Butterfly House Intern
Employment Type
Unpaid Internship (Part-time)Job Categories
Horticulture
Job Description
Norfolk Botanical Garden is looking for a qualified intern to join our Adult Education team! Our Adult Education department provides quality educational programs for our guests, and seeks an intern who can assist with our Butterfly House activities and interpretation. This intern should be prepared to work in a customer service-based environment, and will finish the internship having gained broad experience in various aspects of biological sciences, education, horticulture, communications, tourism and related fields.
About Us
The Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) is Virginia’s largest botanical garden composed of 60-plus themed gardens covering 175 acres. Surrounded on three sides with fresh water and bisected with a canal system, it is one of the only botanical gardens in the nation that visitors can enjoy on foot, by tram, by boat or by bike. Over 80 years old, NBG is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. NBG’s mission is to immerse visitors in a world of beauty, lead through environmental action, and inspire through education and connection to nature. NBG serves more than 400,000 people each year and has a budget of over $6 million. From its humble beginnings as a depression era WPA project to its status as a nationally recognized garden that attracts visitors from around the world, NBG has experienced amazing growth. In the last 5 years, NBG’s operating budget has increased by 50%, our annual attendance has grown by over 150,000, and our membership roster has blossomed to over 15,000-member families. NBG is also proud to be named one of the Best Places to Work in Virginia 2025.
Duties & Responsibilities
• Greet the guests entering the house and lead tours educating the public on the lifecycle of butterflies.
• Collect and preserve butterfly eggs for study, preservation and fostering.
• Direct the visitors to the appropriate resource for questions you cannot answer utilizing a radio.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Must be comfortable speaking to individuals and groups.
• Able to work outside and stand for the entire shift in high heat, humidity and light rain.
• Able to walk to and from the Butterfly House to the parking lot; approximately ¼ of a mile.
• Frequent bending, stooping, reaching and lifting up to 25 pounds required.
Education and Experience
• Interests in horticulture, entomology, biology, or a related field is preferred.
• Customer service experience is preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills is a plus.
Additional Information
Program Goals:
At the end of the internship, the Intern will understand and develop skillsets with regard to:
• Customer service and public speaking
• The development and verbal/visual delivery of educational programs.
• The structure and functionality of a special event within the educational outreach and tourism industry.
• The collection, preservation and study of Virginia’s native butterfly and moth populations.
• The relationship between native plants and wildlife, and the importance of conservation of these species.
Application Instructions
Send applications to hr@nbgs.org
Application Deadline:May 31, 2025
