Paid Education Intern
Employment Type
Paid Internship (Full-Time)Job Categories
Education
Job Description
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is hiring a Paid Education Intern!
Are you a student who is passionate about plants and the environment, excited about inspiring meaningful connections among people and nature in one of the most beautiful settings in Maine, and committed to supporting the Gardens’ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility goals?
The Education internship prepares one to enter the field of environmental or museum education by providing hands-on experience with interpretation, informal education, classes, and demonstrations in a public garden setting. In particular, the Intern in this position will immerse themselves in guiding tours, interacting with visitors at Discovery Carts, the Learning Apiary, and Butterfly House, assisting with Adult Education classes, and assisting with youth programs. This internship allows one to learn how the Education Department leverages the incredible resource that is our landscape and gardens in a wide variety of learning modes and settings to serve our diverse customer and visitor base.
This is a Seasonal, Full-time (40 hours per week) internship that runs mid-May to late August 2026. Start and end dates are somewhat flexible. Weekend work is required.
$17.00 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.
Physical Requirements:
This position has consistent, moderate physical demands. The position frequently involves hands-on garden education. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, often in inclement weather (hot, cold, wet). The employee should be prepared for active physical work as a regular component of the workday throughout the Gardens’ open season.
Application review will begin March 2, 2026.
About Us
At nearly 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest public garden in New England. With two miles of hiking trails, 19 acres of ornamental and themed gardens featuring native plants of Maine and those suited to northern coastal conditions, nearly a mile of saltwater frontage, a children’s garden, a sensory garden, and so much more, there’s something for everyone. A true Maine experience, the Gardens is committed to connecting people to plants and nature, preserving the biodiversity of the Maine coast, and continuing to be a place accessible and welcoming to all. The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education, and plant science.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is dedicated to being an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment where every member of our community is valued, respected, and appreciated. We acknowledge that a society is stronger, more resilient, and more beautiful when it is diverse. We are committed to identifying and striving to eliminate barriers that, historically, have prevented the full participation of communities most impacted by inequity.
Duties & Responsibilities
-Learn the art and science of live interpretation in a public garden setting.
-Build proficiency in educating on botany, environmental science, and horticulture topics.
-Interact with garden visitors by providing informal educational experiences in both structured and unstructured settings on tours, at Discovery Carts, and in the Native Butterfly House and Learning Apiary.
-Support our Adult Education programming by assisting with course registration, online moderation, in-person class management, and evaluations of our programs.
-Assist Interpretation team with writing and editing interpretive material such as tours, Discovery Carts, training resources, and blog posts.
-Provide support for our Youth and Family programs such as summer camps and field trips.
-Assist with the general care and upkeep of the Children’s Garden play spaces.
-Work closely with volunteers and trained docents.
Education and Experience
-Must enjoy and be comfortable socially engaging with the public.
-Demonstrates efficient organizational skills.
-Ability to work in a fast-paced, teamwork environment.
-An interest in environmental issues, plants, nature and the outdoors, and a desire to learn more about the role of education in a public garden and museum setting.
-Some coursework/experience in the field of education, plant science, botany, biology, environmental sciences or a related field.
-Experience using databases and spreadsheets is preferred.
