Horticulture: Garden Engagement

Overview

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Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden celebrates the diversity of our plants & animals, staff, visitors, and community. We believe the Zoo should be a place where everyone can be themselves. We strive for the Zoo to be a place where differences are recognized, welcomed, and celebrated through our culture, processes, programs, and very presence in the community.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is an equal opportunity employer and accepts employment applications and/or resumes for current open positions only.

• Position: 2026 Internship (Summer) - Horticulture - Garden Education and Engagement
• Location: Cincinnati, OH
• Job : 1340
• # of Openings: 1
• 2026 Summer Internship Application

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Intern Program offers a unique opportunity to be alongside Zoo staff, gain valuable hands-on experience, develop professional contacts in the Zoo community, and attend lectures and continuing education courses presented by staff from a variety of departments. Topics include basic animal husbandry, operant conditioning, enrichment, nutrition, veterinary care, conservation, and job-seeking/interview skills.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to apply an environmental education background to a public garden setting. The intern in this position will contribute to our on-going garden education efforts by actively engaging visitors through garden activities and interpretive programming, helping to keep garden engagement station stocked with interpretive supplies, meeting with volunteers, and assisting with the creation of new garden engagement programs and activities that reflect our current horticultural mission, initiatives, and programs.

The intern in this position will have the opportunity to participate in interpretive trainings, and gain skills in inquiry and participant-led education, storytelling, public speaking, and curriculum development. The intern may also receive opportunities to present newly developed programs and activities to garden engagement volunteers. Occasional opportunities to complete tasks in the garden that will support an understanding of our horticulture programs and aide in the development of curriculum and engagement activities will also be available to this intern.

The ideal candidate will possess a passion for sharing information and engaging with the public, enthusiasm for public gardens and horticultural programs, and the desire to inspire people to take actions that promote conservation and co-existence between people and wildlife. Students currently enrolled in Environmental Education, Horticulture, or a closely related field are encouraged to apply. Horticulture and/or knowledge of plants and gardening preferred, but not required.

Part-time or full-time opportunities available.

The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements:

• Current college student working toward a degree in a related field or a recent graduate with a related degree
• Hard-working, highly motivated, and professional
• Demonstrate commitment to working with children, adults, and wildlife in a zoo setting
• Comfortable working with and handling many different species encompassing all classes of animals

Successful candidates will embrace and continuously demonstrate the Core Values of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, which include, but are not limited to:
Building Collaborative Relationships through open communication and active listening;
Positivity and Energy through positive attitudes and celebrating successes;
Accountability, Mutual Trust and Respect through ownership of issues and respectful conduct;
Progressive Thinking through self-directed learning and creative thinking;
Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership through care for the living collection and advocacy for the Zoo.

While performing the duties of this position, the intern is regularly required to stand, walk, climb or balance and grasp objects. The intern is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions; must be able to lift and move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance. The CZBG is open 364 days a year. Interns can expect to have a regular schedule but may be scheduled to participate on some weekends, holidays, etc.

• Appointment is conditional upon passing a pre-start drug & nicotine screen
• Must provide a negative TB test result before beginning the internship

To apply for an internship, qualified applicants must apply via our online application on our website. Please be prepared to provide the following documents and information with your application:

• Cover letter and resume (PDF format required)
• Contact…