Reiman Gardens' 2023 student interns on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens

Internship Program

Mission and Purpose

The mission of Reiman Gardens’ Internship Program is to promote the professional and intellectual development of students through a multi-disciplinary educational approach and hands-on work experience. With one of the most intensive, cross-dimensional programs at ISU and in the public gardens field, Reiman Gardens' interns go on to become experts and leaders in their chosen fields. There are opportunities for experience in event management, education, entomology, marketing, volunteer engagement, plant collections, and of course, a variety of facets of horticulture - from landscaping and design to irrigation and community/edible gardening.

Reiman Gardens’ interns are partnered with a full-time professional staff member to explore day-to-day duties and experiences in an innovative public garden setting. Each summer intern is required to work in their specialized area four and a half days a week, with one half day a week reserved for educational workshops, demonstrations, and field trips for a total of ~40 hours per week (20 for semester internships), including some weekend and evening hours. Various internship components provide additional educational experiences across departments, building skills that extend beyond daily work, and which help make interns highly competitive professional job-seekers. Examples include:

opportunities for self- and group reflection
education sessions providing operational understanding of public gardens, museums, and other non-profits
field trips to similar organizations
tours of Reiman Gardens' plant, invertebrate, and art collections
interdepartmental rotation experiences
marketing experience creating videos for social media and mobile content for visitor engagement
public speaking (summer interns will present a public program together near the end of the internship)

2025 Internship Opportunities

Applications for Summer Internships are OPEN! Select from the lists below for descriptions and links to apply to open positions.

All spring internships are 10-20 hours/week, January 27 - May 4, 2025 (or through the end of May). Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

Social Media	Applications are closed. The Social Media intern will work creatively with the Marketing team to create content for social media, assist and/or lead marketing campaigns for events, and contribute to strategic content for advertising, to help grow Reiman Gardens’ attendance and reach. Regular responsibilities include developing a social media content calendar, content creation (photos, videos, reels, stories, and posts), analyzing social media metrics, and copy writing. The intern may also do some light graphic design work. This internship requires some weekend and evening hours. Compensation is $15.00/hour.
Event Management	Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings! The Spring Event Management intern will assist with the planning and implementation of special events and rentals at Reiman Gardens throughout the spring such as Spring Enchantment, Rovers at Reiman, Plant Sale Extravaganza, Orchid Fest, and the summer Garden Art Fair. The intern will also on occasion be responsible for moving tables and chairs to prepare indoor or outdoor spaces for various events, classes, and programs. Additionally, the event management intern will be trained and may be asked to serve as a tour guide for prospective rental clients. Other duties for public events include communicating with vendors and other contacts, creating event plans and related documents, and providing top-notch customer service for event participants, visitors, staff, and volunteers. Event management for private events includes assisting with the planning and implementation of private rentals such as weddings, conferences, birthday parties, and banquets throughout the summer. This includes planning, organizing, managing vendor arrival times and set-ups, as well as the possibility of special projects. Compensation is $15.00/hour.
Greenhouse Production & Glasshouse Display	Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings! Reiman Gardens is a unique growing operation, especially for central Iowa, offering experience with small batches of hundreds of varieties of regional and tropical plants for a range of horticultural operations. Duties of the Greenhouse Production & Glasshouse Display intern include planning and scheduling summer crop production, ordering, transplanting, pest management, and all associated greenhouse tasks such as watering, weeding, fertilizing, cleaning/sanitizing, deadheading, pinching, and soil/water testing, etc. The intern will be required to study and test for an Iowa Pesticide Applicator’s license and will also be expected to engage with and answer questions from visitors, in addition to completing several other educational projects. The intern will also assist with Conservatory installations. The intern may also assist with projects related to strategic goals for indoor horticulture. This is an intensive learning and work experience in a fast-paced setting. Compensation is $13.75-14.75/hour depending on experience.

Social Media

Applications are closed.

The Social Media intern will work creatively with the Marketing team to create content for social media, assist and/or lead marketing campaigns for events, and contribute to strategic content for advertising, to help grow Reiman Gardens’ attendance and reach. Regular responsibilities include developing a social media content calendar, content creation (photos, videos, reels, stories, and posts), analyzing social media metrics, and copy writing. The intern may also do some light graphic design work. This internship requires some weekend and evening hours. Compensation is $15.00/hour.

Event Management

Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings!

