Landscape Stewardship Corps Internship

Job Description

Under guidance from Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site staff, interns will care for cultural landscapes at ROVA’s historic sites by practicing and learning best practices in historic preservation, horticulture, arboriculture (tree care) and general landscape stewardship. Interns will get the opportunity to work in a variety of settings including ornamental gardens, food production gardens, and historic landscapes alongside park staff, volunteers, and park partners. Project work will include planting and maintaining annual and perennial gardens, caring for historic trees, shrubs, and native plants. ACE members may also be trained in traditional skillsets like carpentry and masonry to support preservation efforts on historic structures.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00AM-4:00PM

About Us

Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site (ROVA) is a National Park in Hyde Park, NY – centrally located on the Eastern side of the Hudson River in New York’s Hudson River Valley. The site includes the Home of Franklin Roosevelt, the country’s longest serving President; The Vanderbilt Mansion, a historic Gilded Age country estate; Val Kill, the Home of Eleanor Roosevelt and the only National Historic site dedicated to a First Lady; and Bellefield mansion with one of the few remaining residential gardens designed by Beatrix Farrand, the first female landscape architect in the United States. The park features gardens, woodlands, agricultural fields, trails, historic homes and the National Archives of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library – the first Presidential Library in the United States. ROVA preserves and shares the stories and resources of the Roosevelt and Vanderbilt families in Hyde Park for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Duties & Responsibilities

Intern duties include working with the horticulture team on a daily basis in routine maintenance and cultural landscape stewardship projects. The team includes volunteer and professional staff. Interns are expected to observe all safety protocols, bring a positive attitude to their work and engage with interest in the work of the greater team. Interns are expected to be self-motivated in identifying educational opportunities related to their work that can be incorporated into their internship and funded with their education stipend. They will participate in all trainings – formal and informal, in person and virtual that make up the internship experience. Some travel is required for training opportunities.

Education and Experience

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program-Landscape Stewardship Corps is intended for enthusiastic individuals who possess an interest in gaining experience in the field of landscape preservation or horticulture. No education or experience in the field is necessary. A High School diploma or equivalent is required, higher education in any subject area is welcome but not required.

Additional Information

Start Date: April 7, 2025
Estimated End Date: October 6, 2025
*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Professional Development Stipend: $1,000 of professional development funds will be available to participants for pre-approved uses.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training include OSHA-10 and Introduction to Preservation Horticulture.

Qualifications

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts.
• Members must have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Members must be ages 18-30 (up to 35 if a U.S. veteran).
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Interest in historic preservation, horticulture, arboriculture, and/or the environment.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.

Application Instructions

https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/1168995