Academic, Internship, and Cooperative Extension Programs at Botanic Gardens

Abstract

<jats:p>Fifty-five online survey responses, 15 phone interviews, and 9 site visits were conducted to collect information on academic (for credit) classes, internships, and Cooperative Extension programs at botanic gardens and arboreta in the United States. Academic programs investigated were primarily instructional credit classes. Thirty-five (64%) of the respondents indicated their garden offers an entire or partial academic class on<jats:bold>-</jats:bold>site. The most limiting factor in offering more academic classes was faculty time or staff limitations, as indicated by 21 participants (38%). Thirty-one (56%) gardens offer some type of internship, although only 16 (30%) were offering an academic (for credit) internship. Respondents indicated extension involvement as follows: Extension Specialists/Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) teach classes on<jats:bold>-</jats:bold>site, 23 (42%); EMG training was held on<jats:bold>-</jats:bold>site, 17 (31%); EMG answered questions on<jats:bold>-</jats:bold>site, 16 (29%); and 26 (47%) indicated “other” extension collaboration. Sixty-six percent reported their working relationship with extension as minimal or fair as opposed to 33% who described their extension relationship as good to excellent. Examples of successful programs in these three areas are presented, which offer models for collaborative work between botanic gardens, academia, and extension.</jats:p>

Exploring Careers at Public Gardens: A Long-term Evaluation of The Morton Arboretum Public Horticulture Internship

“…Public gardens are one potential source for horticulture internship opportunities. Though public garden internships are often only loosely characterized or defined (Hird et al, 2007), intern responsibilities generally differ from other staff to include participation in workshops, field trips, and staff meetings; ability to rotate around specific garden areas to learn a variety of tasks; assignment of an independent project; and/or significant involvement in direct teaching/training activities comprising up to 50% of their time (Meyer and Michener, 2013). Though some college advisors consider public garden internships beneficial and capable of providing a broad range of hands-on experiences, few college advisors have established relationships with public gardens, and thus are not presumed to recommend public garden internships to a significant extent (Hird et al, 2007).…”

“…Though some college advisors consider public garden internships beneficial and capable of providing a broad range of hands-on experiences, few college advisors have established relationships with public gardens, and thus are not presumed to recommend public garden internships to a significant extent (Hird et al, 2007). Furthermore, some advisors are aware of internship programs at public gardens, but are reluctant to encourage them, viewing them as less rigorous than those in the commercial sector (Meyer and Michener, 2013).…”