Tree and Native Plant Nursery Internship

We are seeking 4 paid interns for summer 2025 to learn operational greenhouse forest seedling production for reforestation and forest restoration.

The Franklin H. Pitkin Forest Nursery at the University of Idaho is an operational forest nursery that grows native conifer seedlings for reforestation in the Inland Northwest. The nursery produces over 400,000 containerized seedlings each year that are sold to reforest lands damaged by wildfires and other natural disturbances, as well as following timber harvesting.

Interns will work at the Pitkin Forest Nursery where they will gain hands-on experience in all aspects of containerized forest seedling nursery production. They will learn how to adjust greenhouse environments, seed testing and preparation, principles and practices of semi-automated irrigation and fertilization, identification and management of common pests and diseases, customer relations and sales, mechanical operation and maintenance through a combination of focused indoor training and hands-on experience. Interns will gain hands-on experience watching seedlings grow and critically evaluate necessary steps required to manage the growth and health of seedlings. Interns will visit numerous local and regional forest nurseries throughout the summer.

$18/hour pay for 40 hours of work per week over the course of 12 weeks in the summer (May 19 to August 8, 2025).

Interns that complete this program will be highly competitive for forest nursery careers.