How to Apply 

All applicants should apply using the University of Michigan Careers website, eRecruit. Read below for instructions on how to apply"

Please note your Job Opening ID is 272229

1. Go to https://careers.umich.edu/ 

2. Under Job Search, enter the Job Opening ID or the Job Title in the Keyword box. 

3. Click on the Job Posting. Click on Apply Now at the top of the job posting. .

4. You are now in the standard application. Answer all questions and proceed through the application process as prompted. 

5. Click Submit when you are through.

All qualified individuals are welcome and encouraged to apply regardless of background and identity. A one-page cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume in a single pdf file. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experiences that directly relate to it.

Who We Are

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward. We turn this commitment into action by:

• Positioning humans as active participants within the natural world and compelling the university community and our publics to negotiate the full complexity that entails
• Advancing partnerships, programs, user experience, and all that we steward to catalyze access and impact in a radically changing world
• Emerging as University of Michigan’s premier partner for research, teaching, and public impact in sustainability, climate-forward practices, and biocultural diversity
• Promoting healthier communities, cultures, and ecosystems through active care and cultivation of the gardens, fields, natural habitats, and dynamic systems that sustain our world.

For more information about MBGNA and the summer internship program, please visit: https://mbgna.umich.edu/summer-internships

For questions about the internship application, please contact: MBGNAinternships@umich.edu 

Job Summary

The MBGNA summer internship takes place Monday, May 4 to Thursday, August 20, 2026. To fully participate in team collaboration and project work, selected candidates are expected to complete all dates of the internship. The MBG Trail Intern will work to improve and maintain the MBG Hiking Biking Trail which runs from Geddes Avenue to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens as well as other paths and trails at MBGNA. The internship program runs May through late August and includes some evening and weekend hours.

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 and impact across lands, waters, and dynamic systems

As part of a learning community, interns will be expected to:

• Attend a group orientation at the beginning of the summer
• Participate in professional development sessions offered throughout the summer
• Engage in opportunities for assessment and reflection
• Attend a final celebration at the end of the summer

Work Location

MBGNA comprises 841 total acres, spanning across four sites, including the gardens, arboretum, a bog, and natural areas. This internship will take place at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens location.

Hours Per Week / Days Per Week

40 hours per week

Responsibilities

This internship position is part of the Natural Areas team at MBGNA. This internship is focused on Woody Plant Collections and Trails. As part of the Natural Areas team, this position will regularly interact with visitors, volunteers, and other MBGNA departments during the course of a workday.

This internship position will support the goals of the Natural Areas team through the following:

• Maintenance of the MBG Hiking Biking trail and related stormwater features using a variety of tools and equipment.
• Mowing and clearing brush, cutting and chipping, fallen trees and branches
• Pruning, labeling and GIS mapping of important trees and shrubs along the trail

Required Qualifications 

• Applicants must have one year of experience enrolled in a college or university by the internship start date. Recent college graduates who earned a degree in December 2025 or are planning to earn a degree by May 2026 are eligible to apply.
• Hands-on experience with trail work and/or landscaping tools and equipment
• Tree and shrub identification, planting and care
• GIS data collection and management
• These positions may require a valid driver’s license and a motor vehicle record check to operate MBGNA vehicles.
• This position may require frequent travel between MBGNA site locations.
• Willingness to do physical work outdoors in all weather conditions.