The Spring Event Management intern will assist with the planning and implementation of special events and rentals at Reiman Gardens throughout the spring such as Spring Enchantment, Rovers at Reiman, Plant Sale Extravaganza, Orchid Fest, and the summer Garden Art Fair. The intern will also on occasion be responsible for moving tables and chairs to prepare indoor or outdoor spaces for various events, classes, and programs. Additionally, the event management intern will be trained and may be asked to serve as a tour guide for prospective rental clients. Other duties for public events include communicating with vendors and other contacts, creating event plans and related documents, and providing top-notch customer service for event participants, visitors, staff, and volunteers.

Event management for private events includes assisting with the planning and implementation of private rentals such as weddings, conferences, birthday parties, and banquets throughout the summer. This includes planning, organizing, managing vendor arrival times and set-ups, as well as the possibility of special projects. Compensation is $15.00/hour.

Greenhouse Production & Glasshouse Display

Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings!

Reiman Gardens is a unique growing operation, especially for central Iowa, offering experience with small batches of hundreds of varieties of regional and tropical plants for a range of horticultural operations. Duties of the Greenhouse Production & Glasshouse Display intern include planning and scheduling summer crop production, ordering, transplanting, pest management, and all associated greenhouse tasks such as watering, weeding, fertilizing, cleaning/sanitizing, deadheading, pinching, and soil/water testing, etc. The intern will be required to study and test for an Iowa Pesticide Applicator’s license and will also be expected to engage with and answer questions from visitors, in addition to completing several other educational projects. The intern will also assist with Conservatory installations. The intern may also assist with projects related to strategic goals for indoor horticulture. This is an intensive learning and work experience in a fast-paced setting. Compensation is $13.75-14.75/hour depending on experience.

Check CYHire for open positions! All summer internships are ~40 hours/week for 14 weeks, May 19 - August 22, 2025. Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

Entomology	This position opens in CyHire in March, 2025. The Entomology intern will assist the Director of Entomology in the processing and maintenance of butterfly cultures for release in the Butterfly Wing. Such work will involve maintenance of a variety of invertebrate colonies, processing and handling tropical chrysalis shipments, as well as light research on maintained colonies. This internship provides the opportunity to work directly with all life stages throughout the rearing process for a variety of invertebrates. The intern will be working in a USDA regulated lab and must be comfortable working with live insects The intern will also serve as a Butterfly Wing docent, giving information to Gardens’ visitors. There may be hours available after the internship if you are interested. Compensation is $13/hr.
Event Management	The summer Event Management intern will assist with the creation and implementation of special events and rentals at Reiman Gardens throughout the summer such as Pollinator Fest, Rose Fest, Independence Day Celebration, Garden Art Fair, and others. This includes planning, organizing, developing activities, managing catering, and completing setups. The intern will also on occasion be responsible for moving tables and chairs to prepare indoor or outdoor spaces for various events, classes, and programs. Additionally, the event management intern will be trained and may be asked to serve as a tour guide for prospective rental clients. Event management for private events includes assisting with the planning and implementation of private rentals such as weddings, conferences, birthday parties, and banquets throughout the summer. This includes planning, organizing, managing vendor arrival times and set-ups, as well as the possibility of special projects. Compensation is $15/hr. Apply now!
Education	The Education intern develops lesson plans, preps and leads youth & family summer programming, including on site programs, virtual content, and mobile engagement. This intern also assists with the coordination and implementation of written garden and exhibit interpretation, large group tours for youth and adults, and interdepartmental educational projects. May also develop, teach, and/or support adult continuing education programs. Emphasis is on aligning informal programming with Reiman Gardens’ mission and annual theme, as well as connecting youth programs strongly to Next Generation Science Standards. Compensation is $15/hr. There are openings for 2 summer Education interns. Apply now!
Horticulture: Grow & Give Program	This unique internship begins on March 24, 2025 and ends on October 17, 2025, averaging 20 hours per week. The Horticulture: Grow & Give Program intern will be involved in the planning, coordination, implementation, and seasonal evaluation of Reiman Gardens’ Grow & Give produce donation program. During the spring semester, duties include communicating with local food pantries and growers, planning public info sessions, organizing operations, and prepping garden areas. In summer, the intern will maintain annual and perennial plant collections in the Edible Garden and other vegetable production areas, with emphasis on developing horticulture skills in planting, weeding, watering, mulching, edging, pruning, and fertilizing, while working closely with volunteers to provide produce to area food pantries. This intern will also coordinate Saturday Farmers’ Market pickups and will be required to perform other outdoor gardening duties as assigned. Compensation is $13.75-14.75/hr. depending on experience. Apply now!
Horticulture: Landscape & Ornamental Gardening	The Horticulture: Landscape & Ornamental Gardening intern will maintain permanent and annual plant collections in all areas of the outdoor gardens. Emphasis is on developing horticulture skills in planting, weeding, watering, mulching, edging, pruning, fertilizing, and maintaining outdoor displays and water features. The intern will work with the rose collection, woody plants, Iowa native plants, water plants, perennials, annuals, turf grass, fruits, and vegetables. Compensation is $13.75-14.75/hr. depending on experience. There are openings for 1-2 summer Ornamental Gardening interns. Apply now!
Plant Collections & Records	The Plant Collections & Records intern will assist with maintaining the plant collection records at Reiman Gardens. Responsibilities include inputting data into the plant database, researching plant nomenclature and characteristics for educational displays, contributing to national research projects, creating accurate display labels and accession tags for plant materials, updating maps of installed plant materials, and photographing certain plant collections. The intern will work with several computer software programs like AutoCAD. Compensation is $13.75-14.75/hr. depending on experience. Apply now!

