens.

• Support and facilitate adult and youth garden education programs.

• Support and facilitate interpretation during outdoor education programs.

• Support and cultivate positive relationships with current and potential program partners.

• Support and lead restoration volunteers during workdays: guiding activities, answering questions, providing on-the-job training, etc.

• Meet deadlines and expectations to complete a project over the duration of the internship. Professionally present this project to Butterfly Pavilion team members at the end of the internship.

Key Skills Learned:

• Hands on experience with plants

• Interpretation and Science Communication skills, including teaching adults, children, and at-risk populations

• Relationship-building with open space, horticulture, and education professionals across the state

• Increased knowledge of native plants and wildlife and habitat-focused gardening practices

• Exposure to fresh air, sunlight, and positive experiences with people of a wide variety of backgrounds.

• Positive impact on the ecological health of spaces across Colorado, including the mental and physical health of surrounding human populations.

• Habitat restoration theory and techniques - including invasives mitigation and revegetation

• Techniques in accessible invertebrate identification, monitoring and conservation.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Interest in invertebrates and their place in the health of ecosystems

• Strong communication skills, and experience interacting with people of varying ages, backgrounds, physical and cognitive ability

• Experience with science communication

• Experience with horticulture with an interest in its application in human health.

• Willingness to work with BP volunteers, staff and community partners

• Self-motivated and capable of working independently

• Basic computer skills (word, spreadsheets, email)

• Willingness to engage in outdoor activity

• Driver's License preferred

Additional Requirements:

• Has current tetanus vaccination or ability to receive vaccination before start of internship

• Equipment: Must have access to personal laptop or computer with internet connection

• Must be available for orientation on January 7th, 2025

• Must be available for final presentation of project on May 21st, 2025

• Must have reliable transportation to and from Butterfly Pavilion

• May require travel to different cities across the state

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age

Training: 

Successfully complete the following:

• Intern Orientation and All Team Training.

• Spring Restoration Master Volunteer Training

• Horticulture program documents and materials

Work Environment / Physical Requirements:

While performing the responsibilities of this position, the following work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the position will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Work in high/low humidity, intense sunlight, heat, cold, wind, precipitation, uneven surfaces

• Exposure to living invertebrates

• Use of hands, wrists and fingers, standing, walking, reaching with arms and hands, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lifting and carrying, digging and raking, repetitive motion.

• At Butterfly Pavilion, the team member is occasionally exposed to moderate to loud environmental noise for extended periods of time. While performing the responsibilities of this position, the team member is required to talk and hear. The team member is often required to sit and stand, use their hands and fingers, to handle/feel/grasp. The team member is occasionally required to reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The team member should be able to lift, carry and items up to 50 lbs.

Application Deadline: Open until filled

How to Apply:

Butterfly Pavilion encourages people of all backgrounds to apply for open positions and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

Fill out the form to the right and click "Apply for this Position" to start the application process. Must submit a cover letter and resume. Please no phone calls or walk-ins.