About the role#
Cheekwood offers an internship for students or recent graduates interested in gaining hands-on experience in a botanical garden setting. This role supports the garden staff with daily operations and long-term horticultural projects. The internship lasts for 12 weeks, from January 25, 2027, to April 30, 2027, requiring 15 hours of work per week.
What you'll do#
You will work directly with garden staff to plan and execute various horticultural projects. Your daily tasks include weeding, mulching, watering, planting, leaf removal, and pruning. You will also assist with greenhouse operations, tree care, and water feature maintenance.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Performing lawn care such as string trimming and soil sample collection.
- Mapping, labeling, and inventorying plant collections.
- Assisting with irrigation repairs and assessing water efficiency using computerized systems.
- Collecting images for upcoming Seasonal Display Guides.
What you'll need#
This position is open to current juniors or seniors at the undergraduate level, graduate students, or recent graduates from an accredited university. You should be studying agriculture, horticulture, botany, or related plant sciences.
Location & details#
This internship is located on-site in Nashville, Tennessee. The position is part-time and paid at a rate of $17.00 per hour.
About Cheekwood
Cheekwood is a botanical garden and art museum located on a 55-acre historic estate in Nashville, Tennessee. The site was built in 1929 and opened as a public institution in 1960. It serves over 400,000 visitors annually and maintains a membership base of more than 20,000 households. The organization operates as a nonprofit and employs between 51 and 200 people.
How to get in at Cheekwood
Applying early to internships at Cheekwood provides a distinct advantage because recruiters review applications before the volume of submissions becomes overwhelming. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, ensuring you can submit your materials among the first candidates. Getting your application in early helps you stand out before the pile grows. You can also improve your response rates by reaching out to the hiring team directly. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company's roles so you can contact them to ask about the position or request a referral. This direct approach often yields better results than relying solely on a standard application queue.
