Paid Horticulture Therapy Intern

Description

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is hiring a Paid Horticultural Therapy Intern! 

Are you a student who is working toward Horticultural Therapy-Registered (HTR) or Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner (THP), passionate about inspiring meaningful connections among people, plants and nature in one of the most beautiful settings in Maine, and committed to supporting the Gardens’ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility goals?  

The Horticultural Therapy (HT) or Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner (THP) intern works closely with the Horticultural Therapy Program Supervisor. They assist in planning, facilitating, and documenting HT sessions while also helping to install, maintain, and manage the garden beds surrounding the HT activity space in the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses. The intern will engage and support HT participants during sessions and assist with administrative duties such as planning sessions that help manage and grow the horticultural therapy program.  

The internship meets the requirements created by the American Horticultural Therapy Association’s internship standards. A detailed description of The Gardens’ horticultural therapy program is available at www.mainegardens.org/learn/horticultural-therapy/. 

This is a Seasonal, Full-time (32 hours per week) internship that runs June through mid-September 2026.  

$18.00 hourly, non-exempt 

Intern housing is available for biweekly rent. 

Seasonal employees receive personal and sick paid time off, paid holidays, discounts in our culinary programs and Gardenshop, and a Gardens membership.   

Primary Functions:

• Develop a strong and comprehensive understanding of horticultural therapy, particularly managed in a public garden setting.  
• Gain experience with customization and appropriate selection of HT activities for various populations and abilities by assisting and facilitating HT sessions.  
• Build and practice effective interpersonal communication and counseling skills for diverse groups of clients and staff.  
• Build creative thinking and problem-solving skills in an active social garden environment with public interactions.  
• Learn horticulture skills that apply effectively to horticultural therapy programming and general gardening comprehension that promotes independence, confidence, and wellbeing.  
• Practice and develop administrative skills in documentation and observation of HT program participants in a supportive manner.   
• Participate in educational opportunities that The Gardens offer which may include classes, workshops, intern field trips, and other disciplines of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens such as Interpretation, apiary, Butterfly House, Youth and Family education in a mission-driven environment where your ideas are valued. 

Physical Requirements:

Bending, squatting, typing, kneeling, sitting, light to moderate lifting, computer time, public speaking, standing, gripping tools, pushing, pulling, walking, working in varied weather conditions.  

Requirements

• Completion of the required course material approved by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (6 credits of horticultural therapy classes).  
• Experience working with plants, e.g. nursery, plant science education, gardening, etc.  
• A passion for connecting people to the therapeutic benefits of working with plants.  
• Enjoys and has the endurance for programming indoors or outdoors in all types of weather e.g. sun, wind, etc., always with safety in mind.  
• Demonstrates motivation, a positive attitude, good communication skills, empathy, and compassion.   
• Works well in a team environment with the possibility to exercise leadership skills when feeling confident about programming.  
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Outlook.  
• Commitment to working across the organization to support the integration of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility principles into Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ internal operations and its relationships with visitors and guests.