All semester internships are 10-20 hours/week and $15.00/hour unless otherwise noted. Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

Volunteer Engagement	This position opens in March 2025. The Volunteer Engagement Intern will work directly with the Manager of Volunteer Engagement to support volunteers with a variety of activities this fall. The Volunteer Engagement Intern will assist with recruitment, scheduling, and staffing for the annual pumpkin carving event. The intern will also assist with recruitment, scheduling, and training for the holiday light show, Winter Wonderscape. The intern will identify new opportunities to expand student volunteer engagement and satisfaction. Other responsibilities will include creating a schedule of events and suggested entertainment for this year's annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception. The Volunteer Engagement Intern will learn best practices for volunteer engagement and how a university program differs from other non-profits. Compensation is $15/hr.

Volunteer Engagement

This position opens in March 2025.

The Volunteer Engagement Intern will work directly with the Manager of Volunteer Engagement to support volunteers with a variety of activities this fall. The Volunteer Engagement Intern will assist with recruitment, scheduling, and staffing for the annual pumpkin carving event. The intern will also assist with recruitment, scheduling, and training for the holiday light show, Winter Wonderscape. The intern will identify new opportunities to expand student volunteer engagement and satisfaction. Other responsibilities will include creating a schedule of events and suggested entertainment for this year's annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception. The Volunteer Engagement Intern will learn best practices for volunteer engagement and how a university program differs from other non-profits. Compensation is $15/hr.

Internship Program

Mission and Purpose

2025 Internship Opportunities

Applications for Summer Internships are OPEN! Select from the lists below for descriptions and links to apply to open positions.

All spring internships are 10-20 hours/week, January 27 - May 4, 2025 (or through the end of May). Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

Applications are closed.

Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings!

Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings!

Check CYHire for open positions! All summer internships are ~40 hours/week for 14 weeks, May 19 - August 22, 2025. Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

This position opens in CyHire in March, 2025.

All semester internships are 10-20 hours/week and $15.00/hour unless otherwise noted. Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

This position opens in March 2025.

My education internship changed the way I viewed my role as an educator, especially outside of a classroom setting. It set me on a new trajectory for my future career.

For further information please contact:

Internship Program

Mission and Purpose

2025 Internship Opportunities

Applications for Summer Internships are OPEN! Select from the lists below for descriptions and links to apply to open positions.

Spring Internships

All spring internships are 10-20 hours/week, January 27 - May 4, 2025 (or through the end of May). Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

Applications are closed.

Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings!

Applications are closed. Check out our summer offerings!

Summer Internships

Check CYHire for open positions! All summer internships are ~40 hours/week for 14 weeks, May 19 - August 22, 2025. Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

This position opens in CyHire in March, 2025.

Fall Internships

All semester internships are 10-20 hours/week and $15.00/hour unless otherwise noted. Internships may require some weekend and evening hours.

This position opens in March 2025.

My education internship changed the way I viewed my role as an educator, especially outside of a classroom setting. It set me on a new trajectory for my future career.

For further information please contact: