Internship Benefits
- CLM internships are paid internships!
- Make connections in various governmental and non-profit organizations
- Learn what it's like to work at a federal agency
- Explore your career goals and expand your resume
- Experience new landscapes, habitats, and species diversity in the beautiful western United States
- Apply your education to important conservation projects
Successful Internship Outcomes
Interns meet their career goals!
- 97% of interns gain hands-on experience & applied education in real-world setting
- 91% of interns learned what it’s like to work as a federal biologist
- 89% of interns explored their career goals
- 72 % of interns made connections in conservation and restoration fields
Preparedness for the Future
- 95% of interns said their CLM internship made them more competitive for subsequent job opportunities
- 30% of interns go on to graduate school after their internship – of these 83% said their CLM internship made them more competitive for admission to graduate school
Internship Details
Each year, early-career students take part the CLM Internship Program, which serves as a bridge between college/university/similar training and a career in conservation and land management. All of our internships are 5 months long and begin between February and June annually. The federal agencies we have partnered with include the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and others. Non-profit partners have included the New England Wild Flower Society, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank, North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank.
In 2021, internships will be based in the western US (CA, ID, OR, NM, NV).
Compensation
Internship pay varies with position and responsibilities. Most interns earn a salary of $684/week (before taxes) every 2 weeks. Internships usually last 5 months (20-24 weeks depending on funding arrangements).
Background Education / Experience
Our interns have degrees and/or experience in the following areas:
- Biology
- Botany
- Zoology (Fisheries, Ornithology, Mammalogy, etc.)
- Ecology & Evolution
- Natural Resources Management
- Environmental Studies
- Environmental Science
- Wildlife Biology
- Entomology
- Forestry
- Recreation Management
- Education and Outreach
Internship Responsibilities
As an intern, you will assist in a wide variety of projects determined by the needs of your mentor and assigned office. Most internships include work in botany or wildlife-related fields.
Interns have worked in biology-related fields i.e., fire ecology, fisheries, livestock utilization, and native plant materials. A few internships have focused on archeology, planning and recreation.
GIS data have been an important component of numerous projects.
Approximately 50% of all interns participate in the Seeds of Success (SOS) Program.
For more information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
CLM Training Workshop
There will not be a CLM Training Workshop held at the Chicago Botanic Garden for the 2021 season. Rather, there will be funding for interns to participate in alternative training opportunities related to the scope of their internship duties and their career interests.
The Chicago Botanic Garden is proud to partner with the federal agencies involved to offer this unique internship opportunity.
With its world-renowned plant collections and displays, it is one of the country's most visited public gardens and a preeminent center for learning and scientific research.
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call 847-835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns.