2013 Collaborative Summer Internship Program

This program provides a summer internship with Rutgers Gardens and Central Park Conservancy for 10 Rutgers Students. The goal is to expose students to the complexities of public gardens maintenance, how these Public Facilities serve and support the diverse visitor population and to gain an understanding of how two unique public venues succeed at accomplishing their mission.

Throughout the internship students will work 3 days/week at Rutgers Gardens and 2 days at Central Park.

At Central Park there are a variety of positions available, including:

  • Horticulture Interns will assist Zone Gardeners to help maintain Central Park’s landscapes. Duties include litter removal, irrigation, weeding, planting, pruning, and mulching. 7:00 am – 3:30 pm shift*. 5 positions
  • Landscape Architecture and Construction Management Working with the staff of landscape architects at Central Park, this intern would be involved with oversight of the construction of various projects throughout the Park, the creation of as-built plans, the gathering of field data and other related jobs.  7:00 am – 3:30 pm shift*. 1 position
  • Woodlands Crew  A group of 4 interns will work on special projects in the Park’s woodlands.  Projects may include invasive plant removal, transplanting, cribbing/erosion control, rustic trail maintenance and construction, and other general horticulture and maintenance tasks.  7:00 am – 3:30 pm shift*. 4 positions
  • Other positions in specialized fields may be available depending on the qualifications and interests of applicants.  Possibilities include tree crew, soil water & ecology lab, turf care, and formal garden.

*A van with driver will be provided for the morning commute from Rutgers Gardens to Central Park.  The afternoon commute back to New Brunswick will require mass transit.  A van pick-up at the New Brunswick train station is provided.

The internship will start Wednesday, May 15, 2013 and end Friday, August 23, 2013

Course requirements:

  • Good work performance
  • Time sheet for in-field work (no payment for class time)
  • Journal
  • Research paper on individual topic

Completed applications must be received (not post-marked) by February 15, 2013.
Qualified applicants will be contacted for interviews to take place in late February/early March.   
Selected applicants must provide a copy of a social security card and photo ID for hiring purposes.

Please send applications to:


Bruce Crawford
The Rutgers Gardens
112 Ryders Lane
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
For more information please contact Bruce Crawford at 732-932-8451 or email
rugardens@aesop.rutgers.edu