Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum Summer Internships

Grow with Purpose

Calling all current college and university students! MBGNA is excited to announce a wide variety of paid internship opportunities! Our internships offer flexibility in length, hours, and focus, and span 19 job categories. Whether you're interested in research, horticulture, community outreach, or something else, there's likely a perfect fit for you at MBGNA.

Learning Objectives
The MBGNA summer internship provides university-level students with opportunities to:

• Participate in experiential learning in a nature-based organization
• Directly contribute to strategic operations of a mission-driven organization
• Help unify and catalyze access across lands, waters, and dynamic systems

Enriching Opportunities

Our internships offer flexibility in length, hours, and focus, and span 10 job categories. Whether you're interested in research, horticulture, community outreach, or something else, there's likely a perfect fit for you at MBGNA:

• Bonsai Care Horticulture Intern 
• Campus Farm Ecological Farming Intern
• Campus Farm Native Plants Intern 
• Conservatory and Collections Horticulture Intern
• Development & Volunteer Assistant Intern
• Display Gardens Horticulture Intern
• Event Hosting Assistant Intern
• Indigenous Foodways Intern
• K-12 Environmental Education Assistant Intern
• Native Plant Gardens Horticulture Intern
• Nature Play Advocate Intern
• Natural Areas Stewardship Intern
• Peony Garden Horticulture Intern
• Refugee Garden Youth Education Intern
• Shakespeare in the Arb Production Assistant Intern
• Social Media Assistant Intern 
• University Community Outreach and Engagement Intern
• Visitor Services Assistant Intern
• Woody Plants and Trails Intern

Internship Duration and Dates

• The MBGNA summer internship takes place Monday, May 5 to Friday, August 15, 2025.
• In order to fully participate in team collaboration and project work, selected candidates are expected to complete all dates of the internship.
• Most internships require 32-40 hours per week.  Some internships require 15-20 hours per week.

Internship Location

• MBGNA comprises 841 total acres, spanning across four sites, including the gardens, arboretum, a bog, and natural areas.
• Some internships take place mainly at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI. Some internships take place mainly at Nichols Arboretum, 1600 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
• Many internships will take place at combined locations throughout the summer experience.

How to Apply

• View job postings for all MBGNA Summer Internships.
• Applicants may apply for more than one position.  If applying for more than one position, submit a customized cover letter and resume for each application.
• Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all qualified individuals.

Prepare Materials

• Review the specific job posting, objectives, responsibilities, and requirements.
• Prepare a customized cover letter and resume.
• Combine your cover letter and resume into a single PDF file. Include this with your electronic application.

Apply

• Apply by March 2, 2025.
• Applications will be reviewed after the internship application closes.
• Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews beginning Monday, March 10, 2025.
• Final candidates will be notified by March 31, 2025

Connect

• For more information about MBGNA and the summer internship program, visit: https://mbgna.umich.edu/summer-internships
• For questions about the internship application, please contact: MBGNAinternships@umich.